Command and Control in a Complex World

The national security problems facing the Joint Force are increasingly ill-defined and can be characterized as "wicked problems" and that these "wicked problems" cannot be solved solely by better planning or decision support processes. The current joint definition of command and control does not adequately address changes introduced through technology trends, our understanding of the global operating environment, and capabilities offered by modern information and communications technology. The inclusion of mission command in joint doctrine as a method to synchronize the actions of tactical elements of the Joint Force is necessary if the Joint Force is to work effectively within the 21st century operational environment. A joint version of the current Army and Marine Corps concept of mission command could provide a more agile and adaptable force - a force capable of achieving unity of effort within the framework of "whole of government" approaches to challenges in the operational environment today and well into the future.