Released: Dec 4, 1997
The defense reform initiative announced by the secretary of defense includes in its goals the streamlining of headquarters organizations. As of Oct. 1, 1998, the Joint Staff will transfer command and control of the joint communications support element, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., and Joint Command and Control Warfare Center, Kelly AFB, Texas, to U.S. Atlantic Command.
Other units similarly affected are the Joint Warfighting Center, Fort Monroe, Va.; Joint Battle Center, Suffolk, Va.; and Joint Warfighting Analysis Center, Dahlgren, Va. No physical movement of these activities or name changes are planned as a result of this action.
This shift of command and control will enable the Joint Staff to focus on its policy, direction and oversight duties. Realigning the joint centers will improve joint warfighting and training by strengthening U.S. Atlantic Command's role and capabilities for joint functional training support, joint warfighting support, joint doctrine and Joint Vision 2010 development.
Among the five regional commanders in chief, U.S. Atlantic Command is unique because of its mission as the military's joint force provider, integrator and trainer. Military planners say this role makes the command ideally suited to oversee these joint agencies.
According to Gen. Henry H. Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, this represents a significant change in the way the military does business.
"It is the right thing to do," he said. "The end state is envisioned as a force training and warfighting support organization that will strengthen the warfighting CINCs. This enhanced organization will provide a single source for joint training and warfighting support for the warfighter with a strong role in lessons learned, modeling and simulation, doctrine and joint force capability experimentation."