Compressing the Levels of War: Operation Desert Storm and Operation Allied Force Case Study

Abstract

Advances in information and communications technology are combining with the CNN effect to blur the distinction between the strategic, the operational and the tactical level of command. The strategic level of command frequently reaches down through the operational level of command, placing restraints on the operational commander's selection of possible courses of action or limitations on the tactical level of command. The tactical level of command is similarly affected by these same phenomena such that tactical actions may have immediate and strategic ramifications. While there are measures the operational commander may take to mitigate the occurrence of these effects, it ultimately remains up to the operational commander to become adept at integrating the strategic level of command with the tactical level of command and producing the effects required to meet the assigned political objectives.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 15, 2001
Accession Number
ADA393528

Entities

People

  • Michael D. Snoderly

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Case Studies
  • Collateral Damage
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of Defense
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Strategy
  • New York
  • Persian Gulf
  • Persian Gulf War
  • Task Forces
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.