An introduction to command and control

Abstract

Command and control activities have long been recognized as a vital part of military operations. From shouted battlefield commands to today's information-age warfare, it is those who have mastered the techniques and applications of command and control who have most often prevailed. As critical as it is to our success, it is a topic that is controversial, often poorly understood, and subject to wildly different interpretations. This thesis examines the command and control process, consisting of people, information, and structure, and the interaction between the function of command and the systems that facilitate the process. It is intended to serve as a roadmap for the study of this topic from a foundational standpoint by first exploring the doctrinal definitions used throughout DoD and developing a sense of what command and control is, and equally important, what it is not. It then focuses on the components of the process and the dynamic relationships that exist between them. Finally, it considers our future, as outlined by such visions as JV2020 and Network-Centric Warfare, in hopes of identifying and understanding those things that will challenge us in developing an effective process. Command and control influences every facet of warfare. In preparing for a future that calls for increased use of technology and systems, it is critical that we understand the process in order to remain an effective force.