Editor's Perspective

What it is not is a tactical level or an operational road map. It is a foundation upon which the layers of command can shape a future response force in a complex security environment.

The starting point of the report lays out the fundamental mission areas and competencies that U.S. forces will need to master to be effective. Core mission areas include: homeland defense and civil support; deterrence operations; major combat operations; irregular warfare; military support to stabilization security, transition and reconstruction operations; and military contribution to cooperative security. Further detailing the link between operational perspectives and the capabilities development process, DoD has established nine core competencies that include: force application, command and control, battlespace awareness, net-centric, building partnerships, protection, logistics, force support, and corporate management and support.

It comes as little surprise that the report concludes by saying, “Since our nation’s future security depends equally on interagency cooperation, coordination, and integration efforts, building unity of effort requires us to expand the concept of jointness beyond the Department of Defense. To help establish the right balance between our nation’s capabilities, we strongly support increasing resources and capacities in other departments and agencies, notably the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.” The role special operations forces seems obvious in certain areas and I think will migrate into several other key areas of influence. Direct action capabilities will remain a high priority, but the skill sets in so many other fields will be called on as part of the planning and execution of many other mission areas and competencies.

Turning inward to KMI Media Group, if you would like to receive our twice monthly E-nnouncement, click here to sign up or simply drop me an e-mail. This digital newsletter has material exclusive to it and not found in the magazine. Best of all is that the newsletter is free.

As always, please feel free to contact me if there are any comments or suggestions.

Best wishes.

Jeffrey D. McKaughan    Editor-In-Chief 301.670.5700 x130 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it