Communication Challenges in the US Army

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Assertion
History
Problem
Solution
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Communication is an integral part of the activities of the army structure. Poor communication leads to misunderstanding of orders and inability to follow them. Difficulties in communication in the US Army arise from the neglect of communication techniques. Misunderstandings had already led the US Army to negative consequences in Afghanistan when soldiers died due to numerous mistakes and lack of information. The current problem can deprive the army leaders. It is proposed to address the difficulty of poor communication by providing additional education to enhance effective communication skills. The resolution of the current problem will allow the US Army to develop and qualitatively fulfill all the missions assigned to it.

Assertion

Communication is a weakness of the US military, violating the principles of effective leadership. Low communicational skills among army leaders undermine the armys structure (US Army, 2022). Accustomed to a hierarchical structure, commanders underestimate the importance of establishing communication and understanding the ways of its organization in military situations. In combat conditions, the lack of established communication will not allow the soldiers to show leadership, the commander to effectively convey the order, and the entire army to competently execute it. The US Army (2015), in the Doctrine of Strategic Planning emphasizes the importance of encouraging constructive leadership but does not pay enough attention to the importance of communication. The success of the US Army and its sustainable development depends on finding a solution to this problem.

History

Miscommunication has already led the US Army to disastrous consequences. A misunderstanding between US air and ground forces in Afghanistan led to a friendly fire incident. As a result of a misunderstanding of the objectives of the mission, a failure to fulfill their duties and a lack of communication between the forces, five Americans and one Afghan were mistaken for opponents (Malkasian, 2021). The bomber crew took no precautions to make sure where the friendly forces were. The ground forces and special forces incorrectly transmitted information about the position of the troops, not knowing that the means of guidance were not capable of identifying friendly marking devices (Malkasian, 2021). This case was indicative, but as a result of it only disciplinary measures were taken. Poor communication between parts of the troops led to a tragedy that could have been avoided.

Problem

Communication difficulties are a common problem in military organizations, while communication is one of the key success factors for missions. Communication failures are caused by two principles of command that are directly related to interaction: joint understanding and the commanders intention (Ploumis, 2020). In order for the command to proceed according to a preconceived plan, commanders must be able to clearly state their intentions and make sure that they are unconditionally understood (Ploumis, 2020). Army leaders can overlook the complexities of using communication skills, thereby sabotaging common understanding among soldiers. If the soldiers do not act as the commander intended, this is a systemic cause. Communication systems do not allow subordinates to correctly understand the conveyed intentions. The army information system does not provide feedback that would allow commanders to know how developed the overall understanding in the unit is.

Solution

When looking for a solution to the communication problems of the American army, it is necessary to pay attention to the quality of sending and receiving information. Changes must be started from the BDE level, subsequently raised to the DIV and Corps levels. Even though successful communication is a two-way process, the leader is the only person who can address the issue, as the subordinates will not be able to effectively understand it if the general messages are not conveyed to them. Thus, it is necessary to educate army leaders in understanding the importance of effective communication.

In order to address the issue, time must be devoted to additional training for the army leaders on effective communication strategies. Additional lessons can take 2-3 hours a week while bringing a significant contribution to the development of the US Army. It is proposed to pay special attention to the development of active listening skills, the issuance of feedback and non-verbal ways of communication. To effectively address the message, posture and gestures must be strict and clear. Active listening means respecting the words of subordinates and addressing all questions that arise (Bjornestad et al., 2021). Feedback is needed to ensure an understanding of how well the order was received (Brunye et al., 2020). Effective communication strategies will help avoid misunderstanding and indiscipline in the military environment.

Conclusion

The current communication difficulties in the US Army prevent it from effectively developing and solving complex national problems. To address this challenge, significant time must be devoted to additional training of the army workers. Skills needed to develop include active listening, feedback, and non-verbal communication techniques. By increasing awareness of these strategies, it will be possible to achieve coherent command, understanding of orders and their strict execution. Inaction and delay in resolving communication difficulties threaten the effectiveness of the US Army.

References

Bjornestad, A., Olson, S., & Weidauer, L. (2021). Improving officer-soldier communication through active listening skills training with Army ROTC cadets. Military Psychology, 33(3), 205-215. Web.

Brunye, T. T., Brou, R., Doty, T. J., Gregory, F. D., Hussey, E. K., Lieberman, H. R., & Yu, A. B. (2020). A review of US Army research contributing to cognitive enhancement in military contexts. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 4(1), 453-468. Web.

Malkasian, C. (2021). The American war in Afghanistan: A history. Oxford University Press.

Ploumis, M. (2020). Mission command and philosophy for the 21st century. Comparative Strategy, 39(2), 209-218. Web.

US Army (2015). United States Army training and doctrine command. NCO 2020 Strategy. Web.

US Army (2022). U.S. Army Field Manual 7-93: Long-range Surveillance Unit Operations. DigiCat.

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