Commanders need to shift focus, task-organize, and move from one role or mission to another quickly and efficiently. ADA units are multifunctional, able to defeat several different air threats while operating at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Combat power combines the elements of maneuver, firepower, protection, and leadership. Overwhelming combat power is the ability to focus sufficient force to ensure success and deny the threat any chance of escape or effective retaliation. Commanders apply overwhelming combat power by bringing all combat elements to bear at the optimum time and place, giving the threat no opportunity to respond effectively.
Commanders integrate and coordinate a variety of functions with the elements of combat power.
As a result, they convert the potential of forces, resources, and opportunities into actual capability through violent, coordinated action at the decisive time and place. They attempt to defeat the threat's combat power by interfering with its ability to conduct reconnaissance, maneuver, and apply firepower. While contributing to all four elements of combat power, air and missile defense makes its greatest contribution to force protection. Protection conserves the fighting potential of a force so that it can applied it at the decisive time and place. Protection includes the entire active and passive actions units take to preserve combat power and deny the threat the ability to successfully attack the force.