Bringing a Grenade to a Knife Fight: Historical and Current Trends Challenge the Future Viability of the JFACC
Abstract
The JFACC construct, as it exists today, is, at best, narrowly viable in a twenty-first century context, and is, at least, structurally and procedurally cumbersome, as well as doctrinally inconsistent with real-world practice. The JFACC is, simply, the JFC's delegated commander of air operations. However, the concept encompasses a wider context, to include: the air component command authority or the individual who wields it, JFACC doctrine, the JFACC staff and its organizational structure, and the processes that constitute the various JFACC command, control, and staff functions. Primarily, this paper focuses on JFACC doctrine, process, and to a lesser extent, structure. Through these lenses, a historical, evolutionary profile of the JFACC concept is developed explaining the JFACC's doctrinal pedigree. Following that analysis, the JFACC is examined critically in the light of recent, current and foreseeable twenty-first century conflict. That critique will validate the conclusion that a gap exists between current JFACC doctrine and practice, using as a focal point the doctrinal tenet of centralized control and decentralized execution. The processes that characterize both the Air Tasking Order (ATO) development and the Time-Sensitive Target (TST) engagement will serve as research examples. The discussion finishes with recommendations for further investigation into viable solutions or alternatives to the imperfect status quo.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 06, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA476778
Entities
People
- Maxwell J. Shuman
Organizations
- Naval War College