C2 at the Edge of Chaos: The Real Transformation to Enable Network Warfare

Abstract : The United States Army, along with the Department of Defense, has been undergoing a transformation that initially focused on technologies and structures instead of personnel and training policies. Network-centric theories focus on technology, structure, doctrine or social interaction depending on one's view of warfare. American theorists tend to emphasize technology and the network itself and the Department of Defense adopted the term Network-Centric Operations. The British adopted the term Network Enabled Capabilitiesand emphasize the network as a tool. The US Army recently adopted the term Network-Enabled Battle Command and the same tool emphasis. Clausewitz differentiated between theoretical and real war and this paper attempts to do the same with network warfare. The possible is operations executed by balanced hierarchical and network organizations where commanders grow units that operate at the edgeof chaos. What enables networks? As the Germans learned during the inter-war years and Special Operations Forces have emphasized, trust and a common view attained through years of shared experiences is the key to networked organizations. If the Army, like any organization, is to execute networked operations then it must implement personnel and training policies that grow the commanders and soldiers that operate at the edgeof chaos.