Command and Control Evolution in Response to Distributed Airlift Operations Within Contested Environments

Download or read book Command and Control Evolution in Response to Distributed Airlift Operations Within Contested Environments written by Amanda M. Olguin and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 11 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This Air University Advanced Research paper focuses on the need for Command and Control (C2) evolution in order to remain a lethal force when operating in future Contested, Degraded, and Operationally Limited (CDO) environments, specifically in regards to airlift operations within the Mobility Air Force (MAF) for units operating within the proximity of near-peer adversaries. There are many components and challenges to distributed or dislocated operations like base operating support, security support, joint operations, and more; however, the scope of this research will discuss future C2 challenges as well as a potential way forward. The 2018 National Defense Strategy laid the groundwork for a transition from a post-Cold War era to embrace the uncertainties presented within the changing global environment. The Department of Defense (DoD) was charged with developing a lethal, agile, and resilient force posture as well as dynamic force employment. Agile Combat Employment (ACE) objectives focus U.S. efforts towards maintaining flexibility in theater, readiness to respond to contingencies, and ensure long-term warfighting readiness. Long-term operations within a CDO environment will inevitably force units to operate out of distributed locations to increase survivability and sustainability; however, this new way of operating will lead to a potential restructure of current Command and Control (C2) procedures. Current methods are consolidated in one physical location, bypass critical links in the communication chain, and leave U.S. forces vulnerable to disruptions; where a decentralized approach to C2 in short durations may prove vital for sustained long-term force success going into the next generation."--Abstract.