The new procedures have eliminated a lot of the micromanagement nightmares of the past. Lower ranking officers, especially company commanders and platoon leaders, are largely left to get on with the battle (or raid, or whatever). Meanwhile, the battalion, brigade and division TOCs are handling support chores, especially keeping an eye on video feeds of areas around where the company commanders and platoon leaders are doing the actual fighting. If someone at battalion or brigade TOC spots more bad guys approaching, the new procedures insure that the soldiers on the ground, and perhaps under fire, get the word quickly and accurately. The TOC also makes the most of the new generation of highly accurate bombs, artillery and missiles.
Interrogations of prisoners indicate that the enemy is in awe of what they are up against, often attributing the seeming omnipresence of the Americans, and accuracy of their weapons, to some kind of magic. But there are many ways these new drills and procedures could be exploited by an enemy who knew what they were. So details remain secret. That secrecy is further enhanced by the rapid evolution of the TOC, both in terms of equipment and procedures. All this is very important stuff you just never hear about. But at least now you know why.
And by fighting and winning a lengthy war with these procedures, we are pounding these lessons into our military.
I tell you, I'm nearly giddy with relief over this development. This is very good news.
