The Organization and Training of Joint Task Forces

<p>The United States continues to challenge its military forces to provide maximum capability with minimum resources. In order to meet that challenge effectively the US must take full advantage of the synergy provided by the unified action of joint forces. Those forces are employed in a wide variety of missions that change during development and execution. Formation of the joint task force (JTF) is one of several options to organize our military forces. This thesis examines the organization training doctrine and experience of joint task forces within each of the five geographically tasked unified commands. The thesis compares JTF operations in Somalia Haiti Panama Northern Iraq and Hawaii along with current unified command plans for organizing and training JTFs. US Atlantic Command plans are described in detail because of this command's role as a joint force integrator. The thesis notes that most commands build a JTF core from a subordinate component headquarters augmented by joint specialists from the unified command headquarters and other service component resources. Unified commands choose the core headquarters based on ability to perform the specific mission and augment from other services appropriately. The thesis concludes that US armed forces are improving their ability to train and organize JTFs effectively. Continued improvement is required because current doctrine for training joint task forces is immature and the training programs implementing the doctrine are relatively new.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>