Joint v. Autonomous, Unified v. devolved
Unfortunately for them the spirit of our time is "Joint" not "autonomy" and that is how this conflict will deport itself. Similarly, many Tactical/Opnl level ldrs feel that they should have more autonomy in missions due to possessing more direct combat experience than their strategic level superiors. I feel that would never actually happen due mostly to human nature.
Significantly, although somewhat unrelated, I fear the dissolution of the Marine Corps is more likely now than ever (vis-a-vis US Administration possible desire to re-consolidate DOD as a single command with a civilian counter department they've called "Civilian defense force" with mandatory service for all, equal funding & weapons etc.) Correct me if I'm wrong; this proposal is tabled pending overturn of a Clinton EO, which can be over-turned by any President at any time.
I totally disagree with such an idea but I see the UK basically doing the same thing in eliminating the regimental histories of so many great units.
What the UK did is different
Bullmoose Bailey stated at the end of the above post:
Quote:
I see the UK basically doing the same thing in eliminating the regimental histories of so many great units.
I have little knowledge of US military organisation and potential reform, but to cite the reforms undertaken here in the UK as part of changes in the USA is odd. Yes many army regiments have disappeared over the years, often dictated by finances, but not always. Often attempts have been made to keep regimental history alive, through cadre units who are often reservist (TA).
'Joint' working has been around for a very long time, but as the recent series of top service leaders speeches showed each took a single service stance.
Don't know where to start...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jcustis
What are we doing exactly (besides what whining ISAF staff say) that makes us rogue again?
We are pretty routinely going to want to operate in places under our operational and tactical concept, not someone else's. I see that as being exceptionally practical.
From a USMC perspective I suppose it is 'practical'...
Stress the log system to build their megabase a day's travel from anywhere... overwhelm a geographic area with 1% of the population...
freakin caveat's to make their employment by the operational commander akin to some of the worse restrictions of contributing nations...
An operational approach that is 180 degrees out from the concept of distributed operations that the USMC is currently championing in the joint community...
That rhetorical question is a joke right???
Whining ISAF staff??? when the Combatant Commander has to involve himself so that the forces deployed are actually available for the supported 4-star commander???
Exceptionally Practical -- nope -- exceptionally service parochial
Change? We don' need no steenkin' change...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Schmedlap
The JSOTF staff was paranoid about sharing intelligence...The manner in which SF develops sources is several orders of magnitude more sophisticated than what I saw in the CF world.
Been there seen that and very much agree. Hopefully the AWG will continue to migrate that expertise. That may or may not happen but it is a problem and the CF has on occasion totally blown some effective SOF efforts In fairness, SOF has undercut the CF on occasion as well. Both sides are guilty and many thing contribute.
Quote:
...If we lower-ranking folks with less "professional education" could figure it out, why can't two staffs full of higher ranking Officers and NCOs who are supposedly more educated and experienced figure it out?
Because our training and our PME are poor; we are conditioned not to trust people; we are too often excessively branch / community / tribe loyal; and the young guys have not yet developed the stifled, stilted and excessively conservative, risk avoiding "I don't know you..." view of the longer serving...
At least that was the prob in Korea and in Viet Nam and post VN in my observation as a DAC for almost 20 years. I very strongly doubt it's changed for the better...