Net centric command, control, and communications (C3) is an important part of current military operations. As the current force moves towards the future force in the form of Future Combat Systems (FCS), net centric C3 will become even more valuable. This research sought to extrapolate net centric C3 usage trends from the current to the future force. To do this, two similar studies were compared. One study asked Soldiers with Army Battle Command System (ABCS) digital C3 systems experience in real-world deployed operations about how they employed these systems, and the second asked similar questions of Soldiers conducting research in an experimental future force C3 simulator designed to explore FCS concepts. Participants were given lists of digital C3 functions common to both ABCS and the future force simulator and asked to rate whether they preferred to perform the functions digitally or manually, how frequently they used each function, how difficult it was to learn how to use the function, and how difficult it was to use the function. The comparison of these two groups showed there are a number of similarities between current and extrapolated future usage patterns, but also some differences. Leaders and Soldiers in the future force simulator preferred using digital methods to perform more C3 functions, and said they performed those functions more often than Soldiers using current ABCS systems. The research also found a number of C3 functions were easier to learn and use in the future force simulator versus current ABCS systems. The results suggest digital C3 systems will be better utilized and more preferred as they become more interoperable. This knowledge can be used to help further develop future systems and design future training programs.