Mission Command of Multi-Domain Operations: A US Army War College Student Integrated Research Project
Abstract
This project supports the US Army War Colleges efforts to remain a recognized leader in the creation of invaluable ideas on strategic issues relating to the US Army and the global application of Landpower. The project was requested in 2018 by Headquarters, US Army Training and Doctrine Command, to describe a new or modified operational framework to enable successful visualization and mission command of Army forces and the Joint Force across all domains in multi-domain operations (MDO) against peer competitors. The resulting product is an integrated student research project conducted primarily during academic year 2019 that involved four US Army War College students and four faculty members, led by Dr. John A. Bonin. The project examines the MDO concept with respect to how it affects the philosophy of mission command and the execution of command and control functions. The transition to MDO changes the traditional view of the ways in which Army commanders and staffs conduct operations in the physical environment and operations in the information environment within the competition continuum. This project employs the introduction of aircraft into the US Army during World War I as a case study for the challenges of integrating new domains into the military. The project also provides an overview and analysis of MDO and the ways it is changing how we fight as well as roles and responsibilities in the Army. These changes will allow the Joint Force to campaign more effectively across the continuum, especially in competition below armed conflict. The transition to MDO will require new processes and this project investigates how a multi-domain synchronization cycle could be beneficial. Changes to physical systems, Joint professional military education, Joint and Army doctrine, and headquarters staff structures will be required as leaders and their staffs will need different skills to operatein this new environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1127929
Entities
People
- Antwan Dunmyer
- Craig Bondra
- Daniel Miller
- Doug Orsi
- John Bonin
- Lafran Marks
- Mark Balboni
- Robert Mundell
Organizations
- United States Army War College