Transcript Goldwater Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986

Overview
 Understand the evolution of military aviation from the end of the
Vietnam War to Operation Desert Storm
 Comprehend the changes to United States National Security
Strategy as a result of world events between the end of the
Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm
Falklands War
 The Falklands War began on April 2, 1982,
when Argentine troops landed in the
Falkland Islands. Fighting ended on June
14, 1982 following the British liberation of
the islands' capital, Port Stanley, and the
surrender of Argentine forces in the
Falklands
 May 1: the HMS Conqueror sinks the ARA
General Belgrano.
 May 3: An Argentine Super Étendard
fighter, struck HMS Sheffield with an
Exocet anti-ship missile.
 The conflict marked the introduction of
the Harrier attack aircraft
Falklands War
 On the night of May 21, British forces landed on the northwest coast of East
Falkland. When the landings had finished, approximately 4,000 men, had been put
ashore. Over the next week, the ships supporting the landings were hit hard by
Argentine aircraft. HMS Ardent (May 22), HMS Antelope (May 24), and HMS
Coventry (May 25) were sunk, as was MV Atlantic Conveyor (May 25) with a cargo of
helicopters and supplies.
 June 14, 1982 with the fall of Port Stanley
Argentina surrenders
Operation El Dorado Canyon
 Libyan President Muammar Qaddafi openly supported and aligned with
terrorist groups to sponsor attacks against Israel and the United States
 On April 5, 1986, a bomb exploded in a disco in Berlin frequented by United
States service personnel. Of the 200 injured, 63 were American soldiers; one
soldier and one civilian were killed.
 President Reagan authorized the U.S. Air Force and Navy to strike targets in
Libya following an American intelligence interception of a message from
Gadaffi ordering an attack on Americans "to cause maximum and
indiscriminate casualties.“
 On April 14th, 1986, Air Force F-111s launched from their base in England…
Operation El Dorado Canyon
 Marked a distinct change in U.S. strategy of countering state sponsored terrorism
 Preview of change in U.S. Air Operations (version 1.0)
 Nighttime strike (2:00 am)
 Heavy reliance on Electronic Warfare to blind an enemy’s air defense system
 Long-range air strike from secure bases
 Synchronized target strikes to overwhelm enemy
 Flashes of precision weapons
Goldwater Nichols Department of Defense
Reorganization Act of 1986
 The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense
Reorganization Act of 1986 caused a major shift in
the Department of Defense’s organizational
structure; the most significant change since the
National Security Act of 1947.
 Operational authority was centralized through the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs as opposed to the
service chiefs. The chairman was designated as the
principal military advisor to the president,
National Security Council and secretary of
defense. The act significantly streamlined the
operational chain of command from the president
to the secretary of defense to the unified
commanders in the field.
Goldwater Nichols Department of Defense
Reorganization Act of 1986
 Established Combatant Commands (COCOMS) across the world
 Established policy on U.S. joint operations and training
Panama: Operation Just Cause
 In 1989, Manuel Antonio Noriega was a corrupt dictator heading a
narcomilitaristic regime in Panama. He was involved in drug trafficking, arms
smuggling, money laundering, and the ruthless oppression of his people. He
also systematically violated the American-Panamanian Canal treaties and
harassed U.S. forces and institutions in Panama.
 U.S. actions in Panama began on 20 December 1989, at 0100 local time. The
operation involved 27,684 U.S. troops and over 300 aircraft—including AC-130
Spectre gunships, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and F-117A Stealth Fighters
 Following the U.S. invasion, Noriega surrendered on January 3, 1990. He was
taken to the US, tried, convicted and jailed on drug trafficking charges
Panama: Operation Just Cause
 Themes
 First small test of Goldwater-Nichols
 The first significant use of U.S.
military in a law/drug enforcement
role
 Introduction of previously
unknown/tested aircraft and
capabilities
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F-117
AC-130 Gunship
Night Operations
Marking Period 3 Presentation
Objective:
 Understand the mission, organizational structure and capability of a modern military air force.
 Comprehend and evaluate the roles and missions of the United States Air Force through a comparison study
examining another nation’s air force.
Background:
 Students will be divided in teams of two/three students.
 Each student team will select a national air force other than the United States (i.e. China, Russia, United
Kingdom, etc) to conduct their research on. Students will present their findings via an oral presentation and
country fact sheet
Assignment Guidelines:
 Presentations will be at 10 -15 minutes in length. All students will have roughly an equal part of the
presentation (i.e. 1 student will not singularly present the material)
 While visual aids are not required, students may include them in their presentation as long as they do not
occupy more than 25% of their presentation, in other words do not use a 5 minute video as part of your 10
minute presentation. SHORT FILM OPTION
 Students will turn in a country fact sheet on the day of their presentation.
 Performance will be graded on depth of material, organization and presentation.
 Assignment Specifics
 This is really a two part assignment. Part one; through research in the IMC, examine and explore another
national air force. Part 2: Class Presentation and Fact Sheet. Presentations on
8-9 April