Final answer:
The mission command war fighting function focuses on command and control in military operations, increasingly utilizing autonomy and robotics to reduce the need for human soldiers in direct combat, while highlighting the importance of defending against hybrid warfare tactics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mission command war fighting function is a concept used in military doctrine to describe the method by which commanders, leveraging autonomy and technology, control and manage military operations. With advancements in technology, particularly in autonomy and robotics, future battlefields are expected to see a reduction in human soldiers in direct combat roles, replaced by automated and robotic systems to achieve greater efficiency and precision. These changes aim to minimize civilian casualties as well as military personnel losses. However, the shift towards this form of warfare also raises concerns about the risks of hybrid warfare, including non-military tactics such as disinformation and cyber-infiltration, which can destabilize countries from within. Despite the potential benefits, reliance on technology does not automatically increase security unless paired with robust defensive measures against these pervasive threats.
In military history, as Sun Tzu stated, the essence of large-scale operations remains consistent regardless of the army's size, relying on the proper implementation of signs and signals. Reflecting on historic missions like the U.S. 'search and destroy' missions in Vietnam, it's evident that such approaches can be applied using advanced technology to operate within a mission command framework. This concept is sustained by the principle of the military being under civilian control, as stipulated by the Constitution, ensuring that even as warfare evolves, it remains subject to the oversight of elected officials.