Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization: Anomaly or Future Roadmap
Abstract
Asymmetric threats and capabilities have long characterized the conduct of war and every era seems to have its own incarnation. Exemplars include the phalanx longbow and recently Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The national response to the dramatic increase in IEDs in the current conflict began as a small cell in 2003 Within four years the response evolved into the Joint IED Defeat Organization which is currently a $3 billion 300-person organization answerable to the Deputy Undersecretary for Defense, but coordinating the activity of thousands. JIEDDO itself has been compared to a 'Manhattan-style' project This paper provides historical perspective through case studies while exploring other analogs such as the North Atlantic shipping tragedy in WWII. More important, discerning patterns that emerge offers glimpses on how we should respond to future threats. Does the JIEDDO model represent a single point in time or does it provide a representative guide for solving difficult issues that cross service, material, agency, and national lines? Solutions to asymmetric threats have perceived single answers or "silver bullet" approaches, but in reality require integration across a wide domain. This is not only a contemporary assessment of JIEDDO but a comment echoed at the close of World War II.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 25, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA479728
Entities
People
- Robert W. Sadowski
Organizations
- United States Army War College