Close Air Support Command and Control at the Operational Level

Abstract

Close Air Support is inherently one of the most joint endeavors in today's military. Coordination and integration of air and ground assets are the keys to successful close air support. Command and control at the operational level can set the stage for success or failure. Advances in technology, changes in warfare, and transformation of Army organization have led to rapid change in the world of command and control. Doctrine publications at all levels struggle to keep pace with changes. With this problem in mind, the primary question is whether or not Joint, US Air Force, and US Army doctrine and TTPs work together to ensure effective CAS command and control at the operational level in the current operational environment. This study starts with a history of air-ground coordination and the command and control of close air support. It then compares current Joint, Air Force, and Army publications to find doctrinal disconnects that might lead to gaps in joint integration and suggests changes to the lifecycle and update methods of Joint and service doctrine documents.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 14, 2007
Accession Number
ADA475575

Entities

People

  • David G. Shoemaker

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Airborne Warning And Control System
  • Airframes
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Control Systems
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Military Applications
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Tactical Air Support
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control