Reviving the Seam: Redefining Joint Military Integration
Written by: Mike “Woody” Woodhouse
For years, we've used the term "seamless" when describing the ideal for integrating joint military forces. The intention was clear: that the integration should be so perfect, so flawless, that the boundaries between different units or operations become invisible. It was a noble idea but one that has inadvertently led to oversimplifications and misunderstandings. It's time we retire this term from military jargon and move towards a more strategic and nuanced understanding of integration.
The word seam, from which "seamless" derives, is a term for the line along which two things are joined together. In clothing, a seam is where separate pieces of fabric become a unified piece of clothing. In geology, a seam refers to a layer of a specific material sandwiched between other layers. While these seams might signify boundaries, they are also points of connection, interaction, and integration. By trying to be 'seamless,' we're effectively ignoring these crucial interaction points that make the system work coherently.
Rather than aiming for an unrealistic 'seamless' integration, we should focus on establishing strategic seams. Each seam should be a carefully considered intersection of different military components, whether separate units, other technologies, or different procedural methods. The challenge is not to erase these seams but to understand and optimize them, recognizing that they are essential for our operations.
Determining what forms the seam in different contexts is a critical task. Sometimes the seam might be humans - individuals or teams who coordinate between different units and work to harmonize their efforts. At other times, the seam might be a technological interface, such as communication systems that link different military branches or software that helps synchronize various operations. Yet in other cases, the seam could be procedural, such as joint protocols or shared training programs. The point is, we need to identify these seams and manage them strategically rather than seeking to eliminate them.
For far too long, the word "seam" has been given a bad rap in the military context. The quest for a "seamless" operation has made us overlook the importance of seams. But a seam isn't a flaw to be smoothed over - it's a crucial point of connection that holds everything together. We need to embrace the term and understand its importance.
Therefore, let's remove "seamless" from our vernacular when discussing integrating joint military forces. Let's talk about creating strategic seams, optimizing them, and using them to our advantage. It's high time we bring back the value of the seam, realizing that it is in these strategic connections, not their absence, that the strength of our forces truly lies.
In our endeavors for integrating joint military forces, our goal should not be a tapestry without visible threads but rather a well-constructed quilt, where each seam is clearly visible, strategically placed, and makes the whole stronger. The strength of our military lies not in invisibility but in unity, collaboration, and the thoughtful application of our diverse strengths. And this all starts by understanding and validating the concept of the "seam."
