Joint Command and Control: Integration Not Interoperability

Abstract

Currently, the four Services independently fund, field, and operate distinct, in effect, stand-alone C2 systems. However, every operational-level event is Joint. To incorporate their capabilities into Joint operations, the Services have developed distinct C2 systems with various levels of interoperability, but none of them are truly integrated. This creates a dilemma: Do they continue with C2 systems that are merely interoperable, or adopt a different approach? The Services develop interoperability internally between computers and communication equipment as part of their distinct systems. But for these distinct C2 systems to have any functionality among the Services, the Services must develop some degree of external interoperability among their separate computers and communication equipment. The Services also must determine the level of interoperability they want and the particular systems and equipment that will be interoperable. The ability for systems to minimally function together would meet the intent of the definition. However, even the highest level of interoperability will not achieve full integration. This thesis argues that Joint military operations will never be fully integrated as long as the Services have separate C2 systems. If Joint operations are the primary means of employing military forces in the future, the Department of Defense (DoD) must develop a unified C2 system for the Joint Force Commander (JFC) that will integrate land, maritime, air, space, and cyberspace capabilities across the range of military operations. Currently the JFC's only option is to execute C2 through the different C2 systems of the four Services. The optimal solution is a single, Joint C2 system that the JFC, Service component commanders, and functional component commanders all employ uniformly. The thesis also argues that DoD should commit to centralized funding of a Joint C2 system.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA581322

Entities

People

  • William B. Apodaca

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Airborne Warning And Control System
  • Cognition
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Information Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Knowledge Management
  • Military Applications
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Organizational Structure
  • Systems Engineering
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
  • Space