444606EDM XX X 10.1177/1555343412444606 Military Cognitive ReadinessJournal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making / Month XXXX 2012 ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO: Rebecca A. Grier, 4850 Mark Center Dr., Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, VA 22311, rgrier@ida.org. Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, Volume XX, Number XX, Month XXXX, pp. XX-XX. DOI: 10.1177/1555343412444606. © 2012 Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved. Military Cognitive Readiness at the Operational and Strategic Levels: A Theoretical Model for Measurement Development Rebecca A. Grier Institute for Defense Analyses ABSTRACT: Military cognitive readiness is a somewhat new concept that has been defined many ways. In this article, I review these definitions and propose that cognitive readiness is not just one construct, but three inter-related constructs akin to the military levels of war and readiness (tactical, operational, & strategic). Each of these constructs requires cognitive performance in complex, uncertain, and stressful military operations. However, the nature of performance is different for each. Thus, each level of cognitive readiness requires different measures. As a first step in the development of measures for operational and strategic cognitive readiness, a review of research related to predicting cognitive performance in complex, uncertain, and stressful operations was conducted. From this review a set of inherent psychological factors and their measures were identified. The article concludes by indicating what future steps are needed to develop measures of both operational and strategic readiness. KEYWORDS: cognitive readiness, stress, expert performance, metrics, decision making Wars may be fought with weapons but they are won by men. George S. Patton, 1933 AS THE UNITED STATES AND ITS COALITION PARTNERS CONTINUE THE DECADE-LONG CONFLICT in Afghanistan, it is clear that General Patton’s quote is more resonant today than it was in World War II. Although Patton was most likely referring to the bravery and physical strength of the soldiers, today success in military operations relies equally on the cognitive might of the individual. This is largely because modern technology has provided us with the capability to obtain and distribute vast amounts of information very quickly. The greater availability of information has SPECIAL ISSUE: Exploring Cognitive Readiness in Complex Operational Environments: Advances in Theory and Practice, Part II