The Encyclopedia of Social Welfare History in North America is a unique reference work that provides readers with basic information about the history of social welfare in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The intent of the encyclopedia is to provide readers with information about how these three nations have dealt with social welfare issues, some similar across borders, others unique, as well as to describe important events, developments, and the lives and work of some key contributors to social welfare developments. In choosing a continental focus, editors John M. Herrick and Paul H. Stuart encourage readers to explore cross-national and comparative work in the development of social welfare history. The Encyclopedia defines social welfare broadly to include education, informal mutual assistance, the development of the social work profession, and voluntary charitable activities as well as state supported public welfare activities. The coverage is therefore broad and interdisciplinary, including the fields of anthropology, health sciences, history, political science, social work, and sociology. Editors include specialists in the social welfare history of each nation, and they have collaborated with scholars from a variety of academic disciplines to prepare entries of varying length addressing these issues. Associate editors for Canada and Mexico, both authorities in the history of social welfare in those countries, were responsible for recruiting expert contributors in their fields. No other reference work takes this unique continental approach, and as such this will be a much needed acquisition for any academic or large public library with a social science collection. Beginning students as well as established scholars will find this an invaluable starting point for investigations into new areas of inquiry. Topics Covered * Canada * Charity * Child welfare * Economic conditions and social welfare * Economics/tax policy * Health/Mental Health Policy * Landmark social welfare legislation * Mexico * Poverty * Race and Social Inequality * Social Problems * Social Security and Income Maintenance * Social Welfare Reform * Social Welfare Reformers * Social Work * United States * Women and social welfare Associate Editors John Graham, University of Calgary Enrique Ochoa, California State University, Los Angeles Ruth Britton, University of Southern California Editorial Assistants Russell Bennett and Benson Chisanga, University of Alabama

This monograph addresses the question: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the command and control system of a light infantry battalion which is conducting a night attack? To address this question, this monograph uses the following methodology. First, it develops working definitions of command and control and the command and control system. Next, it examines two examples of night attacks--one successful, the other unsuccessful--to determine the command and control factors that led to success in the first and failure in the second. Then, using the definition of the command and control system, it briefly describes the physical composition of this system for the light infantry battalion. Its next step is to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the physical components of the command and control system of the light infantry battalion in their ability to perform the command and control factors of the night attack. Using the results of this assessment, it then draws conclusions and makes some recommendations on ways to improve the light infantry battalion command and control system when it conducts a night attack. This monograph draws the following conclusions. First, the leadership of the light infantry battalion will be its greatest strength during the night attack. Second, the light infantry battalion has a significant night vision capability, a strength for the night attack, but it can be improved. Third, the battalion has sufficient FM radios on the TOE to conduct a night attack, but the lack of radios in the scout squads hinders their ability to pass reconnaissance information necessary for preparing for the attack. Fourth, the capability to establish a TAC CP during a night attack will provide flexible control during the conduct of the attack. Finally, the battalion can significantly strengthen its capability to successfully execute a night attack if it develops and documents procedures, SOPS and techniques for quickly preparing warning orders and operations

This monograph inquires into the nature of operational maneuver by addressing the following research question: Can operational maneuver be used to create the decisive point? It uses the following methodology to answer this question. First, it discusses both operational maneuver and the decisive point. Next, it examines three historical examples of operational maneuver to establish a relationship between operational maneuver and the decisive point. It also uses these examples to illustrate factors that are prerequisites for operational maneuver to create the decisive point. Finally, it examines current U.S. Army doctrine to see what the doctrine says about operational maneuver, the decisive point and the prerequisites for successful operational maneuver. The monograph draws three conclusions. First, operational maneuver can create the decisive point. Next, U.S. Army doctrine uses the term decisive point but does not define what the term means. Furthermore, the doctrine does not clearly link operational maneuver to the decisive point. Finally, the prerequisites for operational maneuver that are illustrated in the examples of operational maneuver are listed in the doctrine, but with the linkage of operational maneuver to the decisive point there may be other factors (such as surprise, risk taking, or a strong attack at a weak point) that come into play.