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Email: mohamed.abdelazez@forces.gc.ca

Anthony.robb2@forces.gc.ca

C2 Sandbox – Testing and Validating New C2 Concepts

Mohamed Abdelazez¹, Anthony Robb², and Ahmed Ghanmi¹

¹ Defence Research Development Canada

² Canadian Joint Warfare Centre

Centre of Operational Research and Analysis

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Introduction – Wargaming

“Analytic games that simulate aspects of warfare at the tactical, operational, or strategic level”
An example of wargaming being leveraged at the strategic end of the spectrum was US General Donn Starry’s application of wargaming to develop what would become AirLand Battle – the principal US warfighting doctrine of the latter stages of the Cold War
A typical wargame requires three main components:

Scenario: this is the problem/issue or the situation being wargamed that requires the generation of new ideas or for new COAs to be generated for or examined in.
Competing entities: the opposing ideas or forces competing to establish superiority.
Adjudicator: a judge that determines which idea or force is gaining ground based on a set of established rules.

"Wargaming," [Online]. Available: https://www.rand.org/topics/wargaming.html

P. Norwood and B. Jensen, "Wargaming the Third Offset Strategy," Joint Forces Quarterly, 1 October 2016.

P.-I. Evensen, S. E. Martinussen, M. Halsør and D. H. Bentsen, "Wargaming Evolved: Methodology and Best Practices for Simulation-Supported Wargaming," in Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando, FL, 2019.

Image copied from: https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2020/january/more-war-game

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Pan-Domain Command and Control (PDC2)

In a PDC2 scenario, commanders and operators are expected to ingest data from across a variety of sensors, make sense of the data, make sound and timely decisions, communicate these decisions across all domains, and address any unexpected situations that may arise.
These tasks may strain current C2 structures and processes, so to ensure that our approach to C2 is ready for future warfare and to meet the challenges, it is crucial to derisk new C2 concepts and technologies.
The testing and validation of new C2 concepts could be performed using wargaming

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The C2 Wargame Sandbox

An open system that could be overlaid on existing and custom designed wargames
Incorporate the nuances and qualitative aspects of C2
C2 Sandbox steps:

Determine C2 capacity
Incorporate PPST modifiers
Incorporate additional C2 modifiers
Create the C2 capacity grid
Determine C2 costs
Adjudicate capacity and costs
Incorporate limitations of communication technology
Consider organizational structure and COMRELs

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Step 1 – Determine base C2 capacity

Organization	Base level
Sub-sub-unit	6
Sub-unit	8
Unit	10
Formation	12
Task Force	16
National HQ	20

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Step 2 – Incorporate PPST C2 modifiers

C2 Assessment Framework modifications	Components	People	Process		Structure			Tech	Modified C2 capacity
	Dimensions	Competencies	Inputs / outputs	Process / sensemaking	Organization	Patterns of interactions	Agility	Information management
	Attributes	Skills Training Experience	Quantity Quality SA/SU Information sharing Decisions	Coordination Integration Analysis	Resourcing Infrastructure	Internal External	Adaption Resilience Flexibility	Information collection and analysis Information security IERs
Organization	Base level	Adjustments
Sub-sub-unit	6
Sub-unit	8
Unit	10
Formation	12
Task Force	16
National HQ	20
Govt agency	20

The next step is to incorporate some modifiers. After all, an organization’s size isn’t the only thing affecting C2 capacity. At the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre, we have developed a C2 assessment framework, centred upon 4 categories: people, process, structures, and technology. The idea is that wargame participants, with the guidance of a facilitator, evaluate their team through each of the PPST lenses and then modify their C2 capacity accordingly. For example, if their organization has just completed a tough certification exercise, we may suggest that their C2 capacity should increase by a point or two. Similarly, if they lack a comprehensive information management process, then perhaps their C2 capacity should decrease by a point. We proceed through each of these lenses, adjusting the C2 capacity score along the way, until we arrive at a modified C2 capacity score.

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Step 3 – Incorporate additional C2 modifiers

Modifier	Description	Potential C2 capacity adjustment
Tempo (battle rhythm)	Refers to the pace at which the organization operates	A high tempo could provide a promotion but also carry a risk of burnout (based on a probability), resulting in a possible subsequent double demotion.
Mission command culture	Refers to the command philosophy that characterizes the organization	This could provide a promotion. Participants would need to be honest whether they truly exist in a mission command environment.
Joint	Refers to the number of environments represented within the organization	This could result in an initial demotion (per environment) to account for initial frictions. This could be reversed to promotion (per environment) in latter wargame turns.
Inter-agency	Refers to the military and non-military components of the organization	This could result in an initial demotion (per agency) to account for initial frictions. This could be reversed to promotion (per agency) in latter wargame turns.
Multinational	Refers to the number of countries represented within the organization	This could result in an initial demotion (per country) to account for initial frictions. This could be reversed to promotion (per country) in latter wargame turns.
Artificial intelligence (AI)	Refers to whether certain processes have been streamlined by inclusion of AI	This could provide a promotion but also carry a risk (based on a probability) of bad data, resulting in an action not being completed.
Morale	Refers to the overall morale of the organization	This could provide a promotion. However, a significant loss or setback during the wargame could negate this promotion and potentially come with a further demotion if there was a catastrophic loss.
...	...	TBD by participants

We acknowledge that the PPST modifiers on the previous slide may not capture all of the relevant factors affecting an organization’s C2 capacity. So we have a few more added here, along with some potential ways in which these considerations could affect the C2 capacity score. We also acknowledge that there are likely some we haven’t thought of. So we invite participants to critically examine their own organization and offer factors for consideration. Collectively, participants and the facilitator can determine how these considerations will impact the C2 capacity score. By the end of this step, participants will have settled on a C2 capacity score that truly captures the uniqueness of their C2 organization. They will have also critically examined their organization through a number of pertinent lenses.

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Step 4 – Create the C2 capacity grid

Identify C2 capacity invested elsewhere

Identify edges of C2 capacity

Translate score into rectangular grid

Now, we translate their C2 capacity score into a rectangular grid. For example, let’s say that our brigade HQ settles on a C2 capacity score of 19. We would have them create a 5x4 rectangular grid (ie 20 cells) with one cell blacked out. We would then ask them to tell us if any portion of their brigade has a persistent C2 investment on something outside the scope of the wargame. For example, let’s say the brigade has an enduring duty to provide planning and operational support for a minor domestic operation, which fell outside the scope of the wargame. We’d collectively decide how much C2 capacity this task consumed and shade it out in dark grey. This represents C2 capacity that normally would exist but is unavailable for use. Finally, we instruct participants to lightly shade out 10% of their C2 capacity. So, in our example, 10% of 19 is 1.9, which we’d round up to 2. These light grey cells represent the edge of an organization’s C2 capacity. And if an organization is operating at the edge, there should be some risk assumed, which I’ll describe shortly.

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Step 5 – Determine C2 costs

Operational function	JTL Task #	Task (C2 action)	C2 cost
Command	1.1	Identify operational policies	2
	1.2	Conduct the deliberate operational planning process	4
	1.3	Conduct rapid response planning	3
	1.4	Provide command and control	4
	1.5	Provide commander’s direction	2
	1.6	Provide effective communications and information systems (CIS) capabilities	2
	1.7	Manage a joint headquarters (HQ) force generation	4
	1.8	Establish a joint task force (JTF) HQ	6
	1.9	Develop security arrangements in the operational area	3
	1.10	Provide for historical documentation	2
	1.11	Conduct joint targeting	5
Sense	2.1	Determine intelligence activities and requirements	3
	2.2	Manage information, data, communications, and information systems	2
	2.3	Collect information	2
	2.4	Collate collected information	2
	2.5	Analyze information	2
	2.6	Produce intelligence products	3
	2.7	Disseminate intelligence/information products	2
	2.8	Conduct joint intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (JISR)	3
Act	3.1	Provide security and defence for Canada in all domains	3
	3.2	Conduct international operations	3
	3.3	Conduct domestic operations	3
	3.4	Conduct information operations	3
	3.5	Attack designated adversary vulnerabilities/targets	3
	3.6	Conduct cyber operations	3
	3.7	Provide space enabled effects	3
	3.8	Conduct peace support operations	3
	3.9	Conduct domestic CBRN response (task does not include activities of CJIRU)	3
	3.10	Conduct electronic warfare	3
	3.11	Conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations	3
Shield	4.1	Provide general force protection	2
	4.2	Provide area of responsibility protection	2
	4.3	Provide personal protection	2
	4.4	Provide information protection	2
	4.5	Coordinate hazardous control measures	2
	4.6	Manage information systems security incidents	2
	4.7	Provide force protection in a unique environment	3
Sustain	5.1	Manage operational support	3
	5.2	Manage equipment and materiel	2
	5.3	Provide logistics support services	2
	5.4	Provide personnel support	2
	5.5	Provide health services support	2
	5.6	Develop sustainment bases	4
	5.7	Provide military police support	2
	5.8	Provide contract management	2
	5.9	Direct movement of a task force	3
	5.10	Provide legal support for operational sustainment	2
	5.11	Provide engineer support operations	2
	5.12	Activate reserve forces	4
	5.13	Establish an operational support hub	6
	5.14	Activate an operational support hub	6
	5.15	Develop an operational support hub	6
	5.16	Theatre activation (operational support tasks only)	6
	5.17	Theatre deactivation (operational support tasks only)	6

Operational function	JTL Task	Task (C2 action)	C2 cost
Command	1.1	Identify operational policies	2
	1.2	Conduct the deliberate operational planning process	4
	1.3	Conduct rapid response planning	3
	1.4	Provide command and control	4
	1.5	Provide commander’s direction	2
	1.6	Provide effective communications and information systems (CIS) capabilities	2
	1.7	Manage a joint headquarters (HQ) force generation	4
	1.8	Establish a joint task force (JTF) HQ	6
	1.9	Develop security arrangements in the operational area	3
	1.10	Provide for historical documentation	2
	1.11	Conduct joint targeting	5

At this point, we have an organization’s C2 capacity. The next key thing is to determine how much C2 capacity a particular action consumes. This was tricky and we are still making refinements. As a starting point, we used the Canadian Joint Task List, which lists a series of operational level actions, categorized by operational function. I know the list itself is unreadable, so I just blew up a portion of it so you can see what I’m getting at. For example, if we are looking at task 1.3, we would say, over the course of one wargame turn, an organization would need to consume 3 C2 capacity points to conduct rapid response planning. Think of this list as a menu of possible C2-capacity-conusimbg tasks that an organization could choose to do. Now, if the scenario was more at the tactical level, then we would create a custom list of tactical-level tasks, along with their C2 cost. In fact, this is exactly what we did for the custom designed non-combatant evacuation (NEO) and domestic operation (DOMOP) wargames we designed to test this C2 sandbox system.

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Step 6 – Adjudicate capacity and costs

Now we’re at the part where we determine how many C2-consuming actions and organization can do, based on their C2 capacity. For every wargame turn, we have participants lay out all the actions they want to take. They then need to fit those actions into their C2 grid. Based on this, 1 of 5 things will happen. 1. An action will fall upon fully free white cells. This action will occur. 2. The action will fall partially atop free white cells. This action won’t occur on this turn but credit will be carried over into the next turn for the amount of the action that did fall atop free white cells. 3. The action may fall on top of our lightly greyed out cells. You’ll recall that these light grey cells represented the edge of our C2 capacity. Any action that falls upon these cells has a 10% risk of not being completed. 4. An action might fall outside the grid. This action will not occur on this turn. 5. While it seems you have the right number of free white cells, the geometry just doesn’t seem to allow your desired activity to fit. This simulates the need to do some resource re-balancing.

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Step 7 – Incorporate limitations of communication technology

P.A.C.E.	# of links	Probability of successful transmission
Full P.A.C.E.	4 or more	100% chance of successful transmission
A.C.E.	3	90% chance of successful transmission
C.E.	2	80% chance of successful transmission
E.	1	70% chance of successful transmission

Additional considerations

Operating in hostile zone: risk of interruption
Using UNCLAS network: risk of OPSEC
SATCOM: Impact of space weather

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Step 8 – Consider organizational structure and COMRELs

Enforcing the nuances of command relationships (COMRELs):

Full command
OPCOM
OPCON
TACOM
TACON
Administrative authority

Respecting limitations imposed by national caveats

Respecting limitations imposed by rules of engagement

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Key considerations

More operational research is required
Many wargames allow for unlimited manouevre and unrealistically large span of control
The C2 sandbox quantifies things that are typically qualitative
There's a certain degree of subjectivity inherent in the system
Future considerations – enhancing the level of sophistication – going from single-variable to multi-variable

PPST
Operational functions: Command, Sense, Act, Shield, Sustain
Continental staff functions: J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6, ...

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Conclusion

The C2 Sandbox provides a foundation for wargames to test and validate new C2 concepts.
Currently, three scenarios are being developed that require operating in at least two domains.
Future work will include evaluating the NEO scenario and the development and testing of the domestic and international operations scenarios.
The C2 Sandbox will be overlayed on top of commercially available wargame to assess the sandbox’s versatility.

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