Contractor Support on the Battlefield -- Increased Reliance Requires Commander's Attention
Abstract
The number and criticality of contractors on the battlefield have grown across the spectrum of conflict. Department of Defense initiatives to adopt a leaner business strategy, increase efficiency, and reduce expenditures have exposed the battlefield commander to additional operational risk centered on the command and control associated with outsourcing efforts. The challenge to the commander is to specifically design a planning and execution methodology that integrates contractor and military personnel efforts that support success on the battlefield. A growing reliance on contractor support provides significant challenges for commanders to overcome. The challenges presented by the loss of core competencies, limited flexibility brought on by contractor security concerns, the legal limitations on the role that contractors can play on the battlefield, and the failure to integrate contractors fully into the command and control system are all critical to battlefield success. Striving to integrate contractors on their battlefield, commanders must integrate them as part of the total force. To do this, commanders must assimilate contractors into their command and control systems, define the contractors' mission via the unit's desired end-state, evaluate risk by determining the contractors' ability to perform under combat conditions, replicate the habitual relationships organic support units share with operational units, and limit the risk associated with contractor failure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 16, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA463651
Entities
People
- Kathy J. Maloney
Organizations
- Naval War College