Introducing The Decision

Decision Forcing Cases from The Polemologist

“The Decision” from The Polemologist is a section and stand-alone newsletter meant to provide teaching aids in the form of Decision Forcing Cases (DFCs). If you subscribe to The Polemologist, you are automatically subscribed to “The Decision.” Alternatively, you can subscribe solely to the latter.

DFCs are an important aspect in the development of leaders and thinkers, both military and civilian. The essence is in the name. These are case studies, real or imaginary, that are meant to force the student to make decisions. They can be used by individual readers, or they can be presented to students of war. Each subcategory or tag targets a specific audience, and each case is meant to enable discussion, thought, and sharing of lessons learned from experience and study.

Tactical Decision Games (TDGs) put the student into the seat of tactical leaders. They might be commanding an entire front, or leading a fire team. Regardless of scale, they will need to apply tactical thought to come out on top in the horns of a dilemma.

Ethical Decision Games (EDGs) can be tactical, strategic, political, or otherwise. They will likely leave more questions than answers, and tackle difficult problems of ethics in war.

Historical Cases These DFCs will take you step-by-step through the campaigns of history’s Great Captains, attempting to capture their perspectives in the heat of the moment, not in hindsight. Ideally, these will conceal the historical event in question until the student has made a decision.