Putting the "J" in JROC

Why are the Combatant Commanders (CCDRs), the designated users of war fighting and support equipment systems, not voting members on the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC)? The formation of the JROC in 1986 involved a different context than today's JROC finds itself. Today's JROC requires updating to the context of 21st century acquisition systems. The problem/solution methodology is used in this paper to argue that the Combatant Commanders (CCDRs) must be given voting membership on the JROC and must provide future acquisitions requirements years in advance of operational need dates while also retaining the individual service vice chiefs of staff as JROC voting members. This paper focuses on analyzing the narrow issues of CCDR deputies inclusion on the JROC as voting members and the associated requirements development process only. Four different recent proposals are analyzed. The most important evaluation criteria require the proposal to recommend a balancing of the JROC voting membership between the services and the CCDRs. Not one of the four alternatives presented met the primary criteria. The JROC needs to have its voting membership changed so that the services and each of the CCDRs have voting power. This will ensure 'Joint' is actually a meaningful term during future JROC sessions.