SWOT Analysis of the COCOM Structure

SWOT Analysis of the COCOM Structure

The Idea of the Combatant Command structure was first emerged during World War II with the establishment of the different geographical theaters of operation that was composed of militant forces from different services.

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A single General or Admiral was appointed the single commander nominated by the President of the United States and was supported by a joint staff.

With the implementation of the Goldwater Nichols Act of 1986, COCOM Commanders attained a nontransferable command authority over different service forces directly to the Secretary of Defense.

Today there are 6 Geographic commanders consisting of the newest member the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).

There has been a significant amount of criticism and arguments over the structuring and organization of the Combatant Commanders. Arguments have been made over personnel and budget restraints to peacetime efforts and the need for continued assistance.

This Essay will analyze the COCOM structure using a SWOT analysis to look at both the internal and external points of the different commands and the overall effects the COCOM has on the world. This essay will finally offer and modification of the structure that would benefit the organization.

The SWOT analysis is an acronym that stands for Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats. The idea of this assessment was developed by a man name Albert Humphrey in 1960’s.

His team of researchers at the Stanford Research Institute originally developed a long range corporate planning model called SOFT meaning Satisfactory, Opportunity, Fault,………………..
…N Douglas M. “SOUTHCOM Posture Statement.” Washington, DC, 6 March 2012.
Andrew Feickert, “The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands:
Background and Issues for Congress,” Congressional Research Service, Novemnber 7, 2011, 60.
Kniskern and Ducey, “SWOT and Structured Assessment Methodology,” 7.
GEN James N. Mattis, “Statement: Commander U.S. Central Command Before the Senate Armed Services Committee,” Washington, DC, 6 March 2012, 6.
Stavridis, “EUCOM Posture Statement” 60.
Ibid., 60
GEN Douglas M. “SOUTHCOM Posture Statement.” 24.
Feickert, “The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands,” 64.
U.S. Government Accountability Office. “Defense Management: U.S. Southern Command Demonstrates Interagency Collaboration, but Its Haiti Disaster Response Revealed Challenges Conducting a Large Military Operation,” GAO-10-801, July 2010, 25.