Command and control (abbr.C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... [that] employs human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or enterprise, according to a 2015 definition by military scientistsMarius Vassiliou,David S. Alberts, andJonathan R. Agre.[1][2] The term often refers to a military system.
Versions of the United States ArmyField Manual 3-0 circulated circa 1999 define C2 in a military organization as the exercise ofauthority and direction by a properly designatedcommanding officer over assigned and attachedforces in the accomplishment of amission.[3][4]
A 1988NATO definition is that command and control is the exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated individual over assigned resources in the accomplishment of a common goal.[5] AnAustralian Defence Force definition, similar to that of NATO, emphasises that C2 is the system empowering designated personnel to exercise lawful authority and direction over assigned forces for the accomplishment of missions and tasks.[6] The Australian doctrine goes on to state: "The use of agreed terminology and definitions is fundamental to any C2 system and the development of joint doctrine andprocedures. The definitions in the following paragraphs have some agreement internationally, although not every potential ally will use the terms with exactly the same meaning."[6]
The USDepartment of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms[7] defines command and control as: "The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission. Also called C2. Source: JP 1".[8]
The edition of theDictionary "As Amended Through April 2010" elaborates, "Command and control functions are performed through an arrangement of personnel, equipment, communications, facilities, and procedures employed by a commander in planning, directing, coordinating, and controlling forces andoperations in the accomplishment of the mission."[9] However, this sentence is missing from the "command and control" entry for the edition "As Amended Through 15 August 2014."[10]
Commanding officers are assisted in executing these tasks by specializedstaff officers and enlisted personnel. Thesemilitary staff are a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directionalflow of information between acommanding officer and subordinatemilitary units.[11]
The purpose of a military staff is mainly that of providing accurate, timely information which by category represents information on which command decisions are based. The key application is that of decisions that effectively manage unit resources. While information flow toward the commander is a priority, information that is useful or contingent in nature is communicated to lower staffs and units.[citation needed]
This term is also in common use within thecomputer security industry and in the context ofcyberwarfare. Here the term refers to the influence an attacker has over a compromised computer system that they control. For example, a valid usage of the term is to say that attackers use "command and control infrastructure" to issue "command and control instructions" to their victims. Advanced analysis of command and control methodologies can be used to identify attackers, associate attacks, and disrupt ongoing malicious activity.[12]
There is a plethora of derivative terms that emphasize various aspects, uses, and sub-domains of C2. These terms are accompanied by numerous associated abbreviations. For example, in addition to C2, command and control is often abbreviated as C2 and sometimes as C&C
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"Command and control" have been coupled with:
and others.
Some of the more common variations include:
and others.
Acommand and control center is typically a secure room or building in a government, military orprison facility that operates as the agency's dispatch center, surveillance monitoring center, coordination office and alarm monitoring center all in one. Command and control centers are operated by a government or municipal agency.
Various branches of theUS military such as theUS Coast Guard andNavy have command and control centers. They are also common in many large correctional facilities.
A command and control center that is used by a military unit in a deployed location is usually called a "command post".[18] A warship has acombat information center for tactical control of the ship's resources, but commanding a fleet or joint operation requires additional space for commanders and staff plusC4I facilities provided on aflagship (e.g., aircraft carriers), sometimes acommand ship or upgraded logistics ship such asUSSCoronado.
Command and control warfare encompasses all the military tactics that use communications technology. It can be abbreviated as C2W. An older name for these tactics is "signals warfare", derived from the name given to communications by the military. Newer names includeinformation operations andinformation warfare.[19]
The following techniques are combined:
with the physical destruction of enemy communications facilities. The objective is to denyinformation to the enemy and so disrupt its command and control capabilities. At the same time precautions are taken to protect friendly command and control capabilities against retaliation.
In addition to targeting the enemy's command and control,information warfare can be directed to the enemy'spoliticians and other civilian communications.
US and other NATO specific:
Other
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromDictionary of Military and Associated Terms.United States Department of Defense. This article incorporatespublic domain material fromFederal Standard 1037C.General Services Administration. Archived fromthe original on 22 January 2022.
