Transforming U.S. Forces Lessons from the Wider Revolution

摘要

The so-called revolution in military affairs (RMA) is primarily an information revolution. Therefore, while it is helpful to learn from previous discontinuities in warfare-such as those brought on by aviation and by fast armor-it is just as important to draw lessons from the revolution in nonmilitary affairs being propelled by information technology. This paper does that by sifting through commercial experiences of the last two decades and then suggesting principles and measures that might help the U.S. defense establishment transform U.S. military capabilities in order better to exploit the technology that is changing the world. This is far from the first attempt to inject corporate success into the world of defense. In recent years, various reengineering plans, best practices, 'revolutions in business affairs', procurement reforms, and Department of Defense (DoD)-wide information systems have been introduced, with admirable results. Yet, while the U.S. defense establishment has become more efficient in a narrow sense, it increasingly seems unable to transform its output-U.S. military capabilities, doctrine, and structure even though it has declared its resolve to do so. Therefore, we are especially on the lookout for ideas on how to effect corporate change for the sake of making operational and strategic gains.