Service Uniqueness - Stumbling Blocks to Jointness

Abstract : A constant in the drumbeat for military reform has been the need for true cooperation among the United States' Military Services. Predicated on the belief that success in all future military operations will require the skills and assets of all the services working together as a cohesive force, the Goldwater-Nichols DOD Reorganization Act of 1986 mandated that the military services initiate means to facilitate true jointness. Mandating jointness is one thing, achieving it is something else. Each service is the guardian of deeply seated, cherished traditions which profoundly affect how it views and administers its profession. Each has built its warfighting doctrine upon the foundation of lessons learned in combat. Roles and missions are guarded jealously. Each service competes for scarce resources; strong and emotional feelings abound. When faced with jointness, the inherent beliefs and values of the services, combined with ever present competition, can create friction with resultant animosity and lack of cooperation. This paper examines the causes of friction between the services relying on a historical perspective where possible. It identifies and explores the services' unique roles and missions, views of warfighting, and ways of doing business which hinder cohesion, and recommend ways of reducing or eliminating them. Joint military activities; Department of Defense. (edc)