Quantifying the battlefield

by Martin Goldsmith

This report discusses RAND's research approach at the National Training Center (NTC), describes some of the representative studies completed over the past eight years, and illustrates how the Army uses the results. The research process identifies discrepancies among training, doctrine, and practice; constructs hypotheses about causes; and then supports or refutes them by examining data in standard data bases or gathered from focused field collection efforts. One of the two studies addressed in detail in the report estimated the frequency of ground-to-ground fratricide (1 to 3 percent of Blue Force kills) and concluded that improved command and control could prevent most fratricides. Another study focused on tactical reconnaissance and found that although a clear correlation exists between success in battle and reconnaissance, essential reconnaissance tasks were accomplished in only half the battles, and Blue Force scouts were frequently engaged by the enemy. The document also shows how