Joint Force Challenges

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The purpose of this essay is to analyze the enduring challenges that confront joint force commands. There are many challenges that a joint staff can and will face, however this essay will cover only three of them. The three challenges are unity of effort among the staff, diversity of the workforce, and interservice jealousy. Each of the lessons reviewed in the A534 elective have shown examples of how complicated the joint staff structure is. Getting the staff on the same sheet of music is essential. Unity of effort from all of the staff sections is paramount for information to flow up and down the chain of command. Yet, the more personnel added and the more sections formed make the unity of effort extra burdensome. Adding all of the …show more content…

Joint forces are unique organization for many reasons. One of the reason is due to the multiplicity of services represented throughout the staff. Some people can find it difficult to be an army officer that is working for a navy or marine officer. The language they use and the style they communicate can make it difficult to get along well and to get various tasks accomplished. According to the Joint Officer Handbook, “The diversity of the workforce and the fast-pace in a combatant command require the development of constructive work relationships and good collaborative skills.” This handbook provides numerous tips for showing an officer that may have only worked in a traditional command structure how to adapt to a more diverse work …show more content…

Soldiers are proud to be in the Army as well as Seaman are proud to be in the Navy. Yet, once a military person moves to the joint staff then it is time to see the military as one big team. General Marshall spoke of this interservice division as challenging to him. Marshal was trying to defeat Hitler in Europe as General MacArthur led the Army in the Pacific. On the other hand, Admiral king was in Washington, and Admiral Nimitz in the Pacific wanted the Navy to take charge and assume command. The future of joint staffs will not be much different. As soon as you place a bunch of highly ranked and highly aggressive Generals and Admirals on the same staff, then interpersonal skills will need to be used to unite