The Future of the Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC).
Abstract
In 2010, the Commander, Joint Task Force (CJTF) is likely to face continued challenges from interagency coordination in humanitarian assistance (HA) operations, especially in a network-centric environment. A crucial tool for improving interagency coordination is the Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC). The CMOC is an open arena for information exchange among all the disparate humanitarian relief organizations. It is designed to assist the CJTF achieve unity of effort and accomplish the humanitarian assistance mission. This paper will examine the impact of network-centric warfare on the CMOC in HA operations. Unless steps are taken to mitigate them, the concept of network-centric warfare is likely to increase rather than solve the interagency coordination problems in HA operations. The U.S. military must take precautions against the tendency to use technology to solve its interagency coordination challenges. While network capabilities can enhance the CMOC, it should not be used as a substitute for the interpersonal relationships fostered there. With personal relationships as a firm foundation, a "network-centric" CMOC could be immensely more effective and efficient than the current forum. Without the personal relationship foundation, however, a network-centric CMOC becomes a recipe for disaster.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 05, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA363429
Entities
People
- Susan C. Geshan
Organizations
- Naval War College