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Journal of Military and Strategic Studies
Journal of Military and Strategic Studies
Lessons From the Revolution: What Recent US Military Operations Reveal About the Revolution in Military Affairs and Future Combat
By Andrew Richter
Abstract
Over the past five years, US military forces have fought in three major conflicts — Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Examined together, the three campaigns offer valuable lessons and insights regarding how future US military forces are likely to fight, as well as observations about the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). The conflicts reveal that the US can be expected to prioritize air assets and special forces in coming years, as the value of both capabilities has been clearly demonstrated. However, the paper also reveals that military transformation is not a static process, and thus maintaining operational flexibility will remain a critical attribute of any successful military.