The document discusses the concept of maneuver warfare, emphasizing that war is fought in the minds of people rather than with machines or terrain. It highlights the importance of obtaining positional advantage and the shift towards a maneuver mindset in the 21st century, which focuses on strategic maneuvering across all domains. The argument posits that military success often hinges on manipulating information and understanding the adversary's psychology, rather than solely on traditional battlefield tactics.

1. A Historical Perspective on Manoeuvre
Wing Commander Jo Brick
Australian War College

2. Terrain does not fight wars.
Machines do not fight wars.
People fight wars. It is in the
minds of men that war must be
fought.

3. What is ‘manoeuvre’
/ ‘maneuver’?
• Synonym for ‘movement’
• Movement relative to enemy’s position.
• Style of warfare marked by obtaining
positional advantage and moving faster
than the enemy.
William S. Lind, ‘The Theory and Practice of Maneuver Warfare’

4. Three themes
• Manoeuvre for all domains
• Manoeuvre as a mindset
• 21st century manoeuvre

5. MAJ Marc J. Romanych (US Army, ret’d), ‘A Theory Based View of IO’, IO Sphere, Spring 2005

6. Manoeuvre for all
domains

7. The ‘manoeuvre mindset’
• Focus on obtaining position of advantage – attack
the mind of the adversary
• Winning without fighting / fight a weakened
adversary
• Look beyond the battle

9. Manoeuvre in the 21st
century
• Industrial vs information age –
information a source of power.
Low barriers to entry.
• Relevance of ‘Decisive battle’?
• Strategic manoeuvre essential

10. Strategic manoeuvre. … is the coordinated application of
the instruments of national power, directly or indirectly, in
pursuit of national strategic objectives, and seeks to
prevent or contain conflict. The employment of the military
element of national power requires strategic manoeuvre to
ensure that favourable circumstances are achieved.
Diplomatic Military Economic
Information

11. • The manoeuvrist approach offers a perspective broader than battle.
• It provides a guiding framework for dealing with challenges in conflict
/ competition / war

12. Terrain does not fight wars.
Machines do not fight wars.
People fight wars. It is in the
minds of men that war must be
fought.
John Boyd quoted in Henry Eason, “New Theory Shoots down Old War
Ideas,” Atlanta Journal–Constitution, 22 March 1981.

13. Wing Commander Jo Brick
Australian Command & Staff Course
Australian War College
Maria.Brick@adele.edu.au