Training for the High End Fight
In the 21st century, technology evolves at a pace unseen before in human history. Primed by unprecedented technical developments and social upheavals like that brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, people around the world have changed the way in which they interact with information, with each other, and with the wider world.
Geopolitics today are the most unsettled in generations. The post-9/11 era has brought new wars and highlighted the rise of powers intent on shaking up the world order established after World War II.
As Dr. Laird points out in the pages that follow, the institutions that undergird the Western world must deal with an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world. They must learn how to adapt from a crisis management playbook to one that recognizes that we are in an era of chaos management. Crisis management relies on predictability and established protocols, while chaos management requires rapid decision-making in ambiguous environments.
Military institutions must adapt to all of those changes and adjust the way they prepare their forces for the moments that matter. Military units and personnel must become more adaptable and capable of reconfiguring for different missions without the need for extensive retraining. Many old assumptions no longer apply and rigor is needed to understand and fully implement the potential of new technologies.
None of this will be simple or easy. Nonetheless, it is necessary and achievable.
Air warfare is a complex game. In World War I, experienced pilots enjoyed a massive advantage over new ones. Inexperienced airmen often were killed in their first few combat missions. Similar ‘learning curves’ occurred in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. We no longer have the luxury of extended learning curves.
Today, airmen must be ready to fight and win on the first night of the war. They must be prepared to survive in environments that are more lethal, ambiguous, and complex than ever. New training approaches are absolutely necessary for combat aviators to operate effectively.
Dr. Laird explains the transition from ‘kill chains’ to ‘kill webs’ that take advantage of the latest technology and joint force capabilities. Aviators must operate and thrive in dynamic kill webs and use capabilities beyond their own aircraft. This book lays out how the evolution in air combat training is being achieved and what the transition from traditional to new modes of training means for the future.
Brian J. Morra
Author and Defense Analyst
Training for the High-End Fight: The Paradigm Shift for Combat Pilot Training
For a video highlighting the book, see the following: