Joint Force Fires Coordination: Towards a Joint Force Answer.
Abstract
The joint force is a warfighting organization. The joint force headquarters has operational fires planning and execution functions appropriate to its warfighting nature. Debate in the area of joint force fires coordination exceeds procedural variation. The depth of doctrinal and conceptual controversy is based in unique service warfighting philosophies. An air-centric construct is the primacy of fires; a land-centric construct is the primacy of maneuver. Components compete for decisive effect not only with each other but with the joint force. The contemporary joint force is confederated, the joint force headquarters a weak arbitration authority. The joint force aspires to integrated, synergistic warfighting. Advances in weapon and information systems complicate an existing challenge of joint warfighting capability integration. Force integration is dependent on co-opting not only capabilities but warfighting perspectives. A joint force headquarters is an integrative agency. Fires coordination is an integrative function. Joint force fires coordination responsibilities include defining operationally decisive objectives, asset prioritization, and deconfliction in areas of component interface. Joint force fires coordination agencies include functionally organized components, the joint targeting coordination board and, the joint force fires coordinator. These agencies represent compromise solutions to ongoing debate.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA327068
Entities
People
- William R. Fearn
Organizations
- Naval War College