The unfortunate operational level: Five good reasons to review our operational level structures.

"In the Western military community, everyone agrees on the centrality of the operational level. This doctrinal object and the discipline most notably associated with it, namely operational art, are at the centre of military high education. However, it is fascinating to note that everyone has their own perception of what should stand under this banner. Beneath the engaging and clear-cut concept lies indeed some vagueness about what belongs to this intermediate level and what is being done there. Is the operational level the hub where all operations are managed, or is it the level of command of a single operation, or is it a little of both?"