Quote Originally Posted by John T. Fishel View Post
I see FMs as being the military's textbooks. They provide a place to start thinking about how to address the problems of their particular topic. In no way do they provide all the answers.
To me, FMs, FSR, or any Manual is actually quite important. It's more than a text book. It's what you teach, or should be. It should provide the common text on which collective understanding and discussion takes place.

So an FM on "Jungle and Forest Operations" should layout all you need to know about operating/fighting in the jungle. It should cover both the Why and How. "Helicopters are important because..."

It should at no stage should it say, "We must operate in jungles to address the root causes of conflict among the disenfranchised populations of the world." - which sounds like the Soviet Field Service Regulations!

It might say, "The Commander in chief requires the US Army to be proficient in conducting all forms of military operations in jungle and forest terrain."

I take your point about bad text books. Is the one under discussion an example?