A Joint Planning Group for the UEx: An Essential Element for Campaign Planning

Abstract

What capabilities are required for the Unit of Employment, X (UEx) to plan joint operational-level campaigns and operations? The proposed UEx staff structure in the "Unit of Employment Operations, White Paper Version 3.5" does not appear to be optimally organized or resourced to be effective in planning operational level campaigns as a Joint Task Force Headquarters. The UEx is the Army's principal warfighting headquarters, is modular in nature, and exercises operational control over Units of Action in tactical engagements. The UEx is not a fixed formation; units are assigned based on mission requirements. The UEx combines the traditional functions of a division with those of a corps. The UEx also has the capability to command other UExs as a land component command or to become a Joint Task Force Headquarters with the augmentation of a higher-ranking commander and additional staff packages. The purpose of this monograph is to study the fundamentals of campaign planning and make recommendations on the additional organizational capabilities the UEx must have to be successful at the joint operational level of war. The study examines the fundamentals of campaign planning to establish campaign planning challenges. It then examines the structure and capabilities of the UEx and compares them against the challenges to establish capability gaps between what is required to plan campaigns and what the UEx is capable of doing. Finally, the study addresses the outstanding capability gaps by recommending changes to the UEx staff structure. Two potential areas for organizational change are examined to increase the effectiveness of the UEx's planning capabilities: (1) an organizational realignment of the UEx staff structure from a general staff to a functional staff model; and (2) creation of a standing Joint Planning Group with a permanent core of planners to provide an organizational foundation for campaign planning. The author recommends the latter solution.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 26, 2005
Accession Number
ADA435994

Entities

People

  • John V. Meyer Iii

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army Training
  • Combat Operations
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Determinants (Mathematics)
  • Employment
  • Knowledge Management
  • Logistics
  • Military Operations
  • Organizational Realignment
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Special Operations Forces
  • Task Forces
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.