Since 1986, the armed services of the United States have improved their ability to work closely together to achieve military success. There remain, however, many examples of friction and inefficiencies that hamper joint military operations.

To enhance joint combat readiness, I recommend establishing multiservice standing joint task force headquarters (SJTF HQs) in each regional combatant command. I applaud the effort by the Department of Defense to create such headquarters, but current plans do not go far enough in creating a readily deployable headquarters that immediately can assume command of major operations.