The Defense Department yesterday approved the reassignment of certain critical U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) organizations and functions to designated combatant commands, military services and the Joint Staff.
The Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) is reassigned to U.S. Transportation Command; the Joint Warfare Analysis Center will report to U.S. Strategic Command, the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency is reassigned to the Air Force, and the NATO School is reassigned to U.S. European Command.
These reassignments ensure the most critical functions and expertise are maintained for the joint warfighter, a DoD statement said.
The reassignment plan was developed in coordination with the Office of Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, combatant commands, and the services.
The process to disestablish the command continues, and more information about other JFCOM organizations and functions will be forthcoming before the four-star combatant command cases its colors in late August.
“Our goal is to transfer streamlined, relevant joint functions to appropriate Department of Defense entities,” said Army Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command. “We will ensure we sustain the momentum and gains in jointness while maintaining critical interaction with NATO and other multi-national partners.”
When the transition is complete, nearly 50 percent of JFCOM personnel and budget will remain in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia along with core missions, such as joint training, joint force provider, joint concept and doctrine development, and joint integration. These functions will be aligned under the Joint Staff for leadership and direction.
For example, the JFCOM J-9 Joint Concept Development and Experimentation Directorate will be aligned under the Joint Staff J-7 Joint Coalition Warfare, but will remain in Suffolk, Va.
The physical moves of all JFCOM activities will be completed by March 2012.