Theater Communications and the Army Role.

The theme of this individual study project is to arrive at possible Army roles in theater-wide communications. Today one can see that tactical elements (i.e., echelons at corps and below) are being equipped with organic communications equipment which is necessary to fight the battle. Relatively thin lines of long-haul communications interconnect out-of-theater. Within the theater, between tactical elements and the long haul communications, are mostly peacetime systems which cannot provide survivability and endurability during wartime. Command, control and intelligence needlines over communications paths cannot be guaranteed after any outbreak of large scale hostilities. A look at historical approaches to theater-wide communications within selected theaters and ongoing study efforts such as communications system are examined. Possible roles for the Army emerge and the need to take a 10-15 year look ahead to see which role might be the more desirable. The project points the way towards the need for communications architectures which can be developed from the basis of understanding herein for endurable and survivable, theater-wide communications capabilities for user needlines.