The Closure of U.S. Joint Forces Command -- Mission Accomplished?

On August 9, 2010, the Secretary of Defense announced a number of cost cutting recommendations to include the closure of U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, VA. As rationale for the recommendation to close U.S. Joint Forces Command, the Secretary opined "the U.S. military has largely embraced jointness as a matter of culture and practice". The Secretary's recommendation to close the sole combatant command charged with advocating for jointness indicates either that U.S. Joint Forces Command has served its purpose and accomplished its mission; or the command has become such an expensive undertaking within the Department of Defense the closure is a consequence of financial reform. This paper will examine the recommendation to close U.S. Joint Forces Command, whether jointness has been embraced across the Services, and ultimately will challenge the decision to close U.S. Joint Forces Command.