Joint Air Operation Planning Cycle

The complexity of planning joint air operations involves precise methods from a potential need to a threat or crisis. This process begins with the Joint Force Commander (JFC) retaining control or designating the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) to take responsibility for planning joint air operations and to utilize this process in order to initiate the Joint Operation Planning Process for Air (JOPP-A). The JOPP-A will communicate air strategy in the structure of a Joint Air Operation Plan (JAOP). From the JAOP the Joint Air Tasking Cycle (JATC) is created that will produce guidance and objectives in the form of an air tasking order (ATO). This essay will describe in detail from the planning to execution stages how the Joint Operation …show more content…
The first step is the initiation stage, producing the mission statement and commander’s intent to employ air capabilities during an actual crisis. The JFACC provides guidance on “time constraints, outlines initial coordination requirements, authorizes movement of key capabilities within the commanders’ authority, and directs other actions as necessary.” The mission analysis is the second step of the development process. This step is to acknowledge the actual issue, know the purpose of the operation, and allocate the commander’s guidance. Staff estimates, critical facts and assumptions, identifying adversary and friendly centers of gravity (COGs), critical vulnerabilities (CV), and the required conditions to achieve commanders’ end state are included within mission analysis. The third step is the course of action (COA) development consisting of information on “what type of action should occur, why the action is required, who will take the action, and the expected outcomes.” Force protection requirements and combat support are a part of the air COA development. The COA analysis and wargaming is the fourth step comparing friendly and adversary COAs to determine actions and reactions helping evaluate the best COA to accomplish JFCs intent. The fifth step is the COA comparison. This technique utilizes a predetermined criteria where wargramed COAs are assessed resulting in a COA recommendation to the JFACC. The sixth step is the COA approval process where the staff decides and recommends the best COA to the commander. The final step is the plan or order