Centralized Execution: A Necessary Challenge to Joint Doctrine

Centralized planningDecentralized execution is a widely accepted mantra of joint doctrine, written into nearly every joint pub and considered vital in our ability to fight high tempo maneuver warfare. This doctrine seems to be under attack by the influence of technology, a concern plainly addressed in our joint doctrine. Identifying the reasons behind the drift of operational command and control away from decentralized execution provides an opportunity to examine some of the assumptions that are part of this accepted way we fight wars. Technology has always driven changes in the way war is fought as much as it has driven changes in weapons themselves. While decentralized execution still holds immense military value, changes brought about by technology and the environment we operate in have created necessary instances of centralized execution by operational commanders. Understanding these changes, and controlling or adapting to them, are necessary to maintain effective joint doctrine.