Security into the 21st Century: NATO's Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) Concept

The purpose of the paper is to examine NATOs Combined Joint Task Force CJTF Concept and analyze its application to meet security tasks into the 2lst century. NATO adopted the CJTF concept in 1994 in anticipation of using the U.S. Joint Task Force JTF doctrine in the United Nations relief mission in Bosnia. Since then, NATO has completed the evaluation and validation phases of the CJTF concept and are now in the full implementation phase with the Initial Operational Capability IOC expected in 2002. The CJTF concept is more than a command and control mechanism with a deployable communication information system. The CJTF concept is the instrument that gives NATO the flexibility it needs to conduct peace support operations in and-out of area with non-NATO members and Article 5 missions within the alliance. This paper will examine how the CJTF concept can be employed within and outside of NATO territory. NATOs CJTF concept will provide the critical capabilities for a military headquarters to meet the security tasks of the 21st century.