Information and the Future of Battle Command

Abstract

The purpose of this monograph is to examine information flow and problems at battalion and brigade levels and how it effects battle command. The primary research question is: Will the digitization of the battlefield and the resultant information dominance effect battle command at the brigade and battalion levels? This monograph concludes that the digitization is not alleviating the problems with information management experienced at brigade and battalion levels. This monograph examines the current issues with information flow at brigade and battalion levels by studying observations from the National Training Centers and experiences during Desert Storm. The monograph studies how commanders and staffs process information and the resultant effects on decision making. The monograph briefly studies the current digitization initiatives and tries to determine their impact on information processing. Digitization and increased technology provide the commander and staff with an exponential increase of information. It is critical that the commander identify what information he needs in order to make decisions or change his vision of the battlefield. Improvements in information processing will not alleviate uncertainty on the battlefield. Technology will not take the art out of battle command.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 22, 1997
Accession Number
ADA331389

Entities

People

  • Karen L. Sinclair

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Battle Damage Assessment
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Control Systems
  • Electronic Mail
  • Information Exchange
  • Information Operations
  • Information Processing
  • Information Systems
  • Lessons Learned
  • Reconnaissance
  • Students
  • Task Forces
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.