A call for papers recently asked for a summation of the future of military leadership in 300 words or less. This was my submission. Since the word count was so limiting, I chose to focus on "network warfare," not in the sense of computers and digits but in the sense of interlinked processes and people fighting different types of wars than what we prepared for previously.
What kinds of things do our future military leaders need to do to succeed against their enemies, especially non-state actors? You do not have to have a military background to provide your personal opinion.
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What kinds of things do our future military leaders need to do to succeed against their enemies, especially non-state actors? You do not have to have a military background to provide your personal opinion.
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The Network is Now: Military Leadership in Future Warfare
In the wake of global financial crisis and on the heels of more than ten years of persistent conflict, the future of warfare is likely to be characterized by democratic countries becoming even more reluctant, reactionary, and risk-averse. In this future, Western democracies in particular will continue to face agile, technically adept, and politically astute foes who effectively operate outside of the traditional nation-state model that dominated most conflicts prior to 2001. These future types of adversaries, particularly politically-motivated terrorist groups and economically-focused criminal gangs, will be increasingly able to leverage the kinds of diplomatic, information, military, and economic resources that have historically been the exclusive purview of nations. These organizations will be highly proficient at utilizing Information Age technology to draw in recruits and resources and to spread their message or increase their control of markets and territory. With their international linkages, flattened hierarchy, and access to a wide variety of resources, these types of adversaries are “networked.”
If networked enemies are the most likely future foes, then military leaders must become skilled in constructing, maintaining, and effectively utilizing networks of resources not typically associated with the military. This is required because, in the words of U.S. General (retired) Stanley McChrystal, “it takes a network” to be successful against a networked foe. To build networks, future leaders will have to be highly effective thinkers in addition to proficient fighters. They must be warriors, diplomats, technophiles, and highly skilled communicators all in one package. As the mission dictates, they will have to be able to either lead, influence, or support a federated effort that includes the armed services, civilian agencies, and non-government organizations of several different nations. The “Network Age” of warfare is now upon us, will our future leaders be ready?