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Enabling integrated deterrence; Combatant Command perspectives

Fleet Master Chief Donald Myrick, senior enlisted leader of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), leads a panel on the topic of enabling integrated deterrence at the 2022 National Defense Transportation Association - USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 17, 2022. (DoD photo by Sgt. Vontrae Hampton)

Four senior enlisted leaders field questions from the audience at the 2022 National Defense Transportation Association – U.S. Transportation Command Fall Meeting, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 17, 2022. Sgt. Maj. Howard Kreamer, U.S. Strategic Command, Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Jones, U.S. Southern Command, Sgt. Maj. James Porterfield, U.S. Northern Command, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott Stalker, U.S. Space Command, provided their perspectives on enabling integrated deterrence. (DoD photo by Sgt. Vontrae Hampton)

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (October 19, 2022) – Senior enlisted leaders from five different Combatant Commands gathered at the National Defense Transportation Association – U.S. Transportation Command Fall meeting, to address how each command plays a role in enabling integrated deterrence.


The panel discussion, moderated by Fleet Master Chief Donald Myrick, senior enlisted leader, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), addressed multiple layers to integrated deterrence, which is the seamless combination of capabilities to convince potential adversaries that the costs of their hostile activities outweigh their benefit. It is also a key element in the recently released National Security Strategy. 


“The threats of the modern era are global vice regional,” said Sergeant Major James Porterfield, senior enlisted leader, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). “The world as we look at it now – there are no longer regional threats, there are no boundaries. Our adversaries have global reach and have the ability to strike us in our homeland at any given time, which causes us to think in a different perspective within all domains.” 


“Our way of fighting had to adapt and had to change as we look at peer competition – we believe integrated deterrence is the way to do that,” said Sergeant Major Howard Kreamer, senior enlisted leader, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).


Deterrence now relies on integration across all domains, across all regions, across the spectrum of conflict, across the U.S. government and integration with Allies and Partners.


“The idea of integrated deterrence brings together the entire force, which includes interagency, all our Allies and Partners, the private sectors, nongovernmental organizations and academia to counter cross-cutting threats,” said Command Sergeant Major Benjamin Jones, senior enlisted leader, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). 


The panel members discussed the necessity of being able to operate across land, air, maritime, space and cyber domains, and about the importance of leveraging data throughout operations. 


“Data and information is going to be the way ahead,” said Porterfield. “Those with the information are going to win.”


Myrick added that the military can’t posture its way out of future fights. 


“We better be ready now and in the future. To that end, cyber domain mission assurance has got to be a priority,” said Myrick. “The complexity of future operations requires us to treat data as a strategic asset.”


Integrated deterrence also requires the Department of Defense to more effectively coordinate, network and innovate. 


When developing and fielding new products, the DOD often looks to industry for assistance. 


“We’re no longer solely focused on a whole of government approach, because it’s very myopic and focuses singularly on one set of parts,” said Master Gunnery Sergeant Scott Stalker, senior enlisted leader, U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM). “We’re now focused on a now a whole of society, which includes our commercial partners.” 


Stalker added that after gaps and needs are identified, there is tremendous value in releasing creativity within the commercial sector. 


“We should not so much be telling them (industry) specifically what they need to build, rather we need to talk about the environment and what the commander needs to complete their mission, so that we can unleash industry to create things,” said Stalker.


Myrick went on to describe the crucial role the commercial industry plays in USTRANSCOM’s mission. 


“As I sit here and look out at the audience, I’m reminded that TRANSCOM’s ability to deliver an immediate force tonight and a decisive force when needed is inextricably linked to our commercial partners, said Myrick. “The Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise is dependent upon the capacity, the networks, and the expertise that industry contributes. I think that’s one of the unique things about how we operate.”


USTRANSCOM exists as a warfighting combatant command to project and sustain military power at a time and place of the nation’s choosing. Powered by dedicated men and women, USTRANSCOM underwrites the lethality of the Joint Force, advances American interests around the globe and provides our nation's leaders with strategic flexibility to select from multiple options, while creating multiple dilemmas for our adversaries.


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