Synopsis "Command and Control of the Future Mechanized Task"
The mechanized task force commander contends with many factors that define his environment. To assist him in contending with this environment, he employs a command and control system consisting of personnel, communication, equipment, facilities, and procedures. To the extent that this system allows the commander to understand and operate within its environment, it contributes to the unit's ultimate success or failure. The US Army intends to replace the 1990's command and control system with an information age system termed Force XXI Battle Command System, Brigade and Below (FBCB2). This system promises to improve the performance of the command and control system by incorporating advanced technologies and systematic improvements to the legacy system. FBCB2's ability to achieve this goal depends upon its ability to understand the environment and to communicate this information to the commander. This monograph examines the dynamic relationship that exists between FBCB2 and its environment. It does so by examining first the environment in which all command and control systems operate and identifying sources of complexity. Then the paper assesses command and control as a system as well as the objective design and function of FBCB2. Finally the monograph compares FBCB2 to the projected future environment to assess its ability to assist the commander in understanding that environment. This study concludes that FBCB2 will assist the commander in understanding his environment because it will simplify the execution of his command and control tasks. FBCB2 will simplify these tasks because it will increase the time available to the commander to execute his command and control tasks, reduce the number of those tasks, and reduce those tasks' difficulty.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
