System Analysis of the Army Communication Network in Support of Enhanced Recruiting

Methods of communication have increased greatly over the past 25 years. Faster, more targeted communication enables organizations to influence their audience with greater precision and achieve their effect with greater impact on those receiving the message. Communication has moved from the days of broadcasting (equivalent to the basic "dumb bomb") to targeted messaging aimed at specific groups or even individuals (equivalent to today's precision-guided munitions [PGM]). Targeted information is a "PGM" the Army can use to achieve a number of desired goals if that "weapon" is employed properly. Recruiting is a prime example of where precisely targeted communication can benefit the Army. The communications network, which includes messages, mediums, outlets, and audience, is a system that can be analyzed at its nodes and arc capacitance. Moreover, the operational effectiveness of the system is an area of analysis that will have an impact on the design and development of the network.