Joint Staff (U.S.): Difference between revisions

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Established by the [[National Security Act of 1947]], the U.S. '''Joint Staff''' assists the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (CJCS) in developing policies for the U.S. military. It reports directly to the CJCS, not the JCS as a whole, under a three-star Director. The CJCS does not have operational command of U.S. forces, that being the role of the [[National Command Authority]] and the [[Unified Combatant Command]]ers, so the Joint Staff is not operational. It was further barred, by the establishing legislation, from being a general staff for the U.S. military as a whole. <ref name=GN1968>{{citation
Established by the [[National Security Act of 1947]], the U.S. '''Joint Staff''' assists the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (CJCS) in developing policies for the U.S. military. It reports directly to the CJCS, not the JCS as a whole, under a three-star Director. The CJCS does not have operational command of U.S. forces, that being the role of the [[National Command Authority]] and the [[Unified Combatant Command]]ers, so the Joint Staff is not in the operational [[command and control]] path. It was further barred, by the establishing legislation, from being a general staff for the U.S. military as a whole. <ref name=GN1968>{{citation
  | url = http://www.jcs.mil/cjs/goldwater_nichol_act1986.html
  | url = http://www.jcs.mil/cjs/goldwater_nichol_act1986.html
  | title = Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986
  | title = Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986
  | id = 10 US Code 155
  | id = 10 US Code 155
}}</ref>  
}}</ref> At the time of the JCS creation in 1947, there was considerable political worry about creating an autonomous "Great General Staff" as had existed in Germany.<ref name=Goerlitz>{{citation
 
At the time of the JCS creation in 1947, there was considerable political worry about creating an autonomous "Great General Staff" as had existed in Germany.<ref name=Goerlitz>{{citation
  | first = Walter | last = Goerlitz
  | first = Walter | last = Goerlitz
  | title = History Of The German General Staff 1657-1945  
  | title = History Of The German General Staff 1657-1945  
Line 13: Line 11:
  | year = 1962}}</ref>
  | year = 1962}}</ref>


There have been a number of workarounds to the 400 officer limitations. It was originally limited to 210 officers, and, although the subsequent [[Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958]] raised it to 400 officers, there remained a problem for the functions, such as intelligence, where it produced information rather than coordinated it.  The [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], under various organization plans, provided the intelligence staff function to the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], but usually had a special bureaucratic structure to avoid the limit on staff.
There have been a number of workarounds to the 400 officer limitation. It was originally limited to 210 officers, and, although the subsequent [[Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958]] raised it to 400 officers, there remained a problem for the functions, such as intelligence, where it produced information rather than coordinated it.  The [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], under various organization plans, provided the intelligence staff function to the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], but usually had a special bureaucratic structure to avoid the limit on staff.


Its Director is a [[lieutenant general]] or [[vice admiral]], selected by the CJCS and reporting directly to him. The position is vacant at present, since the incumbent, GEN [[Stanley McChrystal]], was promoted to command U.S. forces in Afghanistan. [[Rear admiral]] [[Bruce Grooms]] is the Vice Director and acting Director.
Its Director is a [[lieutenant general]] or [[vice admiral]], selected by the CJCS and reporting directly to him. Currently, it is LTG [[Lloyd Austin]], [[U.S. Army]]. It is a "career enhancing" position; the incumbent often moves to a four-star position, recent examples being GEN [[Ray Odierno]] becoming the Iraq commander and  GEN [[Stanley McChrystal]] and heading NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan. While the decision has not been confirmed, LTG Austin has been reported as GEN Odierno's successor.


By statute, it is limited to 400 officers, although that number is exceeded in practice by attached agencies. There are approximately equal numbers from each of the services. Each service has its own staff, including an Operations Deputy (OPDEP), who works closely with the Director of the Joint Staff to consider issues at a level below that of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]. Service staffs do not count against the Joint Staff ceiling.
By statute, it is limited to 400 officers, although that number is exceeded in practice by attached agencies. There are approximately equal numbers from each of the services. Each service has its own staff, including an Operations Deputy (OPDEP), who works closely with the Director of the Joint Staff to consider issues at a level below that of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]. Service staffs do not count against the Joint Staff ceiling.


In like manner, there is a Vice Director who is a member of the Joint Staff, and a lower-level body, made up of the [[major general]] or [[rear admiral]] plans directors of the individual services.
In like manner, there is a Vice Director who is a member of the Joint Staff, and a lower-level body, made up of the [[major general]] or [[rear admiral]] operations deputy directors of the individual services. When matters are resolved by the Operations Deputies or Deputy Operations Deputies, the decision has the force of that from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
 
==References==
When matters are resolved by the Operations Deputies or Deputy Operations Deputies, the decision has the force of that from the Joint Chiefs of Staff
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 08:34, 18 April 2010

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Established by the National Security Act of 1947, the U.S. Joint Staff assists the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) in developing policies for the U.S. military. It reports directly to the CJCS, not the JCS as a whole, under a three-star Director. The CJCS does not have operational command of U.S. forces, that being the role of the National Command Authority and the Unified Combatant Commanders, so the Joint Staff is not in the operational command and control path. It was further barred, by the establishing legislation, from being a general staff for the U.S. military as a whole. [1] At the time of the JCS creation in 1947, there was considerable political worry about creating an autonomous "Great General Staff" as had existed in Germany.[2]

There have been a number of workarounds to the 400 officer limitation. It was originally limited to 210 officers, and, although the subsequent Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958 raised it to 400 officers, there remained a problem for the functions, such as intelligence, where it produced information rather than coordinated it. The Defense Intelligence Agency, under various organization plans, provided the intelligence staff function to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but usually had a special bureaucratic structure to avoid the limit on staff.

Its Director is a lieutenant general or vice admiral, selected by the CJCS and reporting directly to him. Currently, it is LTG Lloyd Austin, U.S. Army. It is a "career enhancing" position; the incumbent often moves to a four-star position, recent examples being GEN Ray Odierno becoming the Iraq commander and GEN Stanley McChrystal and heading NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan. While the decision has not been confirmed, LTG Austin has been reported as GEN Odierno's successor.

By statute, it is limited to 400 officers, although that number is exceeded in practice by attached agencies. There are approximately equal numbers from each of the services. Each service has its own staff, including an Operations Deputy (OPDEP), who works closely with the Director of the Joint Staff to consider issues at a level below that of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Service staffs do not count against the Joint Staff ceiling.

In like manner, there is a Vice Director who is a member of the Joint Staff, and a lower-level body, made up of the major general or rear admiral operations deputy directors of the individual services. When matters are resolved by the Operations Deputies or Deputy Operations Deputies, the decision has the force of that from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

References

  1. Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, 10 US Code 155
  2. Goerlitz, Walter (1962), History Of The German General Staff 1657-1945, Praeger