Command and control: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Military exercise of authority by a commanding officer over assigned forces}}

{{otherusesother uses}}

[[Image:CIC-USS-CarlVinson-2001.jpg|thumb|A watchstander at her station in the [[combat information center]] of [[USS Carl Vinson|USS ''Carl Vinson'']] in the year 2001.]]

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{war}}

'''Command and control''' (abbr. '''C2''') is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... [that] employs human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or enterprise, according to a 2015 definition by military scientists [[Marius Vassiliou]], [[David S. Alberts]], and [[Jonathan R. Agre]].<ref>Vassiliou, Marius, David S. Alberts, and Jonathan R. Agre (2015). ''[https://www.crcpress.com/C2-Re-envisioned-The-Future-of-the-Enterprise/Vassiliou-Alberts-Agre/p/book/9781466595804 C2 Re-Envisioned: the Future of the Enterprise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802135408/https://www.crcpress.com/C2-Re-envisioned-The-Future-of-the-Enterprise/Vassiliou-Alberts-Agre/p/book/9781466595804 |date=2 August 2019 }}''. CRC Press; New York; p. 1, {{ISBN|9781466595804}}.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Re-conceptualizing Command and Control |journal=Canadian Military Journal |date=Spring 2002 |pages=53–63 |volume=3 |number=1 |author1=Ross Pigeau |author2=Carol McCann |url=http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo3/no1/doc/53-64-eng.pdf |access-date=1 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120065217/http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo3/no1/doc/53-64-eng.pdf |archive-date=20 November 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The term often refers to a military system.

Versions of the United States Army [[List of United States Army Field Manuals|''Field Manual 3-0'']] circulated circa 1999 define C2 in a military organization as the exercise of [[authority]] and direction by a properly designated [[commanding officer]] over assigned and attached [[Armed forces|forces]] in the accomplishment of a [[Military operation|mission]].<ref>''para''&nbsp;5-2, [[List of United States Army Field Manuals#FM 3-0|United States Army Field Manual: FM&nbsp;3–0]]<br/>{{cite book |author=Headquarters, Department of the Army |author-link=United States Department of the Army#Headquarters, Department of the Army |title=FM&nbsp;3–0, Operations |date=14 June 2001 |place=Washington, DC |publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office|GPO]] |oclc=50597897 |url=http://155.217.58.58/cgi–bin/atdl.dll/fm/3-0/fm3-0.exe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020219134603/http://155.217.58.58/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/3-0/fm3-0.exe |archive-date=19 February 2002 |url-status=dead |format=PDF inside [[Zip (file format)|ZIP]]–[[Self-extracting archive|SFX]] |access-date=19 August 2013 }}<br/>[https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-0.pdf Newer versions of FM 3-0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075453/http://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-0.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }} do not define ''Command and control'', even though they use the term extensively.</ref><ref>Builder, Carl H., Bankes, Steven C., Nordin, Richard, [https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/2006/MR775.pdf "Command Concepts – A Theory Derived from the Practice of Command and Control"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002035632/http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/2006/MR775.pdf |date=2 October 2012 }}, MR775, [[RAND]], {{ISBN|0-8330-2450-7}}, 1999</ref>

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The US ''[[Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms]]''<ref>[http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/dod_dictionary/ DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010194329/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/dod_dictionary/ |date=10 October 2016 }}, www.dtic.mil</ref> defines command and control as: "The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission. Also called C2. Source: JP 1".<ref>[http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/dod_dictionary/data/c/3226.html Command and control] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629002310/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/dod_dictionary/data/c/3226.html |date=29 June 2011 }}, Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, www.dtic.mil</ref>

The edition of the ''Dictionary'' "As Amended Through April 2010" elaborates, "Command and control functions are performed through an arrangement of personnel, equipment, communications, facilities, and procedures employed by a commander in planning, directing, coordinating, and controlling forces and [[Military operation|operations]] in the accomplishment of the mission."<ref name=JP12010>{{cite book|last1=Joint Chiefs of Staff (U.S.)|title=Joint Publication 1-02. Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms (As Amended Through 31 January 2011)|date=8 November 2010|entry=Command and Control|page=65|url=http://ra.defense.gov/Portals/56/Documents/rtm/jp1_02.pdf|access-date=3 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918211120/http://ra.defense.gov/Portals/56/Documents/rtm/jp1_02.pdf|archive-date=18 September 2014|url-status=livedead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, this sentence is missing from the "command and control" entry for the edition "As Amended Through 15 August 2014."<ref name=JP12014>{{cite book|last1=Joint Chiefs of Staff (U.S.)|title=Joint Publication 1-02. Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms (As Amended Through 15 August 2014)|date=8 November 2010|entry=Command and Control|page=44|url=http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf|access-date=3 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824034254/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf|archive-date=24 August 2014|url-status=livedead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Commanding officers are assisted in executing these tasks by specialized [[Staff (military)|staff officers]] and enlisted personnel. These ''military staff'' are a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional [[information flow|flow of information]] between a [[Officer (armed forces)|commanding officer]] and subordinate [[military units]].<ref name="crumley90">{{citationcite book |last1=Crumley |first1=Lloyd M. |last2=Sherman |first2=Mitchell B. |title=Review of Command and Control Models and Theory needed|date=September 1990 |publisher=United States Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences |___location=Fort Leavenworth, KS |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA230105.pdf |access-date=19 March 20142023 |archive-date=19 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319213837/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA230105.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The purpose of a military staff is mainly that of providing accurate, timely information which by category represents information on which command decisions are based. The key application is that of decisions that effectively manage unit resources. While information flow toward the commander is a priority, information that is useful or contingent in nature is communicated to lower staffs and units.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

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==Derivative terms==

There areis a plethora of derivative terms whichthat emphasiseemphasize differentvarious aspects, uses, and sub-domains of C2. These terms comeare withaccompanied aby plethora ofnumerous associated abbreviations. – forFor example, in addition to C2, command and control is also often abbreviated as C²,C2 and sometimes as C&C.

[[File:Embraer R-99 6750 (9502952605).jpg|thumb|right|[[Embraer R-99|Embraer R-99 MULTI INTEL]], an example of aircraft with C3I capabilities]]

"Command and control" have been coupled with:

* [[Collaboration]]

* Communication / communications

* Computers / computing<ref>

* (Military) [[Military intelligence|intelligence]]

* Information / information systems

* Computers / computing<ref>

In modern warfare, [[computer]]s have become a key component as [[cyberspace]] is now seen as "[[Cyberwarfare|the fifth ___domain of warfare]]" – refer:

{{cite book |author=Clarke, Richard A. |title=Cyber War |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2010}} and<br>

{{cite journal |url=httphttps://www.economist.com/nodeleaders/16481504?story_id=16481504&source=features_box12010/07/01/cyberwar |title=Cyberwar: War in the Fifth Domain |journal=Economist |date=1 July 2010 |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207071347/http://www.economist.com/node/16481504?story_id=16481504&source=features_box1 |archive-date=7 December 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

</ref>

* [[Electronic warfare]]

* [[Interoperability]]

* [[Reconnaissance]]

* [[Surveillance]]

* [[Target acquisition]]

* [[Reconnaissance]]

* [[Interoperability]]

* Collaboration

* [[Electronic warfare]]

and others.

{{anchor | CC | cc code | code || CC terminology}}

Some of the more common variations include:

* AC2 - Aviation command & control

* C2I – Command, control & intelligence

* C2I – command, control & information (a less common usage)<ref>[http://www.dtic.mil/ttcp/groups.htm TTCP Groups] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605074328/http://www.dtic.mil/ttcp/groups.htm |date=5 June 2011 }}, www.dtic.mil/ttcp/</ref>

* R2C2I - rapid advanced manufacturing, command, control & untelligenceintelligence [developed by SICDRONE]

* C2IS – command and control information systems

* C2ISR – C2I plus surveillance and reconnaissance

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* C3/SA - C3 plus [[Situation awareness|situational awareness]]

* C4, C4I, C4ISR, C4ISTAR, C4ISREW, C4ISTAREW – plus computers (technology focus) or computing (human activity focus)<ref>[http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf "Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123014953/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |date=23 November 2008 }}, Joint Publication 1-02, US Department of Defense, 17 March 2009.</ref><ref>Sloan, E., "Security and Defence in the Terrorist Era", McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal, 2005; see Ch. 7 for C4ISTAR discussion.</ref>

* C⁴I²C4I2 – command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, and interoperability

* C5I – command, control, communications, computers, collaboration and intelligence

* C5I – command, control, communications, computers, cyber and intelligence (US Army)

* C6ISR – command, control, communications, computers, cyber-defense and combat systems and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/936468/000093646820000016/lmtq4201910k.htm | title=The 2019 Annual Report of Lockheed Martin Corporation | publisher=the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | date=February 7, 2020 | access-date=28 June 2020 | archive-date=28 June 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628204543/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/936468/000093646820000016/lmtq4201910k.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

* MDC2 - multi-___domain command and control

* NC2 − [[nuclear command and control]]

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==Command and control centers==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px200">

File:Soviet command ship SSV-33.jpg|The Soviet nuclear-powered command and control naval ship [[SSV-33 Ural|SSV-33 ''Ural'']] in the year 1988.

File:US Navy 040616-N-3725R-009 Joint Operations Center watch standers review the latest battle assessment.jpg|Joint Operations Center watch standers aboard the command ship [[USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20)|USS ''Mount Whitney'']] in the year 2005.

</gallery>

A '''command and control center''' is typically a secure room or building in a government, military or [[prison]] facility that operates as the agency's dispatch center, surveillance monitoring center, coordination office and alarm monitoring center all in one. Command and control centers are operated by a government or municipal agency.

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==Command and control warfare==

Command and control warfare encompasses all the military tactics that use communications technology. It can be abbreviated as C²W. An older name for these tactics is "signals warfare", derived from the name given to communications by the military. Newer names include [[information operations]] and [[information warfare]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Exploiting Electronic Warfare |last=Larson |first=Doyle E. |author-link=Doyle E. Larson |date=1981-07-01 |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0781electronic/ |magazine=[[Air & Space Forces Association#Programs|Air & Space Forces Magazine]]|publisher=[[Air & Space Forces Association]]|access-date=2025-01-26}}</ref>

The following techniques are combined:

* [[Cyberwarfare|Cyber operations]]

* [[Operations security]] (OPSEC)

with the physical destruction of enemy communications facilities. The objective is to deny [[information]] to the enemy and so disrupt its command and control capabilities. At the same time precautions are taken to protect friendly command and control capabilities against retaliation.

In addition to targeting the enemy's [[Command and control (military)|command and control]], [[information warfare]] can be directed to the enemy's [[politics|politicians]] and other civilian communications.

* [[Electronic warfare]] (EW)

* [[Military deception]]

* [[Operations security]] (OPSEC)

* [[Psychological operations]] (PSYOP)

* [[Electronic warfare]] (EW)

* [[Psychological warfare]]

* [[Cyberwarfare|Cyber operations]]

with the physical destruction of enemy communications facilities. The objective is to deny [[information]] to the enemy and so disrupt its command and control capabilities. At the same time precautions are taken to protect friendly command and control capabilities against retaliation.

In addition to targeting the enemy's [[Command and control (military)|command and control]], [[information warfare]] can be directed to the enemy's [[politics|politicians]] and other civilian communications.

==See also==

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* [[Signal Corps (disambiguation)]]

* [[Signals intelligence]] (SIGINT)

* [[Situation room]]

* [[Surveillance and Target Acquisition]] (STA)

{{Div col end}}

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* [[505th Command and Control Wing]]

* [[Command and Control Research Program]] (CCRP)

* [[Command systems in the United States Army]]

* [[Deployable Joint Command and Control]]

* [[Future Combat Systems Command and Control Vehicle]]

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* [[NORAD]]

* [[Worldwide Military Command and Control System]]

* [[Command systems in the United States Army]]

{{Div col end}}

'''Other'''

* [[Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technologies]]

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==External links==

{{Wiktionary|C4ISR}}

{{Commons category}}

* [httphttps://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/operations/command-and-control/definitions-and-procedures/ Command and control definitions and procedures], UK College of Policing, www.app.college.police.uk

* [http://www.dodccrp.org The Command and Control Research Program (CCRP)]

* [httphttps://www.dodccrpinternationalc2institute.org/files/Alberts_UC2.pdf "UnderstandingInternational Command and Control" Institute] by D. S. Alberts and R. E. Hayes (2006)

* [http://www.dodccrp.org/files/Alberts_UC2.pdf ''Understanding Command and Control''] by D. S. Alberts and R. E. Hayes (2006)

{{Military and war}}

[[Category:Command and control| ]]