A Call for Creative and Disruptive Thinking in Military Strategy

Embracing the Fantastic and Weird for True Military Innovation

In the article “Innovating in New Operating Domains Begins Not in the Pragmatic and Known, but the Fantastic and Weird” Ben Zweibelson, of US Space Command argues that military innovation, particularly in emerging domains like cyberspace and space, requires embracing the "fantastic and weird" rather than sticking to pragmatic, known approaches. Key points include:

• Military Innovation vs. Adaptation: The article differentiates between innovation (proactive, system-changing) and adaptation (reactive response to change). It argues that militaries often prioritize adaptation over innovation, hindering their ability to effectively address novel challenges.

• The Paradox of Innovation: Despite acknowledging the need for innovation, militaries often resist it due to a preference for established doctrines and practices. This resistance stems from a misunderstanding of war as a static, objective reality rather than a dynamic, socially constructed phenomenon.

• Embracing the Fantastic: The article suggests that true innovation requires venturing beyond established frameworks and exploring unorthodox, even seemingly "weird" ideas. This involves a shift in mindset, embracing risk and experimentation.

Building a Fantastic Military Capability

Based on the article's insights, here are some ideas to foster innovation within the military:

1. Cultivating a Culture of Innovation:

• Challenge the Status Quo: Encourage questioning of existing doctrines and practices. Foster an environment where diverse perspectives and "out-of-the-box" thinking are valued.

• Reward Risk-Taking: Implement systems that reward experimentation and learning from failures, rather than punishing them.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Break down silos between different branches and specialties within the military. Encourage collaboration with external experts from diverse fields like science fiction, design thinking, and technology.

2. Investing in Innovative Initiatives:

• "Red Teams" for Disruptive Thinking: Establish dedicated teams tasked with challenging conventional wisdom and exploring unconventional approaches to warfare.

• Innovation Incubators/Labs: Create spaces for experimentation and rapid prototyping of new technologies and tactics.

• "Futures" Research: Invest in research exploring potential future scenarios and technologies. Conduct wargames that simulate these scenarios to test innovative strategies and identify potential vulnerabilities.

3. Leveraging External Partnerships:

• Open Innovation Platforms: Create platforms for crowdsourcing ideas and solutions from a wider pool of talent outside the military.

• International Collaboration: Share knowledge and best practices with allied nations to foster a global culture of military innovation.

4. Metrics and Evaluation:

• Develop new metrics: Move beyond traditional measures of success to evaluate the effectiveness of innovative initiatives.

• Embrace qualitative data: Incorporate qualitative data and anecdotal evidence into the evaluation process to capture the nuances of innovation.

• Long-term perspective: Recognize that innovation is a long-term investment and may not yield immediate results.

Consider these strategic actions to enable a military to adapt and thrive amidst the ever-evolving challenges of the 21st century and beyond.