Katrine Lund-Hansen & Jeff Reilly
Professional military education (PME) is unprepared to meet the magnitude of changes in complexity, speed, and precision evolving in maneuver warfare. This turbulence is being driven by an exponential growth of computing power where the pace of cyber, directed energy, nanotechnology, and hypersonic systems are eclipsing the normal capacity to predict their effects. The consequences of these changes are directly affecting the ability to effectively synchronize maneuver in multiple domains through joint operations alone. Evidence supporting this statement is clearly evident in the unfolding tragedy of the Ukraine War. The war has demonstrated an unforeseen capacity of advanced technology to exploit air, land, and maritime operations through use of unmanned aerial vehicles, Magura drone boats, anti-armor fires, and precision artillery strikes. Additionally, the war has provided a subtle hint of the importance of control of and access to the electromagnetic spectrum to jam enemy communications, use thermal and hyperspectral imagery for targeting, and vector friendly cyber effects. The most salient lesson from the war, however, is what happens when opposing forces cannot maneuver without catastrophic casualties. In light of these dynamic trends in warfare, it is clear that PME has an inherent responsibility to invest in reimagining maneuver warfare. Based on 18 years of experience in teaching the underlying principles of multi-domain operations (MDO), this article examines MDO and PME’s role in shaping advanced maneuver competencies. It begins by articulating why PME should approach MDO as a maneuver construct and how MDO affects the efficacy of planning and execution skill sets. The article then transitions to an analysis of MDO’s impact on interagency and multinational coordination and concludes with recommended PME considerations.
No comments:
Post a Comment