Explain the concepts of fog and friction and how C2 mitigates them.

• A. Fog is speed; friction is coordination; mitigated by rigid plans.
• B. Fog is data overload; friction is communication delay; mitigated by encryption.
• C. Fog = uncertainty; friction = difficulty; C2 mitigates via anticipation, flexibility, and mission command.
• D. Fog is physical camouflage; friction is terrain; mitigated by air support.

Answer: (C)

Fog of war means uncertainty about the situation—what’s really happening, what the enemy is doing, and what information can be trusted—because information is incomplete, contested, or outdated. Friction is the inherent resistance to action in war—the obstacles and delays that complicate execution, such as miscommunication, human error, equipment problems, weather, terrain, and unexpected enemy actions. Command and control mitigates these by building anticipation, flexibility, and mission command. Anticipation keeps the force prepared for likely developments, maintains a shared understanding, and uses continuous sense-making to adjust plans before uncertainty becomes crippling. Flexibility ensures we can adapt execution as conditions change, rather than sticking to a rigid sequence. Mission command expresses clear intent and empowers lower-level leaders to act within those bounds, speeding decisions and preserving tempo while maintaining unity of effort. Together, these elements reduce uncertainty and resistance, enabling coherent action even in uncertain and dynamic environments.