This volume explores the interpersonal, organizational, and technological enablers and barriers to information and intelligence sharing in multinational and multiagency military, humanitarian, and counterterrorism operations. To this end the contributions present case studies and other empirical research. UN and special operations headquarters are studied, along with multinational operations in Mali, Iraq, and Afghanistan by the UN and by U.S. Central Command. Perennial themes are the need for a holistic approach to information sharing—one that incorporates all the above enablers—and the importance of learning from experience, which should be the basis for operational planning. There is still considerable ground to be gained in enhancing the efficacy of information sharing in the context of defense and security, and the present book contributes to this goal.

Offering a Canadian perspective on the emotional health of servicemen and women, Military Operations and the Mind brings together researchers and practitioners from across the country to consider the impact that ethical issues have on the well-being of those who serve. Stemming from an initiative to enhance the lives of serving members by providing them with the best education and training in military ethics before and after deployments, this volume will better inform politics and public policies and enhance the welfare of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women who serve in singular, often harsh, and sometimes dangerous conditions. By integrating into the analysis the critical issue of well-being, this emerging field demonstrates a more holistic approach and is distinct from other fields in military, historical, philosophical, and behavioural studies. The first study of its kind, Military Operations and the Mind presents a new and helpful way to focus on the life of soldiers not only in operations overseas, but also once they return home. Contributors include Peter Bradley (Royal Military College of Canada), Victor M. Catano (Saint Mary’s University), Danielle Charbonneau (Royal Military College of Canada), Howard Coomb (Royal Military College of Canada), Karen D. Davis (Defence Research and Development Canada), Colonel Richard Dickson (Canadian Army Land Warfare Centre), Joe Doty (Duke University), Allan English (Queen's University), Peter Gizewski (Department of National Defence), Heather Hrychuk (Centre for Operational Research and Analysis), E Kevin Kjelloway (Saint Mary’s University), Allister MacIntyre (Royal Military College of Canada), Deanna Messervey (Queen’s University), Damian O'Keefe (Saint Mary’s University), Brigadier General (Ret’ed) G. E. Sharpe, Shaun Tymchuk (retired Canadian infantry officer), SLt Ethan Whitehead (Royal Canadian Navy), and Daphne Xu (National Institute of Education, Singapore).

The DoD has numerous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems ¿ including manned and unmanned airborne, space-borne, maritime, and terrestrial systems ¿ that play critical roles in support of current military operations. The demand for these capabilities has increased dramatically. This testimony addresses: (1) the challenges the military services and defense agencies face processing, exploiting, and disseminating the information collected by ISR systems; and (2) the extent to which the military services and defense agencies have developed the capabilities required to share ISR information. The auditor visited numerous commands, military units, and locations in Iraq and the U.S. Illustrations.

This book connects findings and insights authored by famous scholars in management and organization studies with challenges the military is facing today. One assumes that management and organization studies is only about the rational, predictable, and manageable, and that military action is predominately irrational, unpredictable, and unmanageable; both assumptions are wrong. This book argues that the discipline of management and organization studies is highly relevant for the military in both peace- and wartime conditions, and for any situation in between. In all conditions, the giant and complex military organization needs to be structured, processed, administrated, led, and accounted for. Each chapter presented in this volume focuses on the contributions of founding thinkers in management and organization studies, with their work translated and applied to the military setting. These scholars are drawn from a variety of backgrounds, including organizational sociology, economics, political science, psychology, and engineering. Although the work of only a few explicitly refers to the military, the contributions of all these scholars are relevant in order to come to grips with security and military affairs. Together with many other academics’ work, the contributions of these 18 scholars constitute the core of the field of management and organization studies. This book will be of much interest to students of military studies, management studies, and organization studies.

The increasing complexity of work systems and changes in the nature of workplace technology over the past century have resulted in an exponential shift in the nature of work activities, from physical labor to cognitive work. Modern work systems have many characteristics that make them cognitively complex: They can be highly interactive; comprised of multiple agents and artifacts; information may be limited and distributed across space and time; task goals are frequently ill-defined, conflicting, dynamic and emergent; planning may only be possible at general levels of abstraction or require adaptive solutions; some degree of proficiency or expertise is required; the stakes are often high; and uncertainty, time-constraints and stress are seldom absent. To complicate matters further, cognition in complex work settings is typically constrained by broader professional, organizational, and institutional practice and policy. These features of cognitive work present significant challenges to scientific methodology and theory, and subsequent design of reliable interventions. Historically, philosophers and scientists have attempted to understand the mental activities experienced during cognitive work at multiple levels of analysis using divergent methods. Some have examined cognition at an associative, contextual, functional or holistic level, relying on naturalistic methods to understand the higher mental processes as they work in harmony during goal-directed behavior. Others have embraced experimental methods and favored internal over external validity, often reducing cognition to a psychology of fundamental acts, such as short-term memory access with millisecond shifts in attention. More recently, Macrocognition has evolved as a complementary paradigm. Macrocognitive researchers have studied the cognitive functions and processes associated with skilled, adaptive, collaborative, and resilient cognitive work in the context of the aforementioned complexities of psychotechnical and sociotechnical work systems. Typically, this research has been carried out using cognitive task analytic techniques that draw on both naturalistic and (quasi-)experimental methods. The primary goals of research in Macrocognition are to better understand cognitive adaptations to complexity, to increase our theoretical understanding of the organism-environment relations by studying the mapping between cognitive work and real-world demands, and to promote use-inspired research capable of improving system performance.

This report stems in part from the publication of the book ¿Aid During Conflict: Interaction Between Military and Civilian Assistance Providers in Afghanistan, September 2001-June 2002.¿ On the occasion of the publication of that work, a conference was held on Oct. 25, 2004, that focused on the impact Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have had on the recurring themes in civil-military relations addressed in the monograph. This report is based on the presentations and discussions that took place during that conference. Map.

The sharing of intelligence and law enforcement information is a central part of U.S. domestic security efforts, yet there are concerns about the effectiveness of information-sharing and fusion activities and their value relative to the public funds invested in them. This report lays out the challenges of evaluating information-sharing efforts that seek to achieve multiple goals simultaneously; reviews past evaluations of information-sharing programs; and lays out a path to improving the evaluation of such efforts.

War has long been a defining feature of human history, shaping societies, economies, and the lives of individuals in profound and lasting ways. It is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon encompassing not only armed conflict between nations but also internal conflicts, civil wars, and insurgencies. The impact of war extends far beyond the battlefield, affecting every aspect of human existence and leaving a lasting imprint on generations to come. At its core, war represents a breakdown of diplomacy and a resort to violence as a means to resolve of resolving conflicts. It arises from various causes, from territorial disputes and ideological differences to competition for resources and power. Throughout history, wars have been fought for land, religion, independence, political ideologies, and countless other motivations. Regardless of the reasons behind them, the consequences of war are far-reaching and profound. One of the most devastating impacts of war is the loss of human life. Countless soldiers and civilians have perished on the battlefield, leaving behind grieving families and shattered communities. Unfathomable suffering caused by violence, displacement, and the destruction of people's homes and livelihoods is a common feature of the horrors of war. The cost to survivors' physical and mental health is tremendous, and they frequently deal with trauma, impairments, and lasting psychological scars. Beyond the immediate casualties, war can also have long-term consequences on societies and economies. Infrastructure is decimated, leaving communities without access to essential healthcare, education, and clean water. Economic systems collapse as resources are diverted to support military efforts, leading to poverty, unemployment, and widespread instability. The displacement of populations and the disruption of social structures further exacerbate these challenges, creating a cycle of hardship and dependency that can persist for generations. Moreover, the impact of war extends beyond borders, with neighbouring countries often being drawn into the conflict or experiencing its ripple effects. The global community also feels the repercussions of war through the displacement of refugees, the strain on humanitarian resources, and the potential for international tensions and escalations. In an interconnected world, no country is truly isolated from the consequences of war, underscoring the urgent need for diplomacy, conflict resolution, and the prevention of armed conflicts. Understanding the impact of war requires examining both its immediate and long-term effects. It necessitates a comprehensive analysis of armed conflict's social, economic, political, and psychological dimensions. We can gain insights into war's causes, dynamics, and consequences through historical studies, firsthand accounts, and scholarly research. Such knowledge can help inform policies and strategies to mitigate the impact of war, promote peace, and foster reconciliation in the aftermath of conflict. In exploring the impact of war, we will delve into various aspects, ranging from the human cost and humanitarian consequences to the economic aftermath and the challenges of post-war reconstruction. We will examine case studies from different historical periods and geographical regions, shedding light on the diverse experiences and lessons learned from conflicts worldwide. By grappling with the complexities of war, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of its effects and contribute to the ongoing discourse on peacebuilding and conflict resolution.