To insure domestic tranquility, a study of the American high command

Abstract

This paper is a 100 page study of the American High Command - the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, It analyzes the environment in which the present defense organization functions, with special emphasis on the major dichotomies influencing our defense organizations, policies, and behavior: wartime vs. peacetime; civilian control vs. military control; centralization vs. decentralization; unification vs. separation; hardware vs. software; economy vs. strength; military comptrollership vs. civilian comptrollership; et al. Interface problems are highlighted. After a brief review of the historical development of the present defense organization, an analysis is made of the implications of employing either the Joint Staff or General Staff concepts at the National Military Command level. A concluding endorsement of the Joint Staff concept and system follows, with recommendations for its improvement and a look toward the future development of the American High Command.