A Proposed Model of Battle Rhythm at the Tactical Level

Abstract

Issue: Successful battle rhythm implies the synergism of procedures, processes, technologies, individual and collective actions at warfighter, staff level, command node, and unit levels in order to facilitate military operations. The concept is ubiquitous in daily military operations (particularly at the operational level of command), but little exists to define it at the tactical level or substantiate its existence in the experimental or analytical literature. Like art, we know it when we see it, and often see it differently, given our individual perspectives. Moreover, given the proliferation of distributed, virtual operations in virtual command centers (those existing exclusively within and across information networks), there appears to be a curious lack of knowledge regarding the establishment and maintenance of battle rhythm in virtual command environments. There is a need to establish a common referent, a model of tactical battle rhythm, in order to discover the methods best suited to "command and control" it.