Acclerated Adaptation Evolution

1. Accelerated Adaptation
Evolution
The learning contest between the IDF and
its adversaries (2006-2016)
Hezbollah [aided by Iran], Hamas, Islamic Jihad (Gaza), ISIL (in
Sinai), Jabhat el-Nusra (Golan Heights)
BG (Ret) Dr. Meir Finkel
Head of Dado Center/J3/Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

2. 2
Theory and Practice
The answer to technological and
doctrinal surprises on the battlefield:
Real-time adaptability, based on -
• Flexible concept and doctrine
• Flexible organization and technology
• Flexible command and control system
• Real time learning and a ‘lessons
learned' distribution system
Personal experience:
• 2007-2013: IDF Ground Forces -
Head of Concept Development and
Doctrine Department (which guides
education and training)
• 2014- Present: IDF J3 – Head of Dado
Center for interdisciplinary military
studies

3. The IDF “Learning Machine” since 2006
The IDF need to adapt and change has increased significantly in
recent years due to four medium-scale (2006, 2008, 2012, 2014)
and numerous small-scale engagements against ‘hybrid’ learning
networks.
This forced the IDF to develop its adaptation practices:
• Strategic and operational level learning ‘accelerator’ – Dado Center
• Educational effort focused on learning and changeability
• Training scenarios that push uncertainty to the limit and demand real-time
adaptation - from platoon leaders to Commander of IDF
• Elaborate wartime* LL system that demands a 24 hr response time to a change
(organization, procedures, training) [*besides COIN]
• Organizational changes that push knowledge development: Depth Command +
Commando Brigade; Cyber Branch

4. “Laboratory” for knowledge development process (General
Staff and Main Headquarters)
IDF’s strategy and derived
concepts
Investigate concepts during
operations and exercises
Study of learning processes -
focus on the IDF’s
knowledge
development history
Senior planners course
Tailor-made courses
National Defense College
Command & Staff College
Full learning processes – with regional commands and services
Strategic and Operational level war games
Special knowledge development projects
“Bein Haktavim”
journal
Learning theory
Dado Center mission: To be the IDF expert for strategic and
operational-level learning and knowledge development processes,
to develop the field, to assimilate it in the IDF, and to assist IDF
bodies in its implementation
Strategic and operational level learning ‘accelerator’

5. Educational effort focused on learning
and changeability
• BG Course – New (2014)
• NDC - (transformed in 2015)
• Colonels Course (transformed in 2015)
• LTC Course – New (2015)
• Force Design Colonels Workshop - New
(2016)
Based on the
learning
theory
• Infantry platoon commanders course
“Black Swan” exercises –
A series of surprises, failures, new unexpected
challenges
“Adaptation” tactical simulation –
A virtual war game that changes its basic rules as
you advance and evaluates your ability to identify
and respond flexibly to the tactical changes
• Command and Staff College - “learning while
fighting” + “Adaptation” tactical simulation

6. Training scenarios that push
uncertainty to the limit
• Battalion and Brigade exercises:
• Change of mission from phase 1,
• Failure in achieving missions,
• Change of arena, change of command, ..
• Division exercises
• From: phase 1: as planned – phase 2: change of plan – phase 3: new
mission …. to: nothing as planned from phase 1
• Training the Division wartime LL system
• IDF GHQ level
• Longer exercises to enable more development and dynamics
• The Chief of Staff (IDF commander) – is fully tested
• More and more “off the schedule” strategic and operational-level war
games (based on story telling)

7. Adaptive aptitude cannot be gained
without personal experience
• The IDF culture:
– Aim of exercises is learning, not winning
– To learn, the trainee has to fail, be surprised, be
challenged mentally
• To achieve this, all measures are employed, including guiding
subordinates to fail through their units’ difficulties to perform
– To learn and build leadership,
the trainee should discuss
openly his personal failures,
mistakes, etc.

8. 8
Real-time learning and a ‘lessons learned'
distribution system
• Accelerated learning processes in wartime
(operated 2008, 2012, 2014) – GF LL center deploys
and works a 24 hr learning and assimilation cycle
• Learning events as part of HQ wartime daily routine
• Learning officers from Brigade Level and above –
prepare the learning events
• In Div. exercises - Practicing the LL
system (including identifying
technological and doctrinal surprises
and developing solutions during battle)

9. Key takeaways for the British Army
• Adaptive mind is a capability (like a tank)
– Commanders should be:
• Selected for this skill
• Educated - More learning skills (less knowledge)
• Trained - overemphasize uncertainty (training to recover
from surprise and failure) – not success oriented – up to
the highest echelons
• Learning events as part of battle procedures (and part
of training exercises) and personal to prepare them
• When deployed (at unanticipated place around the
globe) – employ intensive learning effort (“first
engagement as an controlled experiment”)
– A deployed LL center focused on immediate
adaptation: TTPs+ training + technical adjustments