Key Characteristics Effecting Command and Control for Multinational Operations Involving United States Military Forces

Multinational warfare has been the basic framework for virtually every major contingency operation the U.S. has been involved in throughout the past century, and as indicated by the National Security Strategy and current events, will likely continue to be the dominant construct by which the U.S. engages in contingency operations for the foreseeable future. One primary source of tension between participants in multinational operations has historically centered on the issue of command and control. This sensitivity reflects participants concern over who will command their forces and what authority that commander will have.