READY FOR TODAY – EVOLVING FOR TOMORROW
Strategic Ring Model: The model is
also known as the ‘five-rings model’
and as ‘Warden’s Rings’ (named for its
developer, Col. John Warden, US Army).
The structure of this model resembles a
living organism, depicted in the Strategic
Ring CoG Model (Figures 5 and 6).
According to this, there are one or more
CoGs within each ring of the system (a
tool for analysis of systems and CoG).
The functions that are necessary for
every system to function are: 16
• Command
and Control (C2) and
information
processing
system
(leadership, C2 apparatus) – the central
nervous system of a human body.
Figure 5 – The
Strategic Ring
CoG Model
• The
processes necessary for the
survival of the system, such as
communications,
food
production
and
distribution,
financing,
and
manufacturing in a state – respiration
and blood circulation in a living body.
• System
of infrastructure, like the
electrical
power
distribution
or
transportation systems of a country –
the bone – vascular systems of a body.
• Population within a country or military –
the cells within a body.
• Fighting or defence mechanism, such
as the fielded armed forces of a country
– immune system of a body.
Figure 6 –
Example of the
Strategic Ring
Model 17
The National Elements of Value (NEV)
Model: The model is also known as
Barlow’s Model (named for its developer,
Col. Jason Barlow, US Army). It is similar
to the above ring model, but seeks a
greater interconnectivity and connectivity
to external systems (Figure 7). The
national elements are interdependent
and self-compensating, and function
as a critical means of a system. They
include: 18
quantify; e.g., nationalism, morale,
the will of the people, esprit de corps,
ethnocentrism, ability to endure
hardship and religious conviction or
fervour.
• Transportation: All modes.
• Communications: The physical means
thereof.
• Alliances: The friends, trading partners
and neighbours from which a country
receives support for continuing the
conflict.
• Leadership: The political and military
decision-makers within the government.
• Industry:
All
of
a
country’s
manufacturing, agriculture, research
and technical enterprises as well as
those parts necessary to support them,
such as power production, water supply
and raw materials.
• Armed forces.
• Population:
A country’s important
resource, but hard to categorise and
Figure 7 – The
National Elements
of Value CoG
Model
16 US Air Force Doctrine, Ibid.
17 Strategy and Centers of Gravity in Modern War, Strategy for the 21st Century, Prometheus Process, Venturist Incorporated, slide player, at https://slideplayer.com/slide/8235952/
18 US Air Force Doctrine, Ibid.
ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS
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