Force Projection: Seeds for a New Doctrine

Doctrine represents a militarys central beliefs for waging war. The thaw in East-West relations underscores the significant changes in the geopolitical environment which have profound implications for U.S. military doctrine. One particularly significant result of the new international atmosphere is the reduction of American forward deployed forces and the consequent return to a military based predominantly in the continental United States. As the U.S. Armed Forces recalibrate for the changed environment, of paramount importance is their ability to project quickly to spots in the world where the United States might deem military force necessary to safeguard her interests, in other words, the capability to conduct contingency operations. This research paper tests the applicability of current joint doctrine to Americas transmuted method of warfare. For this assessment, the authors aimed to juxtapose relevant joint doctrinal precepts to analyses of selected recent contingency operations. The review of current joint doctrinal precepts to analyses of selected recent contingency operations. The review of current joint doctrine disclosed many positive steps were being taken since the enactment of the Goldwater-Nicols Act of 1986. But the research also found current military doctrine ambiguous, proliferated, and not principally focused on war-fighting moreover, scant coverage was given to contingency operations and campaign planning--two central pillars in contemporary application of military power. In fact, joint doctrine regarding contingency operations has still to be published.