Command and Control for Distributed Operations: an Analysis of Possible Technologies, Structure and Employment

In order for information to move efficiently in asymmetric combat environments the military has had to flatten its organization and find ways to network those decision makers who impact the ebb and flow of events on the ground day to day. This thesis further develops the concept of Marine Corps distributed operations (DO) under the current Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) structure. Analysis will focused on the integration of traditional RF nets into a networked based architecture using emerging Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) Radio Frequency to Internet-Protocol (RF to IP) technologies that would further advance the Marine Corps’ MAGTF capabilities.