Military Deception in Focus: A Quantitative Reassessment
Abstract:
Deception has long been regarded as a potent yet paradoxical tool in warfare, historically yielding strategic advantages while often being underappreciated. This study examines the frequency of deception in military operations using a random sample of 40 historical battles. Findings reveal that deception is employed in 30-53% of military operations, challenging prior estimates of over 80%. By clarifying deception’s prevalence, this research offers new insights to enhance military strategies and to refine the integration of deception into contemporary operations.
AUTHORS
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Marine Corps Base Hawaii,
Halawa, Hawaii, United States of America
and
Marine Corps University, Command and Staff College
James Skeffington is a graduate of Marine Corps University, where he earned a Master’s of Military Studies, with a focus on operations in the information environment. A Field Artillery officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, he currently serves as an Operations Officer with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. In his civilian career, he is a Senior Technical Product Marketing Manager at a leading big data platform: Treasure Data. He is also the author of the Band of Brothers Travel Guide, reflecting his passion for military history and battlefield storytelling.
Published In
Journal of Information Warfare
The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.
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