Joint Vision 2010 Command and Control: A Case for Standing Joint Task Forces and Purple Aircraft Carriers

摘要

Future use of military force in pursuit of national objectives will be conducted mostly by joint forces. Joint Task Forces (JTFs) provide the regional CINOs the means to execute military operations ranging from humanitarian assistance to a major theater of war. Unfortunately, the overall performance of JTFs are compromised by poor joint command end control. Improved joint command and control is attainable only through greater unity of effort and unity of command. In order to respond to these challenges the military needs to re-evaluate how to best form up a JTF and the optimal way to deploy then. The establishment of Standing Joint Task Forces (SJTFs) at each of the geographic CINC's headquarters is the first step in resolving these issues. Members of the SJTF work full-time for the JTF commander, whether at the headquarters or forward deployed. Their daily interactions foster greater efficiency, resulting in enhanced unity of effort. The second step entails embarking the SJTF aboard a deploying aircraft carrier. The co-location of commanders and staff breaks down service and functional stovepipes and provides greater unity of command, resulting in a more operationally effective JTF commander. Since Service parochialism tends to impede joint initiatives, this solution requires a top- down commitment to the guidance articulated in Joint Vision 2010 in order to be successful.