See Figure 5-1. US campaign planning processes are simple enough for other nations to agree to and understand. Similarly, other nations may contribute process and content to improve planning. Habitual relationships in peacetime or sufficient training time before operations begin allows US military planners time to familiarize others with the key points of the process and builds consensus on the approach to the particular operation. At the operational level of war, joint and combined operational forces within a theater of operations perform subordinate campaigns and major operations and plan, conduct, and sustain to accomplish the strategic objectives of the unified commander or higher military authority.
Combatant commanders have strategic intents, concepts, and objectives.
Service or subordinate joint commanders have operational intents, concepts, and objectives in support of the combatant commanders. The echelon of Army commands varies with the nature of warfare, the strategic objectives, the size and structure of the theater of war, and the number of forces involved. The intended purpose, not the level of command, determines whether an Army unit functions at the operational level. Armies normally design the major ground operations of a subordinate campaign, while corps and divisions fight tactical battles and engagements. As a JTF commander, he might plan and execute a campaign that would achieve the theater-strategic objectives of the CINC's theater campaign.