The Strategic Expeditionary Command: Filling the Interagency Void
Abstract
The contemporary strategic and operational environments increasingly rely on the full range of interagency participation and management. This is especially important during postconflict stability, security, transition and reconstruction (SSTR) operations. However, most interagency organizations have no surge capability and they respond slowly with the required number of qualified personnel and resources to meet the contingency operational demands. Consequently, military units are forced to use combat forces to assume the functions of interagency departments and nongovernmental organizations. In the recent past, the U.S. military and interagency SSTR efforts have been ad hoc, disjointed, and ineffective, with generally overall dismal results. A major cause of the postconflict breakdown in performing governance tasks is the lack of an adequately trained, equipped, and expertly manned central authority to quickly assume control of reconstruction and transition tasks. What is needed is a strategic expeditionary headquarters manned with trained interagency professionals that is easily deployed to assume the SSTR governance role. This paper proposes a long-term organizational solution to the SSTR problem that accounts for the current operating environment. The solution is the transformation of the Standing Joint Force Headquarters into a Strategic Expeditionary Command structure that provides effective unified command, resources, and interim interagency capabilities. The Command would be modular in concept and adaptive in function.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 19, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA479110
Entities
People
- Anthony D. Garcia
Organizations
- United States Army War College