Optimal Command and Control Method for Malaysian Army Small Units in a Malaysian Forest Environment: Small Unit Tactical Management System (SUTaMs)

Abstract

Military section will communicate verbally or visually in the battlefield. Before engaging the enemy, section leader will give commands visually as not to alert the enemy. Once the enemy is engaged, all commands will be verbal. Shooting might cause for some of these commands to be lost due to the noise and confusion. In addition to that, upon engagement by the enemy, soldiers will try to go behind cover to avoid getting shot at. Hiding behind cover will cause the soldier to loose situational awareness. The section leaders might also not be able to give commands effectively to the soldiers. The Small Unit Tactical Silent Communication System (SUTACSICS), a module to be integrated into the Malaysian Army Small Unit Tactical Management System (SUTaMS), was developed using Network Centric Technologies to ensure that section leaders in the battlefield are able to communicate with their soldiers silently and effectively without using either the visual or verbal method of communication. Commands to be sent are selected from a preset list and vibration to alert the soldiers on arrival of the command.