Preparing for the Future of Warfare: Understanding the Joint Warfighting Concept 3.0

The Ever-changing Face of War: The Tricky Parts

War, by nature, is a contest of wills. Although this much remains constant over time, the manner in which battles are waged is continually evolving. The U.S. military recently unveiled a new strategic document, the Joint Warfighting Concept 3.0 (JWC) that signifies a paradigm shift in how it will prepare for future warfare.

A noteworthy reminder of this changing dynamic, the recently held Wyoming National Guard Joint Leadership Conference focused on updating leaders on large scale combat operations implementing JWC concepts and strategies. Preparing for an unpredictable future involves grappling with some overwhelming challenges, both at the global level and on the technological front.

Adapting to the Changing Threat Landscape

Among the intimidating issues the United States faces are the resurgence of China as a global superpower, rogue states hell-bent on gaining nuclear capabilities, and extremist organizations causing chaos and instability. This tricky landscape is further complicated by rapidly advancing technologies altering military strategies at a dizzying speed.

Learning to Leverage Emerging Technologies

Major General Jerry Prochaska, one of the speakers at the Joint Leadership Conference, highlighted the critical role of technology in warfare. He espoused the value of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), which he referred to as a “game changer”. However, he also pointed out that our military needs to be open to adopting innovations from private industry. To truly understand the future we’re stepping into, we need to take a deeper dive into innovative breakthroughs and their potential impact on our defenses.

Integration: The JWC’s Answer to an Overwhelming Challenge

One of the key solutions proposed by the JWC to navigate the nerve-racking challenge of widespread change is intensified integration between the various arms of the US military. This subtle yet significant shift in outlook goes beyond simple collaboration between various U.S forces. Instead, it encourages forces to think about how they can support other services rather than receiving support

Making Sense of a Tangled Tactical Environment

Post integration, the forces have to get around the confusing bits of operating in multiple domains. This demands the capability to fuse information from sensors across space, air, land, and sea and making that data unilaterally available for decision-makers and leaders, regardless of what branch they serve in.

Leadership in the Midst of Change

The final critical piece of the puzzle explored at the Joint Leadership Conference was the role of leadership in embracing and managing this change. True leadership, according to U.S. Air Force veteran Shawn Dawley, hinges upon readiness, capability, and worthiness of the challenges that lie ahead – the scary, the uncertain, and the overwhelming. Leaders must be prepared to steer through these tense times and lead their forces effectively.

In essence, the Joint Warfighting Concept 3.0 offers a path through the wild expanses of the future – but it’s the leaders who must take the wheel and guide their forces safely through. The work has already begun in earnest, as evidenced by the diligent efforts of the leaders who gathered at the Wyoming National Guard’s Joint Leadership Conference, and the hope is that the roadmap laid out by the JWC will light the way forward.

Originally Post From https://www.dvidshub.net/news/490014/wyoming-national-guard-enhances-warfighting-skills-joint-leadership-conference

Boosting Battle Expertise: Wyoming National Guard Ups Its Game at Joint Leadership Conference