John D. Bergen

Military Communications: a Test for Technology John D. Bergen

In this volume the author develops the thesis that burgeoning technology in communications faced a severe test in Vietnam. He analyzes the advantages and drawbacks of new communications systems and the effects these systems had on decision making and on command. In so doing, he describes the difficulties that communications systems had in keeping pace with the information explosion and shows that command and control do not necessarily improve with enhanced communications. The study illustrates that the communicator's mission of "getting the message through" was not only critical to the success of combat operations but also as challenging as combat itself. The author's clear understanding and description of these issues make this a valuable work for those responsible for the future success of command, control, communications, and intelligence. At the same time it serves as a primer for readers not fully aware of the vital part communications play in every phase of warfare.