Opening the Aperture... Ending Service "Branding" of US Unified Commands
Abstract
Opening the Aperture: Ending Service "Branding" of US Unified Commands examines command appointments to US unified commands in the context of the chosen commanders' service background. The essay's thesis is the evolving nature of military operations and the uncertainty of future warfare requires the US to break the paradigm linking particular services with certain unified command positions. It aries that despite best intents to choose the "best person" for unified commander positions, the selection process devolved into one dominated by cultural paradigms based upon history and tradition. It asserts that over tine, the defense establishment runs the risk of establishing a cultural identity in the command that limits perspectives to aground-, sea-, or air and space-centric viewpoint, thus potentially denying the command, as well as the national leadership, the benefit of a fuller range of military options. It recommends the US defense establishment formalize this evolution through a proactive program to ensure leadership of the nine unified commands is distributed among all services with a viable component in the command, explicitly delineated in Title 10, US Code, as necessary.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA424589
Entities
People
- Russell J. Handy
Organizations
- Air War College