A couple months before he left active duty, General Berger, USMC (Ret.) made a few comments that, well, put a big grin on my face.
I know a few regulars here and at Midrats of long standing will roll their eyes with a “there he goes again” when I start to tilt against one of my windmills - the COCOMS.
Again because it can never be said enough; our military will not be able to meet the challenge of this century until:
We replace Goldwater-Nichols.
We redefine the definition and emphasis of “joint” as it is now practiced, especially in the acquisitions arena.
The COCOM is re-baselined.
On the last part at least, Berger is with me.
Via Justin Katz at Breaking Defense;
The Pentagon’s structuring of regional combatant commanders may be overdue for reform, given the changing nature of how and where wars are being fought, Marine Corps commandant Gen. David Berger said Tuesday.
“My own opinion is it’s time for a look at that,” Berger said in response to questions at a Brookings Institute event. “For all the right reasons, we’ve added where we needed, but there comes a point where there’s so many combatant commanders and so many service chiefs that I wonder at what point does the secretary of defense have a span of control where… getting to a decision and getting the right perspectives on the table becomes really difficult.”
Bingo. It is a creaky and awkward structure designed to meet the challenge of an empire we defeated over three decades ago.
Yes, there are worse things than what we have now, specifically something along the lines of a German General Staff or anything that narrows the voices that get to the CINC. We need more “creative friction” for decision makers to ponder than just one voice carrying all their very human imperfections and biases with them to the table.
Shame that we once again have people waiting until the last minute to say such things, but better later then never.
Welcome to the team.
h/t Sadler.
No one’s designed a coherent global strategy for the Navy in my lifetime. GN has frozen our strategic thinking for so long it’s time has come to end.
Placed here w/o further comment.
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10 U.S. Code § 526 - Authorized strength: general and flag officers on active duty
(a) Limitations.—The number of general officers on active duty in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and the number of flag officers on active duty in the Navy, may not exceed the number specified for the armed force concerned as follows:
(1) For the Army, 231.
(2) For the Navy, 162.
(3) For the Air Force, 198.
(4) For the Marine Corps, 62.
(b) Limited Exclusion for Joint Duty Requirements.
(1) The Secretary of Defense may designate up to 310 general officer and flag officer positions that are joint duty assignments for purposes of chapter 38 of this title for exclusion from the limitations in subsection (a)....
*edit*
(5) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may designate up to 15 general and flag officer positions in the unified and specified combatant commands, and up to three general and flag officer positions on the Joint Staff, as positions to be held only by reserve component officers...