Military Joint Operations - Article Example

Additionally, the authors are concerned with providing a framework that could be used by logistics planners to synchronize the tactical, operational, and strategic components through implementing the seven core capabilities of joint logistics as enshrined in the JP 4-0, namely “supply, maintenance operations, deployment and distribution, health services support, engineering, logistics services, and operations contract support”, with the view to redeploying a large military force and equipment in the midst of an extremely fluid political and security environment (Hurley & Abbatiello, 2010).

Proposed Threaded Discussion Question

In their article titled “Responsible Drawdown: Synchronizing the Joint Vision”, Hurley and Abbatiello (2010) acknowledge that “MNC-1 logistics planners found that the core capabilities as outlined in JP 4-0 served as a comprehensive framework to develop drawdown plans” (p. 128). Select three of the capabilities discussed by the authors, describe them in brief, and demonstrate how the relevant joint stakeholders used the capabilities to ensure a responsible drawdown of military forces and equipment in Iraq. Please include a discussion on whether you agree with the authors’ perspective on how the selected capabilities were used to enhance responsible drawdown.

How the Question Relates to the Military Joint Issue

The threaded discussion question relates to the military joint issue of responsible drawdown in the following ways:

• The Joint Forces course discusses in detail the core capabilities as outlined in JP 4-0 and the role of MNC-1 in facilitating military joint operations.
•  The question is an eye-opener for military students in the main area of applying the capabilities as outlined in JP 4-0 to ensure logistics planners develop the capacity to synchronize military joint operations such as large-scale redeployments across all levels of operation.
• The question will bring to the fore how various operational, tactical, and strategic agencies in the US military (e.g., USCENTCOM, ARCENT, AFCENT, and CENTCOM Deployment Distribution Operations Center) employ joint logistics capabilities to achieve success in redeployment efforts.
•  The question is fundamental in addressing issues of joint logistics as well as joint operations command and control.

Sub-topics likely to be explored by discussing the Proposed Question

• Discussion of the key drivers put in place to ensure core capabilities are fully functional in military joint operations.
• Discussion of the failures of Iraq’s military redeployment efforts and lessons learned
• Discussion of the unique advantages provided by the mentioned model of military redeployment (responsible drawdown) and comparison with other models of redeployment.
• Discussion of the budgetary aspects of such a large-scale military joint operation and what could be done by the logistics planners in various military and contracting units to ensure the budget remains sustainable.
• Discussion of the contentious issues that, according to you, are not in tandem with military joint operations particularly in the redeployment arena.