Simulating mission command for planning and analysis

Abstract

Time is of importance for the success of a military mission and is a beneficial tool that can provide an advantage over the enemy if used effectively. This thesis prototypes a mission planning and analysis simulation for commanders and staff officers to assist in the mission-planning process and helps them to manage the duration of a mission by using technology and mission command as a means to accelerate mission. The simulation and analysis of the output data in this thesis has five main benefits. Firstly, it finds the critical path of the task network system of a mission planned according to the mission command concept. Secondly, it gives the estimated success rate of finishing the mission on time. Thirdly, it provides an interactive mission-planning process and amortizes most critical factors of war such as morale, leadership, weather, and terrain. Fourthly, it saves time and money spent for the mission by focusing attention on only a small part of the tasks planned during the mission-planning process. Lastly, the Excel sheets developed in the course of this work can be used as a matrix for synchronizing the mission plan.