Page 70 - Williams Foundation Integrated Force Design Seminar

Designing the Integrated Force: How to Define and Meet the Challenge?

Unfortunately, not much as changed in the attitude of many defense civilians, but many leaders in the US
military do not share such views, notably with allies and the US adopting some of the same key platforms at
the same time, like P-8, Triton, and the F-35, and some allies operating more advanced equipment than the
US itself.

After the April 11, 2017 seminar I had a chance to discuss the challenges with Air Vice-Marshal Mel Hupfeld,
Head Force Design in the Force Design Division in MoD as well as Brigadier Jason Blain, Director General
Force Options and Plans, Force Design Division. The office is a joint office and the time spent was really a
discussion of what the office was doing and the challenge of shaping an effective way ahead.

Indeed, the discussion for that was what it was, very much highlighted the approach which is a work in
progress rather than the forced application of a set of solutions to the complex evolving organism which a
modern defense organization certainly is, and one such as the ADF which is very globally engaged and
learning combat lessons on the fly.

BG Blain presented at the seminar and in his presentation highlighted the focus on the force design cycle,
which the office has developed to map out ways to put in place an ongoing realignment of the force structure
towards more joint solutions. At the heart of the effort is a shift to a stream approach whereby functions
become crucial frameworks for platform decisions, modernization decisions and future investment decisions
moving forward.

Obviously this is a work in progress and perhaps always will be. The challenge is to get in place a template
which allows for greater capabilities to shape force integration but in an ongoing manner; more of a directive
ongoing inquiry rather than a fixed point on the compass.

Second Line of Defense

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