Optimizing Leadership Performance Through Context Awareness and Simulation Based Training in Network Centric Operations

Optimizing the human contribution to joint warfighting, and achieving a revolutionary war-winning capability for future operations requires a paradigm shift from traditional methods of leadership. For future leaders to be effective their training must adapt to rapidly changing events and they must have the knowledge and skills to lead operations in various battlefield and non-battlefield environments such as peacekeeping, stability, humanitarian operations, and working with international organizations. In the new paradigm, the enemy sets conditions so U.S. forces must engage at the tactical level, reducing the role of technology in the fight. This requires leaders who understand how to achieve human dominance over potential adversaries in addition to kinetic dominance. Working with the United States Military Academy, we identified and defined the dynamic leadership skills required in modern asymmetric warfare. In examining basic leadership concepts, we found ten specific roles and responsibilities necessary for leaders to operate effectively when engaged in joint, stability, support and security operations within an asymmetrical war environment. In addition, the authors found that certain meta-leadership knowledge and skills and attributes were expected to enhance leader performance.