Reorganization or Reform?
Lind – Points out the flaws in the Army’s transition plan and discusses the difference between reorganization and reform – specifically discussing decentralization and the supposed generational shift we’re undergoing:
Here we come to the central question, not only about the Army`s move from divisions to brigades, but about its whole ‘transformation’ program: is it reform, or is it just reorganization? To count as real reform, it needs to move the Army out of the Second Generation and into the Third. If all it amounts to is reorganization within a Second Generation framework, then, frankly, it`s not worth the umpteen-thousand Power Point slides it`s printed on.
…Why is this a problem? Because more headquarters and larger headquarters inevitably mean more centralization. Centralization is one of the key characteristics of Second Generation militaries, just as decentralization is a defining quality of the Third Generation. Decentralization permits outward focus and encourages initiative, which in turn together speed up Boyd`s OODA Loop and improve accuracy of orientation. Centralization, in contrast, slows the OODA Loop down and blurs orientation because the picture that is the basis for decisions is many layers removed from the actual observation.
Sadly if this ever happens, the maxim of “too little too late” will apply. No amount of brigades will prevent another attack on American soil, the battlespace has expanded.
-Shlok
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