AFRICOM: The U.S. Navy's Emergent Missions and Capability Gaps
Abstract
The recent creation of AFRICOM provides the United States and the new Combatant Commander the opportunity to create comprehensive security initiatives that meet the specific needs of their African partners. As the U.S. Navy increases its engagements on the continent, it will find that it lacks critical capabilities that are essential to conduct the maritime missions it will be assigned. An analysis of the expected missions and the current capabilities of the U.S. Navy reveals specific areas where the service needs to improve. Specifically, the U.S. Navy lacks capabilities in the maritime regulatory and domestic law enforcement environments. While the service has extended its capabilities with the Littoral Combat Ship and the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, both initiatives have failed to completely bridge the capability gaps. Finally, the paper draws the conclusion that the U.S. Navy should expand its capabilities to include some missions performed domestically by the U.S. Coast Guard. The addition of these new capabilities will enable the U.S. Navy to more effectively engage with African navies and coast guards.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA470726
Entities
People
- William E. Sasser. Jr.
Organizations
- Naval War College