A Goldwater-Nichols for MOOTW

Abstract

One of the keys to success in Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) is effective interagency coordination. Recent history indicates a need to improve interagency coordination, at all levels, in the planning and conduct of MOOTW. The 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act, which succeeded in enhancing the coordination between the Services and improved their ability to operate as a joint force, provides a model for how this can be done. This paper examines those aspects of Goldwater-Nichols that made it successful, cites some interagency failures in recent operations and their impact on the operational commander, and identifies some current efforts to improve interagency coordination. It also questions the likelihood that legislation is the best means to solve the problem. The author finds that the greatest chance for improving interagency coordination lies with carefully crafted legislation that breaks down cultural and institutional barriers to interagency coordination, much like Goldwater-Nichols succeeded in breaking down the barriers between the Services in favor of jointness almost fourteen years ago.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 08, 2000
Accession Number
ADA378443

Entities

People

  • Kemp L. Chester

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combatant Commanders
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Governments
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Interagency Coordination
  • International Organizations
  • Law
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Nongovernmental Organizations
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Task Forces
  • Training
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.