Trace Where a Unit’s Need Changed Meaning on the Way
The Handoff Chain Trace
Companion to You Are Not the Warfighter · Updated 2026-09-29
Use this when a fielded system surprised the unit it was built for. The trace shows where the need changed meaning on the way. Worked in “Major Programs Take Twelve Years, and Every Office Sees Only Part of the Fight.”
This form is adapted from You Are Not the User. Skip or add links to match the real path. The links below are the defense chain this book traces.
The Handoff Chain Trace: one row per link, the warfighter’s words at the top.
| Link, and who | What it became (their exact words or artifact) | What it kept, and what it dropped |
|---|---|---|
| Warfighter unit: | ||
| Requirements staff: | ||
| Joint and service review: | ||
| Program office or PAE: | ||
| Prime contractor: | ||
| Subcontractors: | ||
| Developmental and contractor test: | ||
| Fielding: | ||
| Warfighter unit: |
Fill in the middle column from the actual documents. Do not fill it in from memory. Find the first row where the unit’s purpose in the fight disappears. On the next effort, put a warfighter in the room at that link.