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Rack EA – Organization of DoD

Aisle E — Defense Enterprise

Library:  Main Page — Professional Development (A) — Defense Enterprise (E) — Force Structure (F) — Modernization (M) — Personnel (P) — Readiness (R) — Special Enterprises (S) — Resource Management (X) — References (Z)

Defense Enterprise (E):  Organization of DoD (EA) — Defense Business Area (EB) — Civil-Military Relations (EC) — Interagency Operations (EI) — Risk Management (EK) — Enterprise Leadership (EL) — Global Context (EN) — Strategic Planning (ES) — Defense Transformation (ET)

Disclaimer: The inclusion of resources here is for informational, historical, and research purposes only and is provided as a service for US Army War College faculty, students, and graduates to support their educational and professional requirements. These may include outdated or superseded materials. The inclusion of these materials does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.

This rack provides resources regarding the structure of the Department of Defense (past, present, future) and associated civil-military relations with national and state leaders.​​​​​​​

Shelf EA.00 — General

This shelf provides some of the defining documents of the Department of Defense.​​​​​ and its structure, along with some faculty commentaries on the defense enterprise. It contains resources related to the legal basis for the defense enterprise and key frameworks that shape it. Shelves are dedicated to specific laws and their impacts such as the DoD Reorganization Act of 1986 (also known as the Goldwater-Nichols Act).

In the U.S., the legal framework is defined in several U.S. codes — Title 10 for the active duty forces, Title 22 for the reserve components, and Title 36 for various other entities associated with the defense enterprise such as so-called “patriotic organizations.”

Faculty Publications:
Laws, Policies, Memos, and Regulations (sorted by regulation number):
Strategies and Reports:
Commentaries (inclusion does not represent endorsement):

Shelf EA.GN — The Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986

This shelf provides resources related to the DoD Reorganization Act of 1986, also known as the “Goldwater-Nichols Act,” that strengthened “jointness” in DoD affairs. Senator John McCain opened a 2015 hearing commemorating the forthcoming 30th anniversary of this act with the following statement:

This landmark legislation, which marks its 30th anniversary next year, was the most consequential reform of the Department of Defense since its creation. And this committee played a critical role at every step of the way, from initial study to first draft to final passage. Put simply, the Goldwater-Nichols reforms would never have happened without the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee. And yet, to a large degree, the organization of the Department still reflects those major decisions and changes made back in 1986. On the whole, those reforms have served us well, but much has happened in the past 30 years. We need a defense organization that can meet our present and future challenges. That is why we must ask, Has the time come to reconsider, and potentially update, Goldwater- Nichols? And if so, how and in what ways?

Faculty Publications:
  • None.
Laws, Policies, Memos, and Regulations (sorted by regulation number):
Strategies and Reports:
Commentaries (inclusion does not represent endorsement):

Shelf EA.PC — Posse Comitatus & Law Enforcement

The Posse Comitatus Act restricts the use of the military in law enforcement activities. It has been commonly evoked in matters of using the active military or the Army Reserve (not the National Guard) for managing civil disobedience and border security matters such as illegal immigration.

Faculty Publications:
  • None.
Laws, Policies, Memos, and Regulations (sorted by regulation number):
Strategies and Reports:
  • None.
Commentaries (inclusion does not represent endorsement):

Title image credit:  NORAD​​​​​​​, public domain.

Defense Enterprise (E):  Organization of DoD (EA) — Defense Business Area (EB) — Civil-Military Relations (EC) — Interagency Operations (EI) — Risk Management (EK) — Enterprise Leadership (EL) — Global Context (EN) — Strategic Planning (ES) — Defense Transformation (ET)

Library:  Main Page — Professional Development (A) — Defense Enterprise (E) — Force Structure (F) — Modernization (M) — Personnel (P) — Readiness (R) — Special Enterprises (S) — Resource Management (X) — References (Z)