Formal Representation of Joint Operational Relationships
Abstract
A primary impetus of the Global Force Management Data Initiative (GFM DI) is the establishment of a transparent and universal process to manage, assess and display the world-wide disposition of US forces including availability, readiness and capability in a variable scale and/or time continuum(s). Documenting each organizational node and the multiple relationships that exist between nodes within each organization to support the force assignment, allocation, and apportionment processes is the foundation for formal expression that can be manipulated by machines. This process will enable insight into global availability of US forces and provide a means to assess risks associated with proposed allocation, assignment and apportionment options. A major task of this endeavor is the creation of joint hierarchical force structure data for every DoD organization for integration throughout the Department and across Service lines. This objective became complex as historically accepted, but informally defined, relationships associated with the assignment, allocation and apportionment processes began to be used in formal representations and manipulated by computer programs. Interactions of terms used to define relationships such as Administrative Control, Operational Control, and Combatant Command were left open to interpretation by the individual user's experience and the design of the application chosen to represent them. The variance in Service systems and use of multiple applications clouded their meaning. Even simple questions on their meaning turn into debate; for example: "Can an organization have more than one simultaneous relationship of the same type?" This paper addresses this and related issues to help define operational relationships by providing recommended, definitive Joint semantics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA481309
Entities
People
- Darren Hargis
- Sam Chamberlain
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory