"Who was the greatest military commander of all time?" In this class students will investigate the decision-making process and leadership skills of commanders throughout history in an effort to determine which general deserves the title as the "greatest". We will approach each class focusing upon commanders across the three levels of war: tactical, operational, and strategic. In so doing, we will develop a criteria for what "great" means in terms of military leadership. Military Historians, scholarly articles, and primary sources will be brought into the discussion as evidence to analyze and help us evaluate these Great Captains. 

This class is not just a discussion class...I will use the "Tools of the Military Historian", modern doctrine, Primary/Secondary source analysis to help students evaluate these generals and so they can determine for themselves who was the "greatest". 

While this class discusses battles, Ancient and Modern - the student will frequently be asked "What would you do in this situation?". By way of applying the Principles of War (handout) the students will use their critical thinking skills to better understand how one commander won the battle and why the other side lost the battle. 

General Themes: Subject to change and students preferences. 

Great Captains of Military History: What makes a Great Captain? 

Great Captains of Military History: Tactics, Strategy, and the Operational Art

Great Captains of Military History: Ancient Commanders I

Great Captains of Military History: World War II Commanders 

Great Captains of Military History: Franco-Prussian War Commander

Great Captains of Military History: Ancient Commanders II

Great Captains of Military History: Medieval Commanders I

Great Captains of Military History: World War II Commanders

This class must meet the Outschool minimum of 3 students to run consistently. 

Class format: Greetings and Introductions, overview of military command and leadership principles, introduction to the commander under investigation, student interpretation of evidence, general class discussion, and then review and summary. 

I. Historical Context
II. Cultural Traditions
III. Genetic Heritage
IV. Education & Mentoring
V. Analysis & Synthesis
VI. Previous Experience
VII. Imperatives of Leadership
VIII. Greatest Military Accomplishment
IX. Celebrated Attributes
X. Legacy

This format is designed to promote a greater understanding of each commander's decision-making cycle (DMC). By reconstructing the commanders DMC, the students will gain a greater understanding of how they make decisions. If applied consistently, the lessons learned in this course of study could lead to better more timely decision-making, a more disciplined assessment of risk, and a greater capacity to cope with uncertainty. These are the main lessons learned in the study of the Great Captains of Military History.