Goldwater-Nichols -- Failing to Go the Distance

As a result of the Defense Department Reorganization Act of 1986 -- also known as the Goldwater-Nichols Act -- the United States Military operates jointly to an extent never before seen. However, loopholes in the legislation remain which continue to prevent the services from realizing the full extent of the efficiencies envisioned by Goldwater-Nichols. U.S. Military victories from Desert Storm to Operation Iraqi Freedom have masked the fact that the U.S. Military is still steeped in parochialism. There is no truly "joint force"; the services still pursue individual service priorities, redundant capabilities persist throughout, and turf wars frequently arise in new mission areas. It is time for an update to Goldwater-Nichols to address the loopholes that prevent the U.S. Military from exploiting the synergies of increased jointness. This is especially critical in this "era of persistent conflict," which is coupled with flat-lined budgets and the need to replace worn out and expended equipment.
USAWC Strategy Research Project.