The battlelab should be an early success, according to Col. Michael Carpenter, C2BMB commander, because it is embedded within the Air Force's premier battle management organization, the Air Combat Command's Air Warfare Center. AWC is the parent organization for the 53rd's U.S. Air Force Air Ground Operations School, the historic training center for Air Operations Center battlestaff personnel. The 505th Command and Control Evaluation Group, which controls the two schools, also has a long tradition of battle management validation and testing. When ACC sought a location to establish its C2BMB, Hurlburt Field was the natural choice.

"The fundamental basis for the C2BMB is ideas," said Lt. Col. Fred Norman, C2BMB deputy director. "What we're trying to do with a battlelab is examine a concept. We'll investigate any command and control or battle management initiative that effects Air Force commanders. "We'll develop a recommendation for the Air Force on that concept. In some cases, we'll say don't waste your time on this.' In other cases, we'll recommend a change to doctrine, training, operations or acquisition."

C2BMB will propose and explore operational and logistical initiatives that rapidly lead to battle management innovation. These initiatives include exploring technological advances, assessing improved architectures, doctrine and training and assessing the combat effectiveness of improvements to command and control of air forces.

By demonstrating and evaluating new battle management concepts and capabilities, C2BMB will allow the U.S. Air Force to rapidly advance innovative warfighting concepts.

Intelligence personnel and systems collect information on potential adversaries worldwide. Once the Air Component Commander provides strategic objectives, other intelligence professionals propose targets to affect enemy centers of gravity and evaluate critical nodes for each of these targets. Air planners task assets to conduct strikes. Once those targets are hit, operations and intelligence personnel again collect information, evaluate the damage caused and recommend restrikes.

Through the innovative warfighting concepts developed by the C2BMB, this cycle may be compressed or even eliminated altogether. C2BMB may be able to develop a dynamic, real-time, sensor-to-shooter air campaign coordination process.

"It is essential for battle managers to have good information, or they'll make bad decisions. Information operations are the foundation upon which battle management is built," said Brig. Gen. Paul Hester, 53rd Wing commander.

"By participating in battlelab initiatives, our intel professionals will be able to observe and keep pace with the latest advances in air and space battle management. We'll also be able to tailor Air Intelligence Agency information operations to serve as an enabling force for planning an air campaign.

"A fundamental part of the Air Force's Global Engagement vision, the Battle Management Battlelab will be a tremendous force multiplier for maintaining U.S. air and space dominance in the next century," said Hester.

Retrun to July 97