JRTC & Fort Polk Campaign Plan 2027: Making Sense of the Amazingly Complex
JRTC & Fort Polk Campaign Plan 2027: Making Sense of the Amazingly Complex
Chad Roehrman | 2018
Abstract
Throughout history, armies have trained for the warfare in which they expected to engage. Unfortunately, as an interwar US Army lieutenant colonel aptly stated, we are good at planning for and training for the last war (Berman, 2013). In the 1940’s, the US Government acquired a large portion of western and central Louisiana to conduct large scale training exercises. These Louisiana Maneuvers prepared units for service in Europe during World War II. Currently, the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) and Fort Polk, occupying a portion of the land used during the Louisiana Maneuvers, trains infantry brigade combat teams for current conflicts. However, in this hyperchange environment, the rate of change will continue to accelerate and the difference between past and future warfare will be more significant (Cornish, 2004). The present environment does not equal the future environment, therefore we must prepare for the future of warfare to enable future success.
Military technology and capabilities continued to develop over time, yet our shortsightedness results in both our inability to project and be prepared for the future and our inability to influence the future. The use of strategic foresight tools and methodologies, coupled with the military planning process, facilitate a greater understanding of the future to enable adequate preparation. The purpose of the two and a half day workshop is to ensure we are poised to train the future infantry brigade combat teams for future warfare. This workshop focuses four key areas of change impacting future warfare and the US Army: mass migration and mega cities, technological advancements and enhanced cognition, technology leadership fusion and artificial intelligence, and medical advancements improving soldier health and capability. Our understanding of the plausible futures sets us on the path to accomplish the long-term objectives. Ultimately, the benefit of the effort through the workshops is the future infantry brigade combat teams will be best trained to meet their future warfare requirements. They will be capable of winning in the increasingly complex world of the future.