The history of warfare is dotted by ruined tactics, ruined strategies, and ruined lives due to the failure to adapt to new technologies. The club, the spear, the arrow, and the sword were overcome by innovations. During the Civil War, NCOs relied on traditional training methods after the introduction of the minie-ball and rifled musket: they were now useless. In his 1962 book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas Kuhn said, " ...revolutions are inaugurated by a growing sense ...that an existing paradigm has ceased to function adequately in the exploration of an aspect of nature to which that paradigm itself had previously led the way" (as cited in Shapere, 1964). A key to success on any battlefield is recognizing and reacting to shifts in technology before they render you ineffective.... The Second Battle of Manassas is a typical example of a failure by Civil War NCOs to recognize and quickly adapt to an emerging threat. There will always be a better mousetrap; similarly, projectiles will beat armor, and then armor will be made to stop projectiles. When leaders fail to match the change in abilities with new requirements then the Army will become weak and exposed to enemy attack. Today, modem warriors face another emerging threat in terrorism. Radical elements, both foreign and domestic, will continue to leverage terror as a resource to offset America's dominance of the battlefield. NCOs today must learn from the enemy and teach Soldiers how to excel on this new and evolving front line.

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