How Tactics Use Military Tactics

As Marines we cannot be successful on the battlefield without the use of tactics. Tactics is “the art and science of winning engagements and battles. “It includes the use of firepower and maneuver, the integration of different arms, and the immediate exploitation of success to defeat the enemy” (MCDP 1-3, Tactics, 1997, p. 3). Simply put this is how we gain victory of the enemy and win battles. Tactics use elements of maneuver warfare and coordinated fires to gain advantage to destroy the enemy. In war, “tactics is the application of combat power to defeat the enemy and battles” (MCDP 1-3, Tactics, 1997, p. 3). Tactics are not only used during a time of war, they can be used in many other ways. We don’t have to look far to see how tactics are used outside of a wartime environment. An example of tactics in a military operation other than war (MOOTW) would be, to provide a secure environment for the delivery of
medicine or food for humanitarian assistance. Another application of tactics would be basketball. Both teams play offense and defense and the objective would be to defeat the other by scoring the most points.

First, as a Tank Platoon Sergeant tactics is the backbone to any success that I have had. The understanding “must become second nature for us; this requires intensive and continuous training” (MCDP 1-3, Tactics 1997, p. 4). Without the basic understanding of tactics, we put our Marines lives in jeopardy. The understanding of tactics provides a framework on which I am able to get the mission accomplished. The mission statement for a tank company is “to close with and destroy the enemy by using armor-protected firepower, shock effect, and maneuver and to provide anti-mechanized fire in support of the Marine division” (MCWP 3-12, 2005. p. 1). This is broken down into three categories, shoot, move, and communicate. For gunnery application, we train our young Marines to identify and engage targets up to 4000m away (shoot). One of the most critical parts of what we do is by shaping the operating area by facilitating movement on the battlefield (move). We as tankers cannot be successful in anything we do without the ability to communicate with one another. This is how we are so effective on the battlefield and can change the dynamic in a moment’s notice (communicate). We must be effective on the way we use tactics, otherwise we will fail. Secondly, the most effective way we can use tactics is with speed.
With tanks, this is one of the most critical tools that separate us from many other threats. We have the capability to move faster and act quicker than our enemy. This keeps our enemy on its heels. Physical speed is a weapon in itself. With the ability to travel over rough, rugged terrain at over 45 miles per hour, we have the ability to “reduce the enemy’s reaction time” and it has the ability to impact the enemy’s mind “causing fear, indecision, and helplessness” (MCDP 1-3, Tactics 1997, p. 62). We do this by training in every clime and place. We become more proficient as tankers with training and experience. Experience plays a vital role into the use and success of speed throughout the tank platoon. Speed is what separates a good tanker from a great tanker. With experience, speed comes along ranging from target acquisition, to employment of your vehicle and weapon system. This is why generally the platoon sergeant is the most proficient in the platoon, due to his years of
experience.

Finally, the combined arms is one of the key advantages tankers have. By presenting the enemy with a “dilemma-a no-win situation” (MCDP 1-3, Tactics 1997, p. 39) we are able to provide supporting arms with organic fires, and maneuver. This makes the enemy more vulnerable by “convincing the enemy that they are the main battle force” (MCWP 3-12, 2005. p. 40). The way that we are able to achieve this is by integrating various parts of the Marine Air Ground Task force (MAGTF). We are able to offset each other “while the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of each arm are protected and offset by the capabilities of others” (MCWP 3-12, 2005. p. 49). By integrating with the MAGTF, tankers are able to maneuver on the element to ensure that the shock effect of the fire is not lost. Together, this allows us to achieve success on and off the battlefield.

In conclusion, we discussed that Marines cannot be successful without the use of tactics. As leaders we must ensure that we examine each part of tactics. We discussed that tactics, speed, and combined arms are the backbone to any success on the battlefield. Simply put, tactics are “the art and science of winning engagements and battles” ” (MCDP 1-3, Tactics, 1997, p. 3). With speed, we discussed that speed in itself is a weapon, and is gained through experience. Finally we examined combined arms. With presenting the enemy with a no win situation, we exploit our enemies weaknesses by offsetting the capabilities of each other. This allows tankers to continue the shock and effect towards our enemy. We will continue to win battles and win wars with the understanding of tactics if we continue to train our Marines as we fight. “Tactical excellence is the hallmark of a Marine Corps Leader. We fight and win in combat through our mastery of both the art and science of tactics (MCDP 1-3, Tactics, 1997, p. 19).