28 level operations. Major elements of the operational level of war are: Substantial combat power is kept out of contact till the opportune time. This is in sharp contrast to the tactical perspective wherein opposing forces actually see and engage each other and is thus more narrowly focused on specific military objectives. • The operational perspective provides a wide enough view for the commander to enjoy independent command of military forces but is narrow enough to be relatively free of having to coordinate with the other elements of national strategy. • Nonetheless, there is a need for understanding of the strategic perspective. • a clear An operational perspective prevents a commander from over-identification with tactical battles. It is concerned with translation of abstract strategic aims to achievable tactical objectives through the design, organisation and conduct of major operations. • 3.5 Tactical Perspective. The tactical perspective, having the narrowest view in the hierarchy of war, essentially concerns itself with optimising the application of military forces to achieve specified objectives. This level focuses on the application of combat power to defeat the enemy in combat at a particular time and place. It includes the employment of firepower and manoeuvre, the integration of different arms and the exploitation of success. Commanders at this level concern themselves with purely military objectives laid down for them, such as destroying enemy forces, seizing specific objectives or denying specific pieces of ground and so on. The means used in tactics are combined-arms formations and the ends are tactical victories. These engagements may be more than one, running concurrently in a theatre of operations spread over hundreds of kilometres. Seemingly disjointed in application of force, they are, nevertheless, bound to a common higher goal. A link is required to bring these various tactical pieces together to create the military conditions that can achieve strategic goals. That link is the operational level and it is for this reason