Scuola Universitaria Interdipartimentale in Scienze Strategiche (SUISS)

Basic knowledge of concepts of strategy and tactics and their mutual relation, conflict analysis with particular reference to the maneuver (fire and movement) and to orders. Use of historical and current case studies as an aid for the practical application of theoretical concepts.

Basic ability to use the main tools for planning at lower level units (planning process), aimed at processing orders.

The teaching also offers the opportunity to acquire transversal skills useful for activating such knowledge and skills in different contexts and for different purposes.

At the end of the course, students will be able to have:

• KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
  Basic knowledge of the Military Doctrine
• APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
  Basic ability to use the main tools for planning at lower level units

Principles of the Art of War and definition of Tactics.
Difference between Tactics and Strategy and Historical examples.
The context of operations and the Spectrum of conflicts: the Continuum of Competition.
Hybrid Warfare: the Russian school and the invasion of Ukraine.
The themes of Operations, tactical land operations, tactical activities and tactical tasks.
The organization of forces and order levels.
The Joint Functions. Case study: the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Mission Command.
Army units: order levels, Army weapons, categorization of forces.
The Combined Arms and Task Force/tactical complexes:
The Combined Arms and history: the Blitzkrieg.
The Maneuver, the maneuvering approach and the Conceptual Framework. Case study: Russia's Special Military Operation in Ukraine.
Offensive, defensive, stabilization and enabling tactical activities and tactical tasks at minor unit level.
Notes on the decision making process in smaller units (PPMU).

The exam includes a mandatory written test made by closed and open-ended questions. Each question will be indicated next to the maximum score obtainable up to a total of 30 points. The test aims to evaluate the candidate's level of knowledge acquisition, his ability to summarize and his property of language.

The candidate will have the right, within the same exam session, to carry out an integration to the written test through an oral interview.

Hours of supplementary educational activities will be provided to explore any topics of interest to the trainees

The lecture slides will be available on the Moodle platform

Military Documentation:

- Publication SME PDE-1 "The doctrine of the Italian Army" 2019 edition

- Publication SME PDE-3 "The conduct of land operations" edizione 2022

- Publication COMFORDOT PSE 1.05 "Planning in the lower level units of the Army" 2016 edition

In-depth bibliography:

- Manuale di studi strategici - G. Giacomello / G. Badialetti

- Blitzkrieg: Clausewitz, Seeckt, Guderian 1650-2000 - Atenas Editores Asociados 1998-2017 / Gustavo Urueña

- DISTRIBUTED MANOEUVRE: 21ST CENTURY OFFENSIVE TACTICS - Justin Kelly and Mike Brennan

- The Art of War in the Modern World - Rupert Smith

- Maneuver Warfare - Robert Leonhard

- The Art of War - Sun Tzu

Educational material prepared by the Teacher