Network-centric warfare, long lauded as the apogee of the United States' information systems prowess, ironically has engendered the U.S. Navy's greatest weakness: in relying on all systems, we function poorly with few. We have become dependent on the full use of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. Other nations, less accustomed to hegemonic control of the seas and the EM spectrum, matured in their understanding and manipulation of it, while we grew complacent to the idea of "essential emissions only." This was a grave error. Unfettered access to the EM spectrum is a luxury we cannot assume in future conflicts. To the credit of senior naval leaders, this misstep was recognized as early as 2011 and has begun to change. Emissions control (EMCON) is no longer a nighttime drill known only to bridge and combat information center watchstanders. It has become a crucial aspect of our pre-deployment certification processes and is being brought to the fleet with renewed emphasis by department heads, executive officers, and commanding officers fresh from advanced leadership and tactical courses. Senior deckplate leaders take electronic warfare (EW) more seriously today than at any time since the fall of the Soviet Union.
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