Brian Kerg

If you or someone you know is interested in making the leap into #operational planning via #SAW, #SAMS, #MAWS, or #SAASS - have them give this a look. If they've got questions, I'm happy to provide answers - point them my way after they've given this a read! #PME #ReadFightWin

Dare to Know: Pursuing the Path of the Operational Planner Measure twice, cut once, and learn to measure and cut quickly.

My latest for @usniproceedings.bsky.social :
www.usni.org/magazines/pr...

This is one gene away from being a #JADC2 diagram:

"Grocery Kart Kata" is normally reserved for MCMAP fourth degree black belts. This #Marine is truly a master.

"Hey bro I know you're a king and all but your name just popped on the HSST list, recruiting needs you, good luck out there!" @usni.org

Instead of an instructional booklet, it will come with a copy of 'War is a Racket' by the OG, Smedley Butler:

Banana Gear Solid.

Experience the Banana Wars by dropping bodies in defense of US fruit corporations!

Guys we need this game to exist yesterday.

The MLR ≠ The Stand-in Force Untangling the confusion between SIF and MLRs.

And the original article under discussion can be found here: www.usni.org/magazines/pr...

EP. 454: The MLR ≠ The Stand in Force The Proceedings Podcast · Episode

Now available on your podcast app of choice, one of my co-authors and I discussed our @usniproceedings.bsky.social article, "The MLR =/= The Stand in Force" with host @billhamblet.bsky.social. Give it a listen! #PME #WriteFightWin #ReadFightWin

open.spotify.com/episode/4rRT...

Yeah but when they start putting paintball guns on drones to hit those tank optics, we're back to square one.

The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks The Army’s updated manual for tankers puts the threat of drones on the battlefield at the center of tactics used by armor units.

'Novel' is a word choice.

taskandpurpose.com/news/army-ta...

Counter UAS solved. 🫠

For #1, they offer a total effect/asset mismatch, trying to be stingy with everything 'because China!' even if it won't help much in that scenario.

For #2, you can find this inferred in their own work, or some of the same folks don't even see the need to hide this anymore and say it out loud now.

Either:

1. They lack a foundational understanding of how military power works in application (i.e. starting and ending with 'strategery' means is very limiting).

2. They don't actually believe in the value of the strategic object under discussion. (I.e., they don't care if UKR or TWN are lost).

I still don’t understand why we need to preserve “US readiness” and what conflict we will be involved in that requires large numbers of all this stuff that the “restrainers” will support us being involved in

South Korea is the ideal anchor for the first island chain Discussion of the first island chain largely overlooks South Korea, an ideal "anchor" that could prove decisive in a US-China conflict involving Taiwan.

You can copy the above into Chrome and seek an okayish translation from Mandarin into English, or take a look at the original article here if you missed it before:

www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...

台灣有事無法說謝謝！美軍「點名南韓」：成第一島鏈防堵中國擴張 | ETtoday國際新聞 | ETtoday新聞雲 美國智庫指出，南韓不應將駐韓美軍的任務僅侷限於對北韓（朝鮮）的威懾，而是應將其角色延伸至台海安全。

It's still going... my latest @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social piece, which discusses the connection between stability on the #Korean Peninsula and security of the #Taiwan Strait, is now making the rounds in Taiwanese media:

www.ettoday.net/news/2025071...

South Korea is the ideal anchor for the first island chain Discussion of the first island chain largely overlooks South Korea, an ideal "anchor" that could prove decisive in a US-China conflict involving Taiwan.

Check out the original piece here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...

U.S. military expert calls for expanding role of USFK to include Taiwan contingencies A U.S. military expert has renewed calls to expand the role of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) beyond deterring North Korea to potentially include involvement in a Taiwan contingency.

My latest piece for the #AtlanticCouncil broke squelch with Korean media:

US demands clarity from allies on their role in potential war over Taiwan, FT reports The US Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

"Strategic ambiguity for me, strategic clarity for thee?"

The logic of clarity over ambiguity is sound... The case is clear, even if one disagrees that it is the best approach.

What is confounding is demanding this clarity from allies while maintaining ambiguity for oneself:

Only if you sing this banger while making the argument:

bsky.app/profile/bria...

PHL would be far more advantageous than Guam or HI.

My assumption is concerns over a repeat of losing bases and base access as under a recent PHL administration. EDCA sites help but they are a band-aid, not a fix. We should seek diplomatic means to get back in there more persistently.

South Korea is the ideal anchor for the first island chain Discussion of the first island chain largely overlooks South Korea, an ideal "anchor" that could prove decisive in a US-China conflict involving Taiwan.

My latest for the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social.

BLUF: Peninsular stability is linked directly to Taiwan Strait stability. Military planners should approach the simultaneous threats of the #PRC and #DPRK with this fact in mind. #WriteFightWin

www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...

Dalai Lama reincarnating in #Taiwan just to own the #CCP will be legendary.

"I cast Mordenkainen's chimeric carrier."

Do amphibs and LSMs next.... Asking for a friend! 🙏

RETVRN.

So if staffs are making these errors (and giving their boss bad gouge) because of ignorance of doctrine, they have a professional duty to educate and correct themselves.

If these trends are instead about winning a parochial, inter-service food fight, then we need to have a different conversation.

You can bet a paycheck that's how the enemy looking to conduct this operation sees it as well, and that they are planning and training accordingly.

Such an endeavor would be an amphibious assault. Or, more holistically, a joint forcible entry operation (JFEO), one which would certainly include amphibious assault as a core element.