WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 9, 2015) -- The Army's vice chief of staff opened the fifth Association of the United States Army "Hot Topic" symposium of the year, June 9, by emphasizing the importance of leadership development, mission command and Soldier empowerment from the bottom up.
Pulling together the Army Operating Concept, or AOC, the Army Network Campaign Plan and how they tie into the global landpower network, keynote speaker Gen. Daniel B. Allyn said the AOC recognizes the Army will face networked enemies in the future.
Those enemies include, "transitional terrorist networks and nation states networked with guerrilla and insurgent organizations, which all want to leverage physical and cyber networks to attack and degrade our systems and spread disinformation and propaganda," Allyn said.
"In future conflict, as in our recent campaigns, it will take a network to beat this network - that is why the AOC calls for the Army to establish a global landpower network along with our special operations forces, the Marine Corps and allied nations capable of shaping the security environment, preventing conflict and enabling us to win," he said. "The idea of a global landpower network is not new."
The general said that what is new about the idea of a global landpower network is that such a network would allow the Army to not only win a war, but would also enable the nation to achieve strategic gains without the use of force.
"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting," Allyn said, quoting Sun Tzu. "This global landpower network is focused on doing just that."
The day-long symposium focused on development of Army networks, resources, strategy and policy required to execute the Army Network Campaign Plan.
Allyn said the plan relies on leaders, who are "agile, adaptive and innovative - leaders who thrive in conditions of uncertainty ... and, yes, chaos, and who possess the character and commitment to make the nation stronger and our world safer."
Addressing mission command, the vice chief said it's more than the equipment and hardware that's used, it demands a culture where competent, trained leaders exercise intuitiveness and operate with prudent risk within the commander's intent.
"Here our Army is on the right track; our young Soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers operating across our force are truly impressive," Allyn said.
He added that science and technology must focus on delivering solutions, which empower leaders at the lowest levels with relevant combat information, situational understanding and access to joint and Army capabilities.
Related Links:
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Daniel B. Allyn
Army.mil: Science and Technology News
STAND-TO!: The U.S. Army Operating Concept
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