Introduction
It is important to note that managing the war and army fighting in it is a challenging and complex endeavor. Ensuring relative comfort, sustenance, and basic conditions is difficult, which is further made harder on top of the warfare strategy and tactics. The case highlights several problems faced by George Washington and the Continental Army, among which the poor camp layout and sanitation plan, as well as low morale and desertion, are of prime interest.
Proposed Solutions
When it comes to the poor camp layout and sanitation plan, it is an organizational issue rather than the military one. A large army is essentially a group of individuals who require conditions to meet their basic human needs. If the latter is not satisfied properly, the fighting capability of soldiers becomes reduced drastically. The given issue leads to the second identified problem of low morale and desertion, which can be considered as outcomes of a set of mismanagement measures, including the first issue. The proposed solution and course of action involve allocating specific sites at the back of the campsite for defecation and urination, which needs to be used for animal corpse disposal as well. The primary subcomponent is to ensure setting a camp in the backline of the trenches or frontline of the anticipated or planned battleground. This will allow them to quickly take arms and be near the location of battle whenever necessary. The next subcomponent is the use of the most acceptable and secure distant site at the back for sanitary needs. These measures alone will provide a higher degree of comfort for the army to avoid infections and unsanitary conditions.
Recommendations
More specifically, the army management and organization of routines need to account for self-cleaning, food rationing, and maintenance of sanitary regimen at the campsite. Rest is just as critical as performance during the battle since well-rested troops will be more resilient to the stresses and pressures of war. In other words, morale and subsequent desertion are tied to the conditions in which soldiers fight. The first element of the strategy is to ensure access to clean drinking water since both water contamination and thirst can severely hinder military performance. The second aspect is the availability of basic medicine, such as painkillers, to ease the suffering inflicted by wounds. The third strategic unit is to regularly conduct ‘chatting,’ because “lice were a constant problem for soldiers living in the cramped and crowded conditions of the trenches” (Imperial War Museums, 2022, para. 3). To avoid fever and infestation, it is critical to either burn or crush the insects. Lastly, one of the most important elements of the recommendation is to conduct foot inspections at the campsite to prevent a trench foot by the top military commanders. Further actions include equal food distribution and rationing if the food is scarce, controlled by the leaders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, one should be aware that managing the army and war is a difficult and complex task. Ensuring an acceptable level of comfort, basic conditions, and sustenance is challenging, which is further made harder on top of the warfare strategy and tactics. To effectively address the morale, desertion, sanitation, and camp layout issues, it is critical to organize sanitarily and waste disposition strategically.
Reference
Imperial War Museums. (2022). How to keep clean and healthy in the trenches. Web.