Rethinking Jointness? The Strategic Value of Jointness in Major Power Competition and Conflict
Abstract
For more than 30 years, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has placed a substantial emphasis on jointness. Whether in bolstering the relative influence of such joint organizations as combatant commands, requiring joint service for senior-level promotions, or achieving cross-service interoperability between operational units, jointness is valued conceptually from the strategic to the tactical levels. However, in practice, the value of jointness remains unmeasured and ill-defined, particularly as it relates to strategic competition. Many questions remain about the true utility of jointness to DoD goals, the potential negative ramifications of jointness as it was implemented following the passage of the GNA, and how the pursuit of jointness affects DoDs ability to innovate and adapt to future challenges. Moreover, it is not currently understood how jointness affects competitive advantage relative to the United States primary adversaries. This study seeks to examine whether the assumption that jointness is inherently valuable is correct, and if so, in what ways. Understanding which aspects of jointness are most valuable and why can help DoD compete more effectively against its adversaries and maximize the United States competitive military advantages.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 06, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1209806
Entities
People
- Jonathan Welch
- Maria Mccollester
- Mark Cozad
- Matthew Fay
Organizations
- RAND Corporation