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or the official policy or pos

Department of Defense, 

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share it with o

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advantage for 
doctrine.af.mil. In 

only our accepted 

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Read, understand, 
6 What are c

7 What is a m

8 What is a c

9 What are a

functions? 

10 What are ef

11 What are m

effectivenes

12 What is ope

13 What is ope

14 What is a j

15 What is a j
Information Ope

23 What are “organ

24 What is the “To

25 What is an Air F

26 What is a Comm

Forces? . . . . . 

27 What is an Air a

Operations Cen

28 When does the 

need an AOC? 

29 What is the diff

an AOC and a J

Center? . . . . . 
37 What is ha

38 Why is the 

important? 

39 What is a J

Plan? . . . . 

40 What is a M

Plan? . . . 

41 What are m

42 What is the 

43 What are R

44 What is bat

45 What is rea

46 What are di

job of the Air 

States through 

air and space

immediately s

fighter patrols 

aircraft contin

country capab

our airspace, 

Force has play

the key role 

Aerospace De

monitor and d

Airmen also c

networks arou
Force unpreceden

strike terrorist targ

However, Airmen s

great pride in ou

homeland security

patrols over US sk

work on the groun

in New York and 

Air Force immedia

ical teams ready to 

New York in the 

Trade Center atta

ready to support 

civil authorities in 

ship to the air an

ronment. Therefo

standing of these 

nificantly different 

the perspective of 

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quantitatively grea

other forces. For e

ever-increasing sp

ranges in thousan

thousands of feet i

miles in space, a

fractions of secon

analogy, we thi
g

(JOA), not m

assigned, artif

area of operat
organization of pe

assists the com

should remember 

command. Only 

The legal authori

vested in one pers
Intelligence, S

sance staff; A

staff; A-4 repr

represents the 

sents Commu

staff elements

time manages 

ations of the 

of the A-staff a

and bullets” 

wartime, elem

into the air a

(AOC) organiz

sonnel will ha
the next higher ec

The authority to 

issues is delegate

the responsibility 

has what it nee

COMAFFOR’s resp
commander o

In fact, the Ai

be leaders, w

commissioned 

to balance the 

good leaders 

good followers
our commitment 

nation, and the m

form our service. 

core values in on

sional lives is a 

faced every single 
To defend the 

interests thro

broad missio

range of Air F

ties to get this 

other hand, “d

approaching f

is an example 

mally given to 

with capabilit

Force perform

accomplish th
set of abilities or 

heart of the organi

Each of the Air Fo

cies is a direct refl

poses for which ai

Force, our core 

special abilities 

Airmen collectively 

to function succes

space power effect

petencies are uniq

distinguish us from 

example, the US A

ified to provide ai
and space pow
pp

tained combat op

“strategic air and 

of the individual a

tions are wholly un

but, when taken 

full range and dep

other military forc

historical and co

experiences, our 

tions, and our vis

distill from the ai

tions the essence 

six core competen
guidance.

EBO reflects a 

ture results a

rather than th

the technical 

do not—and sh

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operations ha

ting specific t

rather than 

strategic outco

have spent mu
rather than spend 

ways to create the 

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the process, not a

trast, EBO unde

space operations 

reasons for what 

put it plainly, EB

bombing bridges 

blank—just becau

makes precision an

directly shape de

and balance.

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ing varying levels 

measure is direct

terms of air and 

are predetermined 

can evaluate spec

tions to see if t

results, or effects

achieve. Every obj

to measure whet

intended effect. M

planners and ope

operations we pla

ing the appropria
mass and con

accurate asse

preserves and 

power’s flexibi
objectives. To qu

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commander’s str

design and, ultim

integrating the ke

war.” Air and spa

from the operatio

commanders be

strategies are no

directly related 

graphic considera

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operational art as 

one to change a 

lose if I do things 

it this way wor

Operational risk m

that commanders 

then reduce risk to 

line: All military op

to people and equ

decides how much 

to assume for spec

objectives are criti

mander may be w

when the objectiv

commander will 

operational risk d

Examples of joint 

include unified co

US Pacific Comma

mand, or the US J

example of a join

command include

example of joint for

includes the cur

Southwest Asia (JT

Nations sanctions 

example is Joint Ta

(1993–1997), whic

vide humanitarian 

civil war.
example, JTF-C

(CNO), which 

protection of 

graphic basis 

was the JTF es

Force in 1999)
tions through serv

Air Force, our maj

are usually our se

fied command leve

ple, US Air Forces 

service compone

Command. Someti

component comm

mand. For exam

Force is our servi

Space Forces (SPA

Command, while 

Force (9AF), is ou

Central Command 

numbered Air an

Forces (AEF). Rem

deploy—AETFs do

AETFs are the a

drivers and hamm

AETFs can vary 

will range from sq

organizations. The 

COMAFFOR.
Just because t

US military S

tional compon

it is a joint for

only one piec

example, an 

organized fun

US Air Force 

fighter squad

mobility units

Air Force prefe

air and space 

fight jointly. 

tive, it’s simpl

show this bes

around some 

up of land and 

to represent a 

ple). Within th

line a smaller

represent the 

within the lar

Balkans and t

Most common

specific JTF. 

enclose and c

graphic area 

influence of th

air, space, and 

produce a sta

an adversary. 

and space su

opposition; it 

tion. Achievin

quickly is a ke

to seize and h

The JFC can t

forces (for ex

and maritime 

reduced risk 

enemy air or 

textbook exam
importantly for A

air and space su

Storm meant th

bombing American 

men, tankers, a

space superiority 

reduces the overa

on the ground. F

marines, as well a

stand that air and 

free; you have to f
Information p

kinetic (heat, 

bombs and bu

means (throu

that persuade

tribute to th

Further, info

lethal or nonle

information po

tribute to the j

al ways. First

pare and sha

environment f

before, during
space power missi
war. Airmen s

IO involves ef

information a

ciently”), as w

attacking ene

and defendin

systems. The 

that it uses a 

This means th

functional are

ties are integra

ating specific 

achieve the 

objectives. Air 

are those forc

are an essenti

service’s orga

dictionary, d

those parts of 

tified in serv

Examples of o

include an ar

part of an ar

Marine Corps 

air-ground tas

example of an 

include a sq

assigned to a 
p

say, “What’s mine 

is joint.” We all n

adherence to the 

if we want to fight 

effective way poss
applied efficie

the contributi

ing together. T

The Total For

Force.

Air Force com

for a specific 

Except in ra

COMAFFOR is 

other comman

between the C

JFC. Five cri

responsibilitie

• The COM

commande

merely so

oversees A

tration, an
• There is only o

ignated joint f

be more than 

ignated joint 

situations, for 

multiple JTFs 

can be multi

theater (one fo

Here’s an example

Chief, Europe (US

mander of a des

European Comma

unified command 
remove his or 

cases, especia

appointed a J

component co

or complex op

have the time 

tive or service 

support activ

reachback sup
cific operation or 

Airmen believe th

Force weapons sy

operate at peak 

needs to be mann

proficient Airmen

components of th

give the whole jet 

ties, the compon

together to give 

tional and strateg

tailorable, modula

come in different s

ing on what the 
communicatio

be added into 

speed the bas

ing in the pro

great air and s
and space force. 

organization to ac

operation depend 

size of the deploy

and the kind of op

In most cases, wh

a key element of th

to a specific crisis 

AOC is either dep

ed to supporting t

through reachba

cases, when depl

example, a squadr

ing Air Force forc
with basic str

support norm

AOC. The AOC 

tion. What is 

ning processe

air and space 

full contributi
air and space po

mand AOCs; JFAC

Force AOCs can e

joint AOCs when 

hatted as the JFA

JAOC by plugging 

cations capabilitie

tional people from 

also employ air an

ties. These additio

coordination and 

space forces from 

Expanding the A

Force resources en

(Bosnian operatio

at Vicenza, Italy. 

the Vicenza locatio

from many N

Organization (NAT

tries, including th

the United States

used to exercise 

NATO’s Operation 

Kosovo operations
or safe to dep

this situation

should turn to 

lon for immed

think about th

elements (the 

the deployed f

theater to sup

commanders. 

sometimes ca

AFFOR Rear 

that provides 

to its deploy

AFFOR Rear is 

doctrine, JFA

JFC. JFACCs 

nent comman

air and space 

mand and con

Force present

joint force, 

COMAFFOR. U

the largest sh

forces in the j

command and 

FOR usually, 

the JFACC.
Storm). Generally 

the air and spac

largest share of air 

ability to command 

the United States 

tional operation a

that includes US a

(multinational) com

the US JFACC oft

because the JFAC

(largest share) of ai

means to comman

by the way, a CF

space power throu
mander to sh

capabilities a

Normally, the 

will recommen

and space for

makes the cal

and space fo

objectives of 

analogy, it is 

slice up a pie. 

be wider than 

effort) based 

size of the pie 

bution of th

mander has d

of sorties by a

operation or t

defined and p
nomer. We often 

express the air an

the joint effort. Th

nent commander’

space operation is 

operations plan (

commander who p

“campaign” is the 

and operations s

paign. While it’s 

use the words ai

stand that the air 

one piece of the jo

situation where th

enemy to the poin

tain offensive ope

point is often cal

nating point.” On

enemy has essen

Once the initiativ

tions are essenti

proactive—general

hard to regain 

According to JP 

Operations, halt i

the Initiative Phas
forces are well 

diately focus

against an e

can be a very e

tiative from a

preparing the 

national force

to say that air 

way to seize 

most efficient 

force can be u

properly prep

space environ

employment, a

is then “built

assessment of 

(a big picture 

space—not ju

forces too). Th

our objectives

centers of grav

and space stra

A good JAOP 

objectives and 

effects are ex

attacked, (3) s

required to ac

umn “A,” and 

available air 

can affect them

ate a useful M

have to consid

in relation to 

characteristics 

the risks invo

what friendly 

able to do the 

the kinds of a

and the expect

a MAAP is dev

data for develo
not how to do it. 

coming your way, m

say, “It’s really imp

don’t get to the sn

they get there.” Mi

folks who have to a

itude to figure out 

their own particul

understand the c

is, what he or sh

happen—and you h

conduct operation

then you have 

(Basically, you are 

do the job, when 

struck, the kinds 

used to strike th

numbers, and the 

used to do the jo

the AOC to the va

accomplish the va

it. The local units 

sion planning. G

determining the sa

take-off times, the 

ing requirements, 

and the appropria

attack the target. 
air and spac

retasking whe

help comman

their efforts b

effects will no

space assets 

Bottom line: T

same sheet o

mander to cen

power while t

execute their 

tralized fashio
how and when y

whose permission 

Standing ROEs ar

exist—for example

defend themselve

ROEs can help p

and civilian casua

fratricide, preserv

the operation on t
tional tempo; 

effort. Now thi

with the flow.” 

the most of th

ational tempo

ance the phys

and staff again

way that will 

staff to fight 

for extended p

To better und

need to think 

arrangement o
associated with 

operations. In ad

think and rest. Th

ers will, in turn, h

establish their ow

outline their expe

ings, and set their 

to happen. They w

rest. They do all th

possible the natu

at their own level.

These many sche

conflict with each o

reduce friction and 

requests for reach

the chain from th

next higher echelo

fulfill the reques

instances, deplo

authorized to reac

organizations for s

send the formal r

air and space oper

support to conduc
operations is 

commander in 

commanding f
another part is so

are connected by 

and have a singl

operation is consi

Split operations 

commander flexib

limit the number o

of equipment and 

forward deployed. 

on the supply sys

tional risk in some 

people and stuff, y
destroy, disru

enemy force. 

this: Why is th

not important 

confined by sp

that feed this 

First, Airmen 

of air and spa

and executed 

structure. Thi

commanders, 

tion of air pow

ment of his/h
pyg p

is more effective a

enemy before ent

proximity and det

Third, Airmen think 

platforms. As suc

multiroled aircraft 

trained aircrews. W

CAS, the multirole

flexibility and capa

responsible for ach

Meanwhile, the tra

critical link—know

operations.

help it achieve its 

your doctrine is t

passed down to u

It is our war-fight

us who we Airme

Force exists. Doct

fighting experience 

vice’s heroes, lead

ars, but most imp

crystallizes the 

learned of everyda

service’s history

remember that it i

to continually im


pp

and Air Force info

come to the fight w

5. This quest

because some co

responsibilities of t
began mentally co

tions. This is the 

had lots of help. 

like to say thanks 

getic air and spac

Air Force Doctrin

was a major team 

made contribution

thanks to Col Ron 

Christensen, Maj 

Maj Kevin “Bat” 

“Q-Tip” Rideout

Knutson-Vaccaro, 
Airmen. Final

effort to my 

Class Paul J. 

Army, killed w

the Republic o
doctrine. Major B

graduate of Air Fo

ing Corps and th

Officers Course. 

degree in political 

degree in internati

California State U

had a variety of 

and served in Op

Storm, Provide C

Promise. Major B

Questions Every A