Command and Control for the Information Age

Abstract

The US military has found it very difficult for its traditional hierarchies to fight against terrorist networks in Iraq and Afghanistan, in part because it continues to rely on the same Industrial Age model of command and control that was shaped by its experiences in World War II. Today, tens of thousands of warfighters are digitally linked, with better firepower, communications, and intelligence than the military had 20 years ago, yet the C2 model has not evolved. The military has built itself around a 20th Century model designed for efficiency and control that does not match with 21st Century complexity. These innovations and challenges effect no one more than the commander, with deep repercussions for his ability to command and control. The current Marine Corps command and control model is outdated and, while still effective, is falling short of its full potential. While the hierarchical organization may be more efficient, a networked organization can better adapt to the changes seen in today's environment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 02, 2016
Accession Number
AD1178779

Entities

People

  • Michael T. Hlad

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Biological Sciences
  • Command And Control
  • Complex Systems
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Group Dynamics
  • Information Operations
  • Marine Corps
  • Military Education
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Network Centric Warfare
  • Organizational Structure
  • Second World War
  • Students
  • United States Naval Academy
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control