Standing Down a Joint Task Force

Abstract

Often established in a crisis, joint task forces (JTFs) are generally designed to respond to a specific set of circumstances. What happens to JTFs when the crises which originally demanded their formation disappears or is resolved? Emphasis is placed on standing up JTFs; but how does the Department of Defense determine when it is time to stand one down? Are there criteria used to make this decision, or is it a matter of judgement? In addition, this decision can be clouded by competing bureaucratic interests which seek to justify a continuation of the presence long after it is needed. The following case of Joint Task Force-Bravo, Honduras, illustrates this tendency. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) maintains a small American military presence in Honduras at a facility known as Soto Cano Air Base. Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B), directly subordinate to SOUTHCOM, consists of approximately 800 members of the Army and Air Force and U.S. Government civilian personnel. JTF-B has operational control over all forces deployed to Honduras, coordinates regional logistics, supervises engineering projects, maintains a search-and-rescue and medivac helicopter capability, and assists Honduras in counterdrug actions. Since the United States has no base leasing agreement, its military presence is dependent on the express permission of the government of Honduras. SOUTHCOM has had a presence at Soto Cano for over a decade. The original reasons for establishing JTF-B faded with the Cold War, but a lack of policy guidance from Washington has resulted in an American extended presence. Although SOUTHCOM continues to justify JTF-B as a critical hub for U.S. military training in Central America, most of the missions in question could be accomplished without the task force, saving DOD approximately $22 million annually.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA529135

Entities

People

  • Scott M. Hines

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Air Force
  • Central America
  • Civilian Personnel
  • Department Of Defense
  • El Salvador
  • Governments
  • Honduras
  • Intelligence Collection
  • Military Operations
  • Military Training
  • National Security
  • Task Forces
  • Training
  • United States
  • United States Southern Command
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.