In military and security contexts, success is often determined not by the size or strength of a force, but by which side controls the initiative. Initiative means having the power to set the pace of engagements, choose when and where battles happen, and maintain the upper hand by forcing the enemy into a reactive posture. This article delves into why initiative is so crucial in tactical operations, how it relates to the concept of Relative Superiority, and how it can be leveraged to achieve victory against even a stronger opponent.
Initiative, in tactical terms, refers to the ability to act decisively and proactively before your opponent does. When a force has the initiative, it dictates the flow of operations—choosing when, where, and how battles occur. Initiative allows a commander to stay ahead of the enemy, forcing them to react rather than execute their own strategies.
Holding the initiative doesn’t require overwhelming firepower or resources. It can be maintained through quick decision-making, deception, agility, and unpredictability. This makes it a critical asset for smaller or less-equipped units facing a larger or better-equipped enemy.
The concept of Relative Superiority, developed by retired Navy SEAL Commander William H. McRaven, is closely linked to initiative. It describes the condition where a smaller, attacking force gains a decisive advantage over a larger or well-defended opponent. This moment typically occurs when the attacking force achieves a level of control that allows it to dictate the terms of engagement, nullifying the numerical or technological advantages of the opponent.
Three Key Properties of Relative Superiority:
Achieving Relative Superiority typically occurs when the smaller force successfully gains the initiative and capitalizes on it before the enemy can react effectively.
Initiative allows forces to control the battlefield, disrupt the enemy’s plans, and maintain momentum. When a force lacks initiative, it is relegated to a defensive and reactive stance, which can lead to confusion, disorganization, and ultimately, defeat. Let’s explore some of the primary reasons why maintaining initiative is essential.
Tempo is the speed and rhythm of combat operations. When a force controls the tempo, it can choose the timing and location of engagements, catching the enemy off guard. This advantage makes it easier to exploit gaps in the enemy’s defenses and limit their ability to prepare for attacks.
Dictating the tempo also means controlling the pace at which decisions are made. This often forces the opponent into a cycle of delayed reactions, as they struggle to keep up. The force with the initiative, on the other hand, is able to plan several steps ahead, continually pushing the opponent onto the back foot.
Example: In insurgent warfare, small, rapid attacks on multiple fronts keep conventional forces constantly shifting, never allowing them the time to plan and execute an effective counter-operation.
A powerful framework for understanding decision-making in tactical operations is the OODA loop—Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. Developed by military strategist John Boyd, the OODA loop illustrates how combatants process information and make decisions. Disrupting the enemy’s OODA loop is a primary goal of maintaining initiative. When one side controls the initiative, it continually injects new variables into the enemy’s decision cycle, forcing them to constantly re-assess and delaying their responses.
How It Works:
By constantly changing the situation, a force with the initiative forces the enemy to stay in the "Observe" and "Orient" phases, delaying or even preventing them from moving into the "Decide" and "Act" stages.
Why It Matters: When the enemy’s decision-making is disrupted, they struggle to execute coherent actions, leading to confusion, disorganization, and missed opportunities to counter-attack.
With the initiative, a force can maintain a relentless tempo, preventing the enemy from regrouping or establishing a coherent defense. Sustained pressure wears down the opponent’s morale, disrupts their plans, and forces them to act on the aggressor’s terms. This can result in cascading operational failures, where the enemy becomes overwhelmed by the pace and intensity of engagements.
Example: During the Battle of France in World War II, German forces maintained momentum through rapid armored advances, never allowing the French and British forces the time to mount an organized counter-offensive. This use of tempo and initiative resulted in the swift collapse of the Allied defenses.
When a force loses the initiative, it is pushed into a reactionary posture, where it must defend against unexpected actions rather than execute its own strategies. Reactionary forces are compelled to respond to the aggressor’s moves, which limits their ability to think ahead and plan proactively. This is particularly dangerous against a creative and agile adversary that can shift tactics rapidly.
Why It Matters: The reactive force is always one step behind, trying to catch up to the aggressor’s actions. This dynamic puts them at a constant disadvantage, as they are focused on countering rather than initiating. Over time, this erodes morale and operational effectiveness.
Holding the initiative also has a powerful psychological effect. When one side is continually forcing the other into defensive actions, it can demoralize the opponent and create an impression of dominance. This psychological edge can be as valuable as physical superiority, leading to hesitation and indecision in the enemy ranks.
Why It Matters: Psychological dominance can break the enemy’s will to fight, making them more likely to withdraw or collapse under pressure. If the defending force perceives that the aggressor is always in control, their confidence and cohesion will steadily degrade, often leading to a total collapse.
Achieving and sustaining Relative Superiority requires adherence to several key principles that align closely with maintaining initiative:
These principles are not about brute strength but about tactical finesse and strategic foresight. Forces that can act decisively and impose their will on the battlefield—no matter how limited their resources—often punch far above their weight.
Initiative is the linchpin of tactical success. It enables a force to dictate the course of engagements, disrupt the enemy’s plans, and create opportunities for victory, even when facing a numerically or technologically superior adversary. By controlling the tempo, maintaining pressure, and forcing the enemy into reactionary postures, a force with the initiative can transform a defensive situation into an opportunity for decisive action.
Whether in military or security operations, understanding and leveraging initiative and achieving Relative Superiority are essential for gaining a strategic edge. The ability to act decisively and shape the battlefield environment is what separates a successful commander from one who is merely reacting to events.
