Maj. Gen. David S. Doyle, Col. Charles M. Knoll & Col. Daniel R. Leard
In 2020, the XVIII Airborne Corps initiated a series of joint exercises named Scarlet Dragon. The commanding general at the time, Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, recognized that despite the near-constant discussion of the need for artificial intelligence and machine learning to aid decision-making and full integration of joint and multidomain effects in the next war, there was almost no practical integration of these tools into tactical exercises. Project Maven, the Department of Defense’s initial effort to use machine learning algorithms to assist intelligence analysts, had existed for several years and even seen some success in joint special operations targeting efforts in Afghanistan. However, the units that would be decisive in large-scale combat operations (LSCO)—corps, divisions, and brigades—had little to show for the early efforts. The implementation of these critical technologies and the practice of layering multidomain effects was long overdue, and thus, XVIII Airborne Corps created Scarlet Dragon.
With multidomain operations (MDO) moving beyond future concepts and into our doctrine with the update to Field Manual 3-0, Operations, we must determine what the practice of MDO means for units at echelon and for our tactical headquarters. We must find cost-effective, high-payoff methods to develop best practices iteratively, inform refinements to nascent doctrine, and identify gaps in capability development efforts.1 It is time to become multidomain practitioners. Corps, division, and brigade commanders are ideally positioned in experience, resources, and staff proficiency to take on echelon-appropriate components of this task. To be clear, there is no shortage of talent and initiative across the force. Fort Liberty is not the only installation where leaders are striving to push beyond the status quo.
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