Three-phase Approach towards Enhancing Jointness Across the Armed Forces

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• Army chief General outlined the three-phase approach towards enhancing jointness across the armed forces, at a time when the military is ready to present its Theaterisation model to the decision-makers.

Background

• Theaterisation, which requires jointness and integration, is a long-awaited reform for the best use of the military’s resources to fight future wars.
• The Theaterisation model being pursued involves raising;
  • The China-centric northern Theatre command in Lucknow, 
  • The Pakistan-centric western Theatre command in Jaipur, and 
  • The maritime Theater command in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Three-phase approach

• Jointness 1.0: It focused on integrating acquisition planning, courses, and operational joint logistic nodes, with three fully operational and four more in progress.
• Jointness 2.0: The progress was made in aligning doctrines, standard operating procedures and creating joint maintenance organizations for major platforms. 
• Jointness 3.0: The army aims to expand common operational planning process, tech sharing, and resources like UAVs and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems.

Integrated vs Jointness

• Jointness means that while the 3 Services progress and develop in their respective spheres with their independent identity, they function together and so coordinate their operations in war.
• Integrated Commands, on the other hand, seek to merge individual service identities to achieve a composite and cohesive whole.

Advantages

• Better acclimatization of troops in the given battlespace for operational efficiency.
• Training needs and administrative requirements of the troops can be better understood for specialization and conducting drills.
• Quick mobilization of troops is possible for the high-intensity war-like situation.
• The allocation of military hardware can become theater specific and result in optimisation of the resources.
• Unified command will allow for prompt and precise decision making and remove hierarchical redundancies.

Challenges in Implementation

• Difference of opinion among three forces: There are differences among the three forces on scope, structure, and control of the commands.
• Transfer of Resources: There is a contention on the kind of war-fighting equipment that will be deployed under a single command and ambiguity surrounding the transfer of weapons, platforms, and resources from one theater command to another.
• Curriculum Framework: In terms of preparing the educational bedrock for military personnel to serve in theater commands, the country seems to be behind the curve. 

Concluding remarks

• The three-phase approach to enhancing jointness lays a strong foundation for creating a cohesive and efficient command structure. 
• However, successful implementation requires overcoming inter-service differences, revising educational frameworks, and ensuring robust resource allocation mechanisms.

Source: HT