Why War? Why an Army?

War is a destructive element of society. It causes great anguish, pain, and deaths. Society praises those who promote peace and harmony. Society condemns the people and nations that initiate war without provocation in order to impose their power and strength. So, why is war studied? What is its purpose? In this work, House analyzes the use of war and why it remains a fixture in human interactions. House describes a connection between wars, armies, and the people affected by them. War is a power struggle between nations who try to showcase their sheer brutality in an attempt for a gain in supremacy; armies, therefore, are the land component of a nation's military forces. The outcome of the war on the land is the most important aspect of the war, since people occupy these lands where wars are fought. Despite changes in technology, organizational and operational concepts, and external or internal threats, people are still a crucial element in wars. People govern whether military forces impose themselves on other nations and control the component systems within military services. Any study of war and warfare addresses the impact that people make on the conduct of war and the effects of war on people. Providing conceptual descriptions of war and explaining the purpose and requirements of a nation's army within the description, House establishes an alternative method of thinking about the nature of war and how it effects those in society.

John M. House is the Executive Director for Army Wargaming and Operations Analysis for AgileCast, Inc. He is a retired Army Colonel with over 32 years of active duty and civilian experience in military operations, having written approximately 80 periodical articles and newspaper columns on a variety of military subjects. Since retiring from the Army in 2001, he has worked as a consultant and government employee in several positions. Dr. House has been a part-time university professor since 2006, teaching for Columbus State University, Northcentral University, American Public University, and TUI University.