Reports of yet another command post being neutralized raise the question of the command post’s relevance in today’s operational environment. Does the commander and the command post still have a place on the transparent battlefield?
In order to contribute to an understanding of how the Swedish command system may need to evolve at the higher tactical level, this thesis uses an interview-based study to explore how Swedish officers perceive the impact of the modern operational environment on command requirements.
The results indicate that decision-making has become more complex. Swedish officers believe that decisions now affect multiple domains and timeframes simultaneously. The thesis shows that perceptions of the commander’s role are shifting. This calls for a flexible command system.
The thesis also reveals that Swedish officers, even within the command post paradigm, tend to prioritize survivability over efficiency. And this marks a shift and changes the nature of command requirements.