Joint Military Operations: A Short History

This short history is the first to offer a broad and selective survey of the phenomenon known as "jointness"--the combined operations of land and naval forces until the twentieth century and especially of land, sea, and air forces since World War II. Touching on the operational, doctrinal, and political dimensions, the survey ranges from the ancient Mediterranean to recent times while focusing on European and American experiences from the eighteenth through the twentieth centuries, including Desert Storm. Wide-ranging cases illustrate trends and patterns of "jointness" and define the central problem of friction. The selective bibliography provides a wide array of sources. Maps and appendices further enrich this important history.

ROGER A. BEAUMONT, Professor of History, Texas A&M University, has specialized in the study of command and control and of special operations and elite units.