HQ NRDC-ESP

Cognitive Maneuver Seminar in Bétera

Cognitive Maneuver Seminar in Bétera

 The Cognitive Maneuver Seminar was held at the HQ NRDC-ESP facility in Bétera from September 19-23. It was given by the Operational Environment Integration Directorate of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. In addition to HQ NRDC-ESP personnel, several representatives from the Spanish Army General Staff (EME), Doctrine Command (MADOC), Canary Islands Command (MCANA), and Land Force (FUTER) units  attended. The seminar was also attended by several university professors from Valencia. 

The seminar brought together both the progress being made by NATO with its new Joint Doctrine as well as the elaboration of concepts derived from its Cognitive Warfare Core Concept, with related concepts being developed by the United States, and in particular their implementation in its Army for the planning and conduct of cognitive maneuver at the tactical level. 

The objectives of the seminar were as follows:

a.         To understand the background, context and concept of cognitive maneuver in the present based on the Euro-Atlantic Area Deterrence and Defense (DDA) plans, as well as in the future, within the new Cognitive Warfare Core Concept (CWCC).

b.         Understand the rationale that allows our adversaries and competitors to cognitively outperform us, especially in the so-called Gray Zone, to achieve their strategic objectives.

c.         Understand the new mindset and approach the Joint Force must adopt for a long-term integrated campaign across the continuum of competition and based on new and emerging doctrine, as well as the entire family of joint concepts.

d.         Understand the importance of aligning and synchronizing physical power with informational power to perform cognitive maneuver in support of achieving strategic objectives. 

This Seminar has highlighted the importance of Cognitive Warfare and therefore of Cognitive Maneuver, as well as the need for a methodology to support the process of understanding, with a more practical application at the tactical level, such as the one developed by the US Army, but aligned within the NATO model, which is currently more focused on the operational and strategic level.