Fratricide Prevention: An Opportunity to Develop a Joint Solution

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA503116&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

Fratricide Prevention: An Opportunity to Develop a Joint Solution

DANIEL J. WITTNAM,


Technological advances in modern weaponry have provided the United States military with unparalleled speed, precision and lethality. However, with these newfound capabilities comes increased responsibility to ensure positive identification of the enemy in order to mitigate the risk to non-combatants and friendly forces. This task, that is extremely difficult to master during training, often proves overwhelming among the stress and uncertainty that defines the modern battlefield. Consequently, Operation DESERT STORM saw a spike in the percentage of coalition casualties caused by fratricide. To counter this trend, the Department of Defense poured time and resources into solving the problem. However, technology alone proved ineffective during OEF/OIF as displayed by another increase in percentage of fratricide casualties. Thus a joint effort combining technological innovation, joint doctrine and training and greater dissemination of lesson learned must be adopted to mitigate this unacceptable risk.