Revolution in Military Affairs General (Ret) Nick Carter on the Future of War
Mar 2, 2026
Nick Carter, former British Army chief now at the Hoover Institution, reflects on war's enduring violence and the need to adapt rather than predict futures. He contrasts Ukraine and Afghanistan, defends doctrine that permits flexibility, and explains why drones filled gaps without revolutionizing combat. He urges field experiments, logistics, combined arms, and humble leadership learning from lived experience.
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Balance Doctrine With Flexibility
- Keep doctrine as the 'cement' that holds an army but avoid making it so rigid it prevents adaptation.
- Provide a basis to act from while enabling units and leaders to deviate when reality demands.
Iraq Field Lessons Drove Bottom Up Feedback
- Amos recalls driving around in Iraq in 2005 and experiencing doctrine that didn't match battlefield reality.
- That firsthand frustration drove him to provide candid bottom-up feedback on what actually worked.
Institutionalize Bottom Up Lesson Sharing
- Listen to feedback from all levels because humility and learning are prerequisites for adaptation.
- Use mechanisms to share tactical lessons across commands like McChrystal's Afghan Hands to spread best practice.
