Center of gravity (military)

Center of gravity (COG) is a military concept referring to the primary source of strength, balance, or stability necessary for a force to maintain combat operations.

[1] COGs play a central role in military planning, though exact definition has been elusive, with interpretations varying substantially over time, across forces, and between theorists.

Present academic literature on the subject generally agrees the term needs further clarification and careful application, while some theorists call for its complete removal from military doctrine.

[5] The United States Department of Defense defines a COG as "the source of power that provides moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act",[6]: 33  although there has been a significant and widespread push to revert to a more classical, Clausewitzian interpretation of the phrase.

This means, in the case of an insurgency, the U.S. military may define their opponent's COG as the entire host population, a core group of leaders/believers, or an external nation's material, financial, or political support.