you are the most astute space warfare commander

You are the most astute space warfare commander how to#

The second O, orientation-as the repository of our genetic heritage, cultural tradition, and previous experiences-is the most important part of the O-O-D-A loop since it shapes the way we observe, the way we decide, the way we act.Īs stated by Boyd and shown in the 'Orient' box, there is much filtering of the information through our culture, genetics, ability to analyze and synthesize, and previous experience. In notes from his talk 'Organic Design for Command and Control', Boyd said, The observed information must be processed to orient it for decision making. The observations are the raw information on which decisions and actions are based. He also indicated that the phase of the battle has an important bearing on the ideal allocation of one's energies.īoyd's diagram shows that all decisions are based on observations of the evolving situation tempered with implicit filtering of the problem being addressed. Boyd emphasized that 'the loop' is actually a set of interacting loops that are to be kept in continuous operation during combat.

You are the most astute space warfare commander how to#

Frans Osinga has argued that Boyd's own views on the OODA loop are much deeper, richer, and more comprehensive than the common interpretation of the 'rapid OODA loop' idea.īoyd developed the concept to explain how to direct one's energies to defeat an adversary and survive. An entity (whether an individual or an organization) that can process this cycle quickly, observing and reacting to unfolding events more rapidly than an opponent can thereby 'get inside' the opponent's decision cycle and gain the advantage. According to Boyd, decision-making occurs in a recurring cycle of observe-orient-decide-act. The OODA loop has become an important concept in litigation, business, law enforcement, and military strategy. The approach favors agility over raw power in dealing with human opponents in any endeavor. It is now also often applied to understand commercial operations and learning processes.

Boyd applied the concept to the combat operations process, often at the strategic level in military operations. The phrase OODA loop refers to the decision cycle of observe, orient, decide, and act, developed by military strategist and United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd. If you want the real inside dope, refer to 1945 US Navy CIC manual. The same goes for the bridge on Space Battleship Yamato.įor more information refer to The Great Heinlein Mystery: Science Fiction, Innovation and Naval Technology by Edward M. That absurd exposed bridge on the top of the Starship Enterprise would have been shot off a long time ago. You should locate the operations room deep in the armored core of the spacecraft. Naturally the battle will take a catastrophic turn for the worse if the admiral is killed and/or the flagship is destroyed. The flagship captain will take care of running the flagship, while the admiral concentrates on running the battle. This is for C 2, C 3, C 2I, or one of the other C4ISTAR military functions. You will be in a 'flagship', a well defended and strongly armed warship carrying an operations room. But if the battle happens out of communication range of a cozy fortress, you will have to risk your pink hide in the battle. This allows you to dictate tactics to your task force without having to worry about being personally attacked by rude enemy ships. If you are a lucky admiral the battle occurs near a well defended planetary base or orbital fortress. Admirals generally control the battle from a room equipped with a Big Board, called an Operations Room or a Combat Information Center (which is NOT the bridge). Things become even more complicated if you are an admiral or sky marshal who is responsible for all the ships in a battle, as opposed to a captain who just commands their own ship.

From computer game Gratuitous Space Battles, artwork by Charles Oines