Networked Forces in Stability Operations: 101st Airborne Division, 3/2 and 1/25 Stryker Brigades in Northern Iraq
Abstract
The Stryker brigade, one of the Army's newest units, has advanced command, control, and intelligence capabilities and uses a network-centric concept of operations. These capabilities include the full complement of Army digital communications and battle command systems. Its networked capabilities enabled it to employ network-centric operations (NCO) capabilities down to a lower echelon than other Army units. An important issue for the Department of Defense and the Army is whether these improved capabilities translate into an information advantage and, if so, whether that advantage results in greater mission effectiveness in stability operations. This study attempts to answer those two questions by focusing on the Stryker brigade's performance in stability operations. It employs the case-study methodology to examine three units that operated in the same area in Iraq between 2003 and 2005: the 101st Airborne Division (ABD), the 3/2 Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT), and the 1/25 SBCT. All served in Iraq's northern provinces. The study compares the performance of the units along a number of dimensions. The comparisons between the 101st ABD and the Stryker brigades are especially important because, although the 101st ABD had some advanced battle command systems, it was largely an analog unit, i.e., one that communicated using analog radios and generally used voice-only, line-of-sight communications at the tactical level. We use two of the four U.S. objectives for stability and reconstruction in Iraq to assess the mission effectiveness of stability operations undertaken by each unit. We investigate how the NCO capabilities and other resources available to these units were utilized to conduct stability and counterinsurgency operations and whether these capabilities resulted in improved mission effectiveness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA473243
Entities
People
- Daniel L Gonzales
- Donald Temple
- James Mcfadden
- Jerry M. Sollinger
- John Dejarnette
- John Hollywood
- Sarah Harting
Organizations
- RAND Corporation