Part 9: Jointery and the Joint Forces Command

Key recommendation 7. Some military capabilities have to be integrated on a 'joint' basis in order to effectively enable operations. Such enabling capabilities need more effective proponency within Defence. To that end, a Joint Forces Command should be created to manage and deliver specific joint capabilities and to take the lead on joint warfare development, drawing on lessons and experimentation to advise on how the Armed Forces should conduct joint operations in the future. Certain joint and Defence capabilities should continue to be delivered on a 'lead Service' basis.

a.   The Joint Forces Command should be led by a military 4 star, and should have responsibility for commanding and generating the joint capabilities allocated to it and setting the framework for joint enablers that sit in the single Services.

b.   As a result, a number of military organisations currently managed by the Central TLB should pass to the Joint Forces Command.

c.   The Permanent Joint Headquarters should sit within the Joint Forces Command, but report for operational purposes direct to the CDS.

d.   In implementing the Joint Forces Command, the Department should systematically review joint or potentially joint capabilities and functions across the Services against the criteria set out below to determine which might be rationalised, the merit of further joint organisations, which should transfer to the Joint Forces Command and which should transfer to a lead Service.