Accession Number:

AD1036912

Title:

Mission Command In A Communications Denied Environment

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

AIR WAR COLLEGE MONTGOMERY United States

Personal Author(s):

• Ahrens,Ramon

Report Date:

2017-02-16

Pagination or Media Count:

25.0

Abstract:

The United States armed forces are currently in the process of developing the next doctrine, Joint Concept for Access and Maneuver in the Global Commons JAM-GC. The current concept of Air Sea Battle highlights some areas of concern, especially in regards towards command and control of globally deployed troops. This paper argues that the leadership precepts of Mission Command will be beneficial over centralized control and centralized execution. Mission Command is particularly helpful in communication denied environments. This paper shows the advantages in situations where modern forces lose the ability to use satellites, computer networks, or have to operate after a nuclear attack. These three types of attack have a major influence on leadership methodologies and are mentioned in the Air Sea Battle concept. Mission Command relies on a personal contact between the echelons, in order to delegate authority and build trust between the units. The commander needs to know the capabilities and the limitations to task correctly. Also, he relies on subordinate commanders to seize the initiative and to achieve objectives in order to fulfill the commanders intent. Mission Command needs to be practiced and executed in peacetime for it to work during real world operations.

Descriptors:

• unmanned aerial vehicles
• command and control
• global positioning systems
• computer networks
• cyberattacks
• lessons learned
• military operations
• asymmetric warfare

Subject Categories:

• Command, Control and Communications Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE