Command Control vs Command Communication (Norm Olson, Commander: Alaska Citizens Militia )

Command Control vs Command Communication

No matter what kind of operational plan you put down on paper, you must have the physical resources able to carry out the mission.

Back in 94-95, the fledgling militia grew rapidly, even faster than our organizational structure could accommodate. Our initial goal was to get all four divisions and 83 county brigades to be networked so that information could flow freely up and down the chain. We found, however, that Command CONTROL Communication was not possible because brigade commanders were dealing with people who did not like to be "commanded" or "controlled" When commands were given, some groups rebelled because they didn't have the opportunity to input their ideas, while others felt left out because they did not have the resources necessary to carry out the directive. Essentially, we were dealing with volunteers who wanted to be part of the militia, but who knew nothing of how a military unit should work. Many of our leaders were not ex-military which made it very difficult for a unit to function.

Interestingly enough, we were experiencing what is was like for the regional and local militias before the American Revolution. Imagine what the militias of Lexington and Concord thought when militias across the state line in Pennsylvania refused to get involved. Imagine what Gen. Washington thought when militia volunteers refused to fight and simply walked away.

No matter what plan you put down on paper, unless you have experienced people AND those with unwavering dedication and loyalty, that plan will fail.

For this reason, I've supported the idea of Command Communication over Command CONTROL Communication. Many local/regional/geographic militia units, networked to share intel, resources, etc., but each militia unit should remain autonomous and self-regulating. There should be no State Commander who actually COMMANDS others to act.

I was recently asked by a national media writer, "How big is the Alaska Militia?" I said, "We have dozens of militia units spread across the state, each unit having hundreds of members...and we are growing every day." This is the message we need to send. We are far larger than anyone can actually gauge or measure. We are everywhere and we are networked. Local militia leaders must have the courage and necessary talent to deal with situations in their own operational theater. Other militia units may or may not join in to support a militia group that is confronted with a situation.

I have heard it said that "if one militia unit is attacked, all the militia should respond." That's fine in theory, but it doesn't work that way. It doesn't mean that the militia unit not responding is less patriotic or less supportive of the cause, it simply means that the militia unit not responding has exercised their conscience and have chosen to not get into the fray. Whether it is a single individual who refused to obey an order or an entire unit, the reality is still there, without the motivation, volunteers will make up their own mind what they will do.

There is a lesson in all this. It's that a cohesive body of troops must be somehow motivated by internal or external factors that will compel them to work together. What do you do with a militia member who will not obey an order or directive if he/she is not compelled by conscience to do so?

The fact is that we are all genetic rebels to begin with. We don't want be under the authority of another human being. We're skeptical of those who order us to do this or that. We want ALL the information before we make up our mind, and usually we want our own ideas to be listened to and considered, and if our idea is dismissed, usually the individual with the idea won't be showing up when the bugle sounds.

You see, we're no different than those who were in the militia long ago. It will take a very near and present threat to bring us together, such as a Lexington/Concord event! We won't really act as a cohesive body until we are bloodied. We won't work together until we have to. What is, is!

Our loose "command" structure is suited to networking INFORMATION. The burden of organizing and training and equipping and informing a local militia unit must fall on the local leadership. We all need to encourage and support growing units in the state and lend a hand in providing information to assist.

Norm Olson, ...............................................................................................
Commander ACM