Adaptation under Fire

by Lt. General David Barno, Nora Bensahel

2020 · Oxford University Press

Militaries that can rapidly adapt to unexpected battlefield challenges are more likely to win wars, and those that cannot are more likely to lose. In Adaptation under Fire, David Barno and Nora Bensahel identify the characteristics that make militaries more adaptable, illustrated through historical and contemporary examples. The authors argue that the U.S. military often adapted well in Iraq and Afghanistan at the tactical level, but also displayed disturbing failures by some of its senior leaders. They conclude that the U.S. military must become far more adaptable in order to address future security challenges effectively, and recommend ways to do so before it is too late.