Joint Operations

Common Operating Precepts

Achieve and maintain unity of effort within the joint force and between the joint force and US Government, international, and other partners. Leverage the benefits of operating indirectly through partners when strategic and operational circumstances dictate or permit. Integrate joint capabilities to be complementary rather than merely additive. Focus on objectives whose achievement suggests the broadest and most enduring results. Ensure freedom of action. Avoid combining capabilities where doing so adds complexity without compensating advantage. Inform domestic audiences and shape the perceptions and attitudes of key foreign audiences as an explicit and continuous operational requirement. Maintain operational and organizational flexibility. Drive synergy to the lowest echelon at which it can be managed effectively. Plan for and manage operational transitions over time and space.

Offensive

(1) The purpose of an offensive action is to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative. (2) Offensive action is the most effective and decisive way to achieve a clearly defined objective. (3) Commanders adopt the defensive only as a temporary expedient and must seek every opportunity to seize or regain the initiative

Economy of Force

(1) The purpose of economy of force is to expend minimum essential combat power on secondary efforts in order to allocate the maximum possible combat power on primary efforts. (2) Economy of force is the judicious employment and distribution of forces.

Legitimacy

(1) The purpose of legitimacy is to maintain legal and moral authority in the conduct of operations. (2) Legitimacy, which can be a decisive factor in operations, is based on the actual and perceived legality, morality, and rightness of the actions from the various perspectives of interested audiences. (3) Committed forces must sustain the legitimacy of the operation and of the host government, where applicable. (4) Another aspect of this principle is the legitimacy bestowed upon a local government through the perception of the populace that it governs. Humanitarian and civil military operations help develop a sense of legitimacy for the supported government.

Manuever

(1) The purpose of maneuver is to place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power. (2) Maneuver is the movement of forces in relation to the enemy to secure or retain positional advantage, usually in order to deliver—or threaten delivery of—the direct and indirect fires of the maneuvering force.

Mass

(1) The purpose of mass is to concentrate the effects of combat power at the most advantageous place and time to produce decisive results. (2) In order to achieve mass, appropriate joint force capabilities are integrated and synchronized where they will have a decisive effect in a short period of time.

Perseverance

(1) The purpose of perseverance is to ensure the commitment necessary to achieve national objectives. (2) Perseverance involves preparation for measured, protracted military operations in pursuit of national objectives.

Restraint

(1) The purpose of restraint is to prevent the unnecessary use of force. (2) A single act could cause significant military and political consequences; therefore, judicious use of force is necessary.

Security

(1) The purpose of security is to prevent the enemy from acquiring unexpected advantage. (2) Security enhances freedom of action by reducing friendly vulnerability to hostile acts, influence, or surprise.

Simplicity

(1) The purpose of simplicity is to increase the probability that plans and operations will be executed as intended by preparing clear, uncomplicated plans and concise orders. (2) Simplicity contributes to successful operations. Simple plans and clear, concise orders minimize misunderstanding and confusion.

Objective

(1) The purpose of specifying the objective is to direct every military operation toward a clearly defined, decisive, and achievable goal. (2) The purpose of military operations is to achieve specific objectives that support attainment of the overall strategic objectives identified to resolve the conflict. (3) The JFC should anticipate these shifts in national objectives necessitating changes in the military objectives.

Surprise

(1) The purpose of surprise is to strike at a time or place or in a manner for which the enemy is unprepared. (2) Surprise can help the commander shift the balance of combat power and thus achieve success well out of proportion to the effort expended.

Unity of Command

(1) The purpose of unity of command is to ensure unity of effort under one responsible commander for every objective. (2) Unity of command means that all forces operate under a single commander with the requisite authority to direct all forces employed in pursuit of a common purpose.

Principles of Joint Operations

Objective; Offensive; Mass; Maneuver; Economy of force; Unity of Command; Security; Surprise; Simplicity; Restraint; Perseverance; Legitimacy

Joint Warfare is...

Team Warfare- The capacity of our Armed Forces to operate as a cohesive joint team is a key advantage in any operational environment (OE). Success depends on well-integrated command headquarters (HQ), supporting organizations, and forces that operate as a team.

TMM

The military environment and the threats it presents are increasingly transregional, multi- domain, and multi-functional

Leaders employ Armed Forces in coordination with...

diplomatic, informational, and economic instruments to advance and defend US values and interests, achieve objectives consistent with national strategy, and conclude operations on terms favorable to the US

Joint Operations

military actions conducted by joint forces and those Service Forces employed in specified command relationships with each other, which of themselves fo not establish joint forces

Joint Force

one composed of significant elements, assigned or attacher, of two or more Military Departments operating under a single JFC