Distributed Operations: The Evolution of Warfare in the 21st Century

Abstract : The threats faced by America in the 21st century demand new innovative tactics, technologies, and doctrine. The time to introduce distributed operations is now. Despite the U.S. military's pressing requirements for Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, it must continue to develop and implement the concept of distributed operations. In accordance with the National Military Strategy, the joint force must continue to evolve and leverage the asymmetrical strengths of the American military, primarily its technological advances and superbly trained forces. The concept of distributed operations takes these strengths and provides today's Joint Force Commander with an effects-based joint force capable of quickly defeating any future adversary's denial and anti-access strategy. In a July 2004, "Marine Corps Gazette" article, Brigadier General Schmidle, the former Director of the Expeditionary Force Development Center, defined the Marine Corps version of distributed operations as "characterized by the physical dispersion of networked units over an extended battlespace. Battalion- to squad-sized formations can conduct such operations." The article went on to add that the ability to conduct distributed operations would be an additive capability to the infantry battalions within the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The main tenets of distributed operations are as follows: (1) fully networked units utilizing technology capable of providing a common operational picture (COP), (2) physically dispersed units scattered throughout the battlefield, and (3) rapidly employed joint fire support assets through a compressed time-sensitive targeting process. Relevant throughout the entire spectrum of warfare, distributed operations embrace the evolution of the principles of war and operational functions in the 21st century, thereby addressing the need for new tools to defeat today's and tomorrow's adversaries.