The United States Needs Joint War-Fighting Doctrine.
Abstract
The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 and DOD Directive 5100.1, clearly direct the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop and publish joint doctrine to guide commanders of joint task forces in the accomplishment of assigned missions. Congress has directed this as the result of our historical failure to publish joint doctrine. Historically, the United States military has conducted joint operations since the Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown. After World War I we made attempts to develop joint doctrine but entered World War II, Congress gave us our first orders to think joint with the Passage of the National Security Act in 1947. This act established the Department of Defense and was intended to unify the armed services. It only created a separate Air Force and DOD making a more fragmented military establishment. Wars in Korea and Vietnam demonstrated again the existence of a joint doctrinal void. Interservice disagreements frequently occurred concerning how to conduct joint operations. These wars did show that all modern conflicts must be fought jointly. Our most recent combat experience in Grenada showed that we lack authoritative joint doctrine, and the void can result in fratricide. (KR)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 05, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA195747
Entities
People
- William C. Smith
Organizations
- United States Army War College