Mindfulness and Situation Awareness

Research shows that over 60% of missions conducted under remote supervision within Command and Control Systems can fail to meet command intent when military decision makers encounter the unexpected. Operationally most of these failures can be seen as minor setbacks; however, they can also be amplifi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Darwin, John, Melling, Alec
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
CIVIL-MILITARY OPERATIONS
COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
Command, Control and Communications Systems
DECISION MAKING
FOREIGN REPORTS
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
MILITARY OPERATIONS
Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
UNITED KINGDOM
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Summary:Research shows that over 60% of missions conducted under remote supervision within Command and Control Systems can fail to meet command intent when military decision makers encounter the unexpected. Operationally most of these failures can be seen as minor setbacks; however, they can also be amplified into strategic disasters given foolish reactions to events. Our research is focused on enhancing the probability of military commanders making wise decisions in chaotic circumstances instead of just reacting to events. We argue that mindfulness training can develop the situational awareness of the individual actor beyond a mind focused on 'what' we want to achieve, into a mind constantly engaged in updating 'how' to achieve it, given the evolving operational situation - a state of mind we term Mindful Competence. Mindful Competence draws upon the many studies of mindfulness which have taken place over the last 30 years. Mindful Competence has three phases: Mindful Acceptance which relates to Situation Awareness as commonly articulated; the Mindful Space, which is where decision making occurs; and Mindful Changes, which draws the mind forward into the action stages of an event. Presented at the International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium (16th) held in Quebec City, Canada on 21-23 June 2011. Published in the Proceedings of the International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium (16th), June 2011.