Has the Time Come to Merge SOUTHCOM With Another Unified Command

Abstract

The application of a qualitative framework constructed from national security and military strategy, together with joint doctrine, demonstrates that merging the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) with the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which is an option under evaluation in the current biennial review of the Unified Command Plan (UCP), will reduce the effectiveness of the UCP. Reviewing the history of both actual and postulated UCP changes sets the basis for understanding the current debate and reveals which historical arguments remain applicable today. Drawing from the numerous internal and external UCP studies, as well as guidance for past deliberations, it is possible to build an analysis framework that, if inspected for strategy and doctrine changes in the future, can be applied to any future efforts to merge, eliminate, or reshape SOUTHCOM. Using the framework for the current debate illustrates that, while the merger is not prudent, the seam between SOUTHCOM and NORTHCOM requires modification to support peacetime theater security cooperation and potential military operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 19, 2004
Accession Number
ADA425935

Entities

People

  • Charles D. Sykora

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combatant Commanders
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Doctrine
  • Governments
  • Military Operations
  • Military Strategy
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Security
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States
  • United States Northern Command
  • United States Southern Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Computer Vision.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.