Research and Analysis Division (RAD)

The Research and Analysis Division (RAD) provides validated, evidence-based insights that directly inform LFSG’s capability development, doctrine refinement, and force design recommendations.

RAD collects, analyzes, and synthesizes operational data from live exercises, force-on-force wargaming, and historical research. By focusing on both organizational design and human decision-making, RAD ensures LFSG’s outputs are grounded in real-world performance rather than theoretical assumptions.

RAD operates through two core functions:

  • Lightfighter Concepts Research Branch (LCRB): Focused on force structure, warfighting concepts, and TTP validation to optimize light infantry organization and operational methods.

  • Cognitive Dominance Research Branch (CDRB): Focused on real-world human decision-making behavior, with an emphasis on developing decision-support tools for human-machine teaming and distributed light infantry operations.

Lightfighter Concepts Research Branch

Branch Mission:

The Lightfighter Concepts Research Branch (LCRB) conducts structured analysis of light infantry force structure, warfighting concepts, and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). LCRB ensures all LFSG doctrine and capability recommendations are grounded in validated field data, historical research, and contemporary operational requirements.

Core Focus Areas:

  • Force Structure Analysis
    Studies and develops optimal organizational models for light infantry units, from team to regimental level.

    • Example Areas:

      • Hunter-Killer Company, Platoon, and Section Structures

      • Light Infantry Distributed Operations

      • Gap analysis of balance of firepower, mobility, sustainment, and command/control

  • Doctrine Development (Warfighting Concepts)
    Researches, writes, and refines warfighting concepts specifically for light infantry in reconnaissance-attack, distributed operations, and hybrid warfare environments.

    • Outputs:

      • Field books

      • Concept White Papers

      • Organizational and Staff products

  • Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) Validation
    Captures and analyzes field data from force-on-force training events, live testing, and experimental trials. Validates existing TTPs while identifying emergent adaptations observed during live operations.

    • Example TTP Categories:

      • Patrolling Operations

      • Reconnaissance-Attack

      • Light Support Weapon (LSW) Employment

      • Anti-Armor and Ambush Techniques

  • Continuous Learning and Feedback Integration
    Provides structured feedback loops into LFSG’s Test and Evaluation Division and the Training Development Division, ensuring real-world insights drive iterative improvement.

LCRB Program Statement:

The Lightfighter Concepts Research Branch serves as LFSG’s doctrinal and organizational research engine. Through systematic study of force structure, warfighting concepts, and TTPs, LCRB ensures LFSG’s recommendations are grounded in both operational evidence and historical precedent—enabling lightfighters to fight smarter, lighter, and faster across all operational environments.

Cognitive Dominance Research Branch

Branch Mission:

The Cognitive Dominance Research Branch (CDRB) is LFSG’s principal research effort focused on understanding, analyzing, and supporting human decision-making in decentralized, distributed light infantry operations—especially within human-machine teaming (HMT) environments. CDB emphasizes maintaining decision superiority as a deliberate warfighting function.

At its core, CDB is not simply about isolated cognitive processes; it is about sensemaking as an active, continuous process where human cognition recursively interacts with dynamic environments. CDRB explicitly integrates both sensemaking and naturalistic decision-making (NDM) as foundational concepts.

Core Focus Areas:

  • Human Sensemaking as a Decision-Making Process
    CDRB frames decision-making through the lens of active sensemaking—the human act of interpreting, filtering, and acting upon unfolding information.

    • Sensemaking is treated as a semiotic process: meaning is constructed through interaction with environmental cues, patterns, and emergent phenomena.

    • The program emphasizes the relationship between internal cognitive architecture (memory, pattern recognition, intuition) and external environmental interaction (social, physical, informational cues).

  • Naturalistic Decision-Making (NDM) and Engagement Decision-Making (EDM) Frameworks
    CDB is anchored in the Engagement Decision-Making (EDM) Process—LFSG’s validated framework for heuristic-based decision-making in light infantry operations.

    • Focuses on understanding how Lightfighters make rapid, high-stakes decisions under stress, limited information, and time compression.

    • Studies real-world application of EDM heuristics and decision-support algorithms within tactical contexts.

  • Human-Machine Teaming (HMT) Decision-Support Development
    Builds tools, cognitive aids, and heuristics that help maintain sensemaking and decision dominance even when integrating autonomous systems, ISR drones, sensors, and electronic warfare tools.

  • Decentralized Operations and Cognitive Dominance Modeling
    Focuses on ensuring decision superiority is preserved in distributed, low-communication environments typical of light infantry reconnaissance and patrolling missions.

CDB Branch Statement:

The Cognitive Dominance Research Branch ensures LFSG’s doctrine, force structure, and training products are grounded in how Lightfighters actively make sense of their environment and make decisions in real-world conditions. By integrating sensemaking theories, semiotics, and naturalistic decision-making frameworks such as EDM, CDRB delivers validated insights and decision-support tools that enhance light infantry effectiveness in distributed, human-machine integrated combat environments.