| Summary: | This research assesses the impact of synchronous (real-time), text-based chat on military command and control (C2) processes. Chat use among the services, particularly among joint forces, has evolved in ad hoc fashion to fill gaps in currently fielded C2 systems. This growth-by-improvisation inhibits clear definition of the underlying requirements: precisely what C2 deficiencies are being addressed by text-based chat tools? Or, from a bottom-up perspective: what capabilities do text-based chat tools bring to the war fighter? In this study we employ a broad set of use-cases to further refine why operators use chat based on how they apply chat to their specific combat problems. These use cases include ongoing combat operations in ENDURING FREEDOM, counterinsurgency operations in IRAQI FREEDOM, and disaster relief operations with Joint Task Force - Katrina. The focus of this study is on establishing operators' perceived requirements in light of the current capabilities delivered by the existing text-based chat tools. From these "reverse-engineered" requirements we propose future work to establish these communication capabilities in the next-generation C2 systems. === US Marine Corps (USMC) author.
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