WS358 BLOCK 3 REVIEW EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
Review of the 5 Military Revolutions - ANS -Creation of the state and large armies
-French Revolution
-Industrial Revolution
-WWI (and WWII)-combination of the previous three revolutions: states can organize large
armies through CONSCRIPTION and equip them technologically-results in DEADLY WAR
-Nukes-constitute a PARADIGM SHIFT that influence strategy of Cold War (and specifically
Vietnam)
Why was the Vietnam War Complex? - ANS -There is a sense of INSTABILITY due to factors at
home and abroad. The draft is unpopular (and at times ineffective) as the US fights a
counterinsurgency
-There is extreme SPECIALIZATION-highly technical war with a lot of moving parts; many soldiers
don't fight, they just exhibit technical expertise
-There is CENTRALIZATION-a lot is taken into account for victory; causes extremely large
amounts of information to get passed up the chain of command. Counterintuitive as there is too
much information for commanders to know what to do with.
-Together, this results in PARALYSIS
Van Creveld's Thesis - ANS -Command is all about managing uncertainty
-Vietnam shows that too much certainty is a PARADOX
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -Getting too much info in the search for certainty clouds that very goal; in order to be effective,
it must also be TIMELY
-Too much information gets in the way of that
What are Van Creveld's 5 Ways for How Command Can Operate in Uncertainty? - ANS -Power
Down Decisions Based on Combat
-Self Contained Units
-Regular Reporting Procedures
-Active/Supplemental Information (he uses the term DIRECTED TELESCOPE)
-Informal and formal reporting
-NONE of these revolve around technology; technology can help, but it does not automatically
guarantee success
-Also need to be conscious of the enemy and how they think.
RVNAF - ANS -The Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces
-Essentially, the military of South Vietnam
-Trained by Americans, largely ineffective on their own
ARVN - ANS -The Army of the Republic of Vietnam
-Essentially, the army of South Vietnam
PAVN - ANS -The People's Army of Vietnam
-Essentially, the army of North Vietnam
-Also called the NVA (North Vietnamese Army)
NLF - ANS -The National Liberation Front
-Irregulars that supported the communist cause who operated in South Vietnam
-Known colloquially as the VC (Viet Cong)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
Review of the 5 Military Revolutions - ANS -Creation of the state and large armies
-French Revolution
-Industrial Revolution
-WWI (and WWII)-combination of the previous three revolutions: states can organize large
armies through CONSCRIPTION and equip them technologically-results in DEADLY WAR
-Nukes-constitute a PARADIGM SHIFT that influence strategy of Cold War (and specifically
Vietnam)
Why was the Vietnam War Complex? - ANS -There is a sense of INSTABILITY due to factors at
home and abroad. The draft is unpopular (and at times ineffective) as the US fights a
counterinsurgency
-There is extreme SPECIALIZATION-highly technical war with a lot of moving parts; many soldiers
don't fight, they just exhibit technical expertise
-There is CENTRALIZATION-a lot is taken into account for victory; causes extremely large
amounts of information to get passed up the chain of command. Counterintuitive as there is too
much information for commanders to know what to do with.
-Together, this results in PARALYSIS
Van Creveld's Thesis - ANS -Command is all about managing uncertainty
-Vietnam shows that too much certainty is a PARADOX
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -Getting too much info in the search for certainty clouds that very goal; in order to be effective,
it must also be TIMELY
-Too much information gets in the way of that
What are Van Creveld's 5 Ways for How Command Can Operate in Uncertainty? - ANS -Power
Down Decisions Based on Combat
-Self Contained Units
-Regular Reporting Procedures
-Active/Supplemental Information (he uses the term DIRECTED TELESCOPE)
-Informal and formal reporting
-NONE of these revolve around technology; technology can help, but it does not automatically
guarantee success
-Also need to be conscious of the enemy and how they think.
RVNAF - ANS -The Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces
-Essentially, the military of South Vietnam
-Trained by Americans, largely ineffective on their own
ARVN - ANS -The Army of the Republic of Vietnam
-Essentially, the army of South Vietnam
PAVN - ANS -The People's Army of Vietnam
-Essentially, the army of North Vietnam
-Also called the NVA (North Vietnamese Army)
NLF - ANS -The National Liberation Front
-Irregulars that supported the communist cause who operated in South Vietnam
-Known colloquially as the VC (Viet Cong)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
