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skill of the commander.”l 1 Military mander and his army will not always ated by command control, commu-
genius is a key in influencing war’s have it readily available: combat nications and intelligence (C31)sys-
outcome, experience.”*5 tems. This makes it feasible to cmte
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Thor- Clausewitz considers education live, virtual and constmctive environ-
ntonechoes this position by emphasiz- and experience essential to developing ments using modeling and distributed
ing the continuing importance of these military genius’ intellectual aspects. interactive simulation that are realistic
military genius qualities in the cOm- He views personality factors such as and challenging. Thus, training and
mand and control (C*) arena. 12 He boldness, courage and decisiveness as exemises can approach combat’s rea-
identifies three primary areas where innate or untrainable. At best, one can lism,at least as far as the mmminder’s
such factors are important: the situa- expect them to be shaped or fimsed interfaces are concerned.
tion assessment; the operational deci- by training and experience. This is Understanding the essential factors
sion (the commander’s intent); and the similar to Shanteau’s position that in expertise development can help us
organization and C* process tailored such personality factors are mom a provide the appropriate training envi-
to the commander’s needs. matter of selection than experience. 16 ronment to foster military genius.
Thornton states, “Despite the prog- Advances in cognitive task analysis
ress of [C*] support systems, the Genius and techniques and training methods can
nature of war remains the realm of Expert Similarities contribute to effective training regime
danger, exertion and uncertainty. Whatimplications can be drawn development. However, as suggested
Because of these elements and the fium the similarities between Clause- by both Clausewitz and Shanteau, we
inherent friction involved with wag- witz’s military genius concept and must also recognize that personnel
ing war, Clausewitz saw the need for cumnt expert concept? First, there is selection plays a mle in identifjhg
genius in the military commander to the continuing importance of effective potential Ieadem who have the essen-
successfidly operate in such an envi- leadership. Clausewitz attributed mili- tial characteristics that cannot be
ronment. The r uirement for genius tary success, in large ~ to the com- achieved through training. Factors
remains today.” Y1 mander’s capabilities. Key factors such as decisiownmking speed, in-
include the ability to accurately per- formation synthesis tlom multiple
Developing Military Genius ceive the situation, make effective soums and battlefield visualization
Given the options of “nature versus decisions and motivate troops. As will become increasingly important
nurture” as military genius develop- Thornton argues, such factors axe for the next generation’s leaders. On-
mental factors, Clausewitz supports important on today’s battlefield.17 In going mearch at the US Army
both. He believes both intellectual the information age, with its acceler- Research Institute on leader skill as-
and temperament factors aR impor- ated planning and decision-making sessment and developmental technol-
tant in such genius, saying, “&at pace and increasing dependence on ogies, battle command and battlefield
things alone can make a great dispersed operations, the criticality of visualization will provide insights into
rnind.”14 In the intellectual domain, such capabilities is magnified,18 this issue’s selection and training
education, training and experience are Second, training plays a critical role aspects.lg
needed to develop the great com- in developing military expertise. I%dly, consideration of the char-
mander. The most critical factor in Although Clausewitz felt that only acteristics and information needs of
Clausewitz’s mind is war experience, combat could provide the necessary military commanders who represent
which cannot be sufficiently dupli- experience, this is an area where train- the expertise spectmrn must M&m
cated in drills or exercises, since this is ing and warfare technology advances the design of the C31systems that sup-
what prepares the commander to deal have made it easier to provide the port the commanders. For example,
with the effects of friction. appropriate experience outside of the Army Research Laboratory
Clausewitz states, “No activity of combat. Ttiy, most senior com- (ARL) is investigating the capabilities
the human mind is possible without a manders interact with the battlefield essential for an integrated battlefield
certain stock of ideas; for the most through synthetic environments cE- intelligence system and has identified
pm these are not innate but acquired , Y these essential features:
and constitute a man’s knowledge. . . DE ThomasH. Killionis the USArmy . commander’s intent
Clearly, most of these are not quali- ReseamhLaboratorylkison to the&puty ● ~rations battlefield area (such
ties that can be acquired through book arsiskzntsecmtaty of theArmy (Reseamh as ten-am and weather)
laming. If they can be taught at all, and Technology). He receiveda PhD. ● Current situation
jium the Universityof Oregon. Previous
a general will have to receive his positionsincluakexecutiveassistantto the . Battle analysis tools and the
instruction from sources other than the director US Army ResearchLabomtory; mission-critical support data
printed word. . . . We have identified advancedtechnologyteam kwderfor the ARL is using a rapid prototyping
danger, physical exertion, intelligence unrnannedAerial VehiclesJoint Project; tool--Cmnrnander (and stail) Visual-
and princijmlscientistin ekctmnic com-
and friction as the elements that bat trainingfor the OperationsTrainhg ization Research Tool (CoVKT)-to
coalesce to form the atmosphere of Divisiofi US Air Fo~e (USAF) Human investigate content and format issues
war and turn it into a medium that Resoumes Ldoratoq (now the Aitww supporting integrated batdespace
impedes activity. In their restrictive TrainingDivisw4 USAFArmstmngLub- visualization, The information con-
oratoq). He co-authcvvd “BattleCom- tent and format must be responsive
effects, they can be grouped into a d and Digitim”on: A MANPRl~
single concept of general friction. Is Perspective,” March-April1995Military to the varying levels of experience
there any lubricant that will reduce Review. and expertise of the commandem
this abrasion? Only one, and a com- 4 using CoVKI’. This mquims some
tation of previous approaches, if nec- the extent to which we can expect 14.-’145.
15. Ibid., 145,262 Wld 122.
essary-which the deciion maker such genius to be developed as 16. ~U.
evaluates through a mental simula- opposed to being an innate individ- 17. ThDmbJn.
16. AM and l-laid Totllar, WarandAn&Wsr Surdd
tion process. This approach to the ual quality. Concern for the nature atf/w Q?wofft?a Tww&FkafCanfury (NawYcslc Liltla,
decisioninaking process differs of such expertise should inform our ~J?&o., 19s3).
Raaearch InsMule(Ml) asporata
markedly from earlier analytical mod- processes of personnel selection, a&, T
Fml w15SMScimnxand T
-G
els that focused on generation and training and system design. By doing !ZZX%%%V’A———’—”
option comparisons W on so, we can improve command quality 20. Klain.
21. Klah, %magkd Dadaim~Mifaty
weighted f~. and enswe our leaden axe prepared Raww(May 19W).
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