Command and Control in Coalition Warfare: Does History Provide Us With Practicable Solutions for Today?
Abstract
The rapid changes in the world since the end of the Cold War have re-awakened interest in coalition warfare. Indeed, both the National Security Strategy and the National Military Strategy see coalition warfare as the norm for the Armed Forces of the USA. The most contentious area in coalition warfare is the command and control arrangements. In particular, what authority will the coalition commander have, and the converse, what day to day control will national authorities have over the employment of their forces. The paper examines historical examples with particular emphasis on the two world wars. It notes that in WW1 that Unity of Effort proved insufficient under the pressures of March 1918 and examines the development of Unity of Command and integrated staffs in WW2. It then compares these lessons with current joint doctrine and notes that the emphasis today is on Unity of Effort and parallel command rather than Unity of Command. It concludes by questioning whether we have surrendered too easily the principle of Unity of Command.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 11, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA309426
Entities
People
- Anthony J. Rice
Organizations
- United States Army War College