Sorry, Cavguy, but your instructor lost me the exact second he refused to engage in a meaningful discussion of his ideas with you. That's what good educators are supposed to do. He also seems to ignore (as many do) the impact of our own army's organization on any attempt to absorb a German (or French) staff system. The great split between the Staff and Line prior to Root's modifications (and others that came about after the Spanish-American War) left deep scars, and I do think that it really hampered how we looked at and developed a staff. This is especially true when it's combined to the traditionally low opinion held by the body politic of a standing military.

And I agree with Bob...not all wars are the same. One of my side projects (that I might actually finish someday...) is an examination of officers who served successfully in the Civil War and then transitioned to fighting Indians. It's an interesting adaptation to look at.