The objective has been a brief but inclusive treatment of the fundamentals of the military profession, i.e., the profession of arms. The emphasis, naturally, is on the exercise of mental effort in the solution of military problems, more especially in our Navy. An enormous literature has been consulted, and research has included all available and pertinent military writings. Care has also been taken to include, from civil sources, the findings of those authoritative works which deal with related matters and with the applicable underlying truths. In a work of this type and scope, it is manifestly not possible to illustrate the abstract text by historical examples and analogies. These are complementary features of the War College resident and correspondence courses; provision for the necessary historical background is otherwise the concern of the individual student. In this edition of SOUND MILITARY DECISION no radical changes have been made; the revision has been confined to rearrangement and amplification of the subject matter. E.C. KALBFUS, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, President. [Illustration: SOUND MILITARY DECISION THE SOLUTION OF MILITARY PROBLEMS Through the studied employment of the Natural Mental Processes (Foreword) The Scientific Approach to the Solution of Military Problems PART I PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT in its relation to the successful Conduct of War (Chapter I) Command and its Problems (Chapter II) Mental Processes and Human Tendencies THE FUNDAMENTAL MILITARY PRINCIPLE (Ch. III) leading to SOUND MILITARY DECISION (Ch. IV) THE APPLICATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL MILITARY PRINCIPLE The Two Major Applications, i.e.,-- THE SELECTION OF OBJECTIVES THE DETERMINATION OF OPERATIONS (Ch. V) THE FOUR STEPS IN THE SOLUTION OF A MILITARY PROBLEM Part II--PLANNING (Ch. VI) THE FIRST STEP The Estimate of the Situation The Decision (Ch. VII) THE SECOND STEP The Detailed Plan Part III--EXECUTION (Ch. VIII) THE THIRD STEP The Directives (Ch. IX) THE FOURTH STEP The Supervision of the Planned Action] TABLE OF CONTENTS (See Chart on page XXXX) Page FOREWORD 1 Science of War--Scientific Investigation--Fundamental Considerations--Art of War--Scientific Method--Leadership and Training--Sound Decision--Judgment--The Approach to the Solution of Military Problems--Fundamental Philosophy--Technique of Solution--Process of Education--Outline of the Discussion. PART I. PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT IN ITS RELATION TO THE SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF WAR. Chapter I Command and its Problems 7