Defence

Defence Science and Technology Organisation

What is Joint?... Joint is what Joint does

Dr Wayne Philp provides an S&T perspective...

'The word Joint is used in ADF common language to capture those aspects of Defence that don't fit neatly under the Capability Management of Navy, Army and Air Force. But what does Joint mean? How do we define it? We have a Joint Operations Command that includes sustainment (Joint logistics), lift (Joint movements) and combat support (Joint fires). We have Joint warfighting and operating concepts, featuring littoral and network centric warfare - we even have a Joint Military Appreciation Process - but nailing Joint to the floor is still an elusive task.

So, what is Joint? Many members of the ADF may describe it as 'tri-service' - namely Navy, Army and Air Force working together for a common cause. The notion of 'purple' comes from this idea of mixing navy blue, khaki and light blue colours together. Others may see Joint as the mix of military and civilian endeavours in Defence to provide support behind the battlefield, such as military intelligence, communications or remote surveillance. Again, others may simply look on Joint as being what's left over after the Services have done their job (1 - [Army+Navy+Air Force]). Indeed, Joint is all of the above - and more.

A notorious scientific philosopher in the 1970s, Paul Feyerabend, when faced with the question "What is Science?" responded simply with: "Science is what scientists do." Feyerabend argued that the contemporary rules and assumptions of reputable scientific communities, institutes and societies hampered science instead of advancing new disciplines and discoveries. To encourage creative problem solving, scientists needed to reach outside the taxonomies and definitions of textbooks to employ new ways and means to do a job differently or to achieve a novel outcome: if it helps, scientists may legitimately call on anything from mechanics to voodoo. Although this is a radical approach to "science method" it can liberate opportunities and reduce mental barriers for creative problem solving.

In the context of "What is Joint?" I propose an answer: "Joint is what Joint does." Joint practitioners, like scientists, may work outside the traditions of their own Service cultures, to achieve a higher good. They may share and agree on more efficient ways of doing common tasks (e.g. computing), or they may work outside the norm to explore alternative ways and means for success (e.g. strategy). Working together with people of different perspectives can often be better than working with those of like mind.

Does Joint, as a community, really need to be defined by taxonomies and doctrine? Is there a collective culture that is best for doing business? Joint practitioners may be more like multi-disciplined scientists engaged in, and solving, real world problems. They are better defined by their outputs, and the problems they address, than their job descriptions, duties and lines of demarcation.

Let's look at Joint from a Science and Technology (S&T) perspective. Under its Joint Program, DSTO provides S&T support to Joint Operations Command, the Chief Information Officer Group, the Intelligence and Security Group, the Strategy Group, the Integrated Capability Development Branch and defence-related Counter-Terrorism initiatives by Prime Minister and Cabinet. This collection of stakeholders has evolved naturally in parallel and accord with DSTO's long-standing services to Navy, Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Service. The S&T needs of the Defence Materiel Organisation and the Capability Development Group span Navy, Army, Air Force and Joint Programs, and so are integrated across the whole by DSTO's new Capability Development and Acquisition Program.

As it stands, Joint S&T embraces:

• Information and communications technology (ICT)
• Geospatial imagery and surveillance technology (ISR);
• All-source intelligence analysis, methodology and processes (INT);
• Social/psychological/organisational analysis and technology enhancement (C2);
• Concept development, experimentation and systems analysis (CD&E, Systems); and
• Counter Terrorism and Domestic Security (CT).

Indeed, the DSTO's Joint Divisions mirror the above areas of expertise:

• Information Networks Division (IND)
• Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division (ISRD), which includes Secure Communications
• Command and Control Division (C2D)
• Defence Systems Analysis Division (DSAD)
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Centre (CBRNDC)

Corporate Leader - Joint (also the Director Information Sciences Laboratory) is responsible to the Chief Defence Scientist for the delivery of S&T against Joint capability management, capability development and the conduct/support of operations. In support of this role, Scientific Adviser-Joint is appointed by the Corporate Leader to:

• advise the CIO as a member of staff;
• advise CJOPS/DEPSEC S/DEPSEC I&S on S&T issues, priorities and DSTO abilities;
• advise DSTO Corporate Leaders on Defence issues affecting FRAC programs;
• develop and update Client S&T Requirements Plans; and
• liaise with DSTO managers (Division Chiefs, S&T Capability Coordinators (STCCs), Research Leaders, Task Managers and Business Managers) to facilitate the achievement of agreed program deliverables.

In providing S&T advice to Defence in this complex space, DSTO has divided its efforts into four Force Research Areas (FRAs): namely, (1) Joint Operations and Information, (2) Strategy and Capability Planning, (3) Intelligence and Security, and (4) Civilian Counter-Terrorism. A Research & Development Requirements Committee (RDRC) supports each FRA, which in turn is broken down into FRA Capabilities (FRACs).

Joint Operations and Information FRACs:

(RDRC Co-Chairs DCJOPS & HICMD)

• Support to Joint Operations Command
• Support to Current Operations
• Defence Information Infrastructure
• Command Support
• Defence Information Environment
• Integrated Surveillance Systems
• Information Assurance
• Force Level Electronic Warfare
• Joint Logistics and Support
• Guided Weapons and Explosives Ordnance

Strategy and Capability Planning FRACs:

(RDRC Chair HSP)

• Strategy & Future Warfare Concept Development
• Capability Outputs: Analysis and Planning
• Counter Proliferation & Regional Engagement
• Missile Defence
• Domestic Security [for Defence clients]

Intelligence and Security FRACs:

(RDRC Chair ASCCR)

• Signals Intelligence
• Technical Intelligence
• Intelligence Systems and Support to Operations
• Image and Geospatial Intelligence
• Access and Communications

Civilian Counter-Terrorism FRACs:

(RDRC Chair CDS)

• Intelligence
• Command, Control and Communications
• Physical Effects
• Infrastructure Systems
• National Security Capability Development

The diagram below is an attempt to capture these domains in a graphic - Everything but Air, Land and Sea is Joint.

In presenting DSTO's Joint Program, maybe the Joint community can be better understood, not via flow diagrams and line charts, but through the real world problems this community addresses. Joint is here defined by its outputs, and the problems it addresses, rather than by discipline, culture or doctrinal lines of demarcation.

To focus on the question "What is Joint?" may be of little intrinsic value. Instead, a more fruitful question may be "What does Joint do?" Certainly, the Joint community of the ADO (and likewise DSTO) does Strategy, Capability Planning, Operations, Information, Communications, Intelligence, National Security and Counter-Terrorism.

Question: "What is Joint?"

Answer: "Joint is what Joint does!"

Dr Wayne Philp is Scientific Adviser - Joint.

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