Guide to Joint, Multinational & Interorganizational Operations

JFODS4: The Joint Forces Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook, 4th Ed. is the fourth revised edition of The Joint Forces Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook, designed for use by ALL SERVICES and JOINT FORCES across the tactical, operational and strategic levels of war. In addition to JP 3-0 Joint Operations (Aug ‘11) and JP 5-0 Joint Operation Planning (Aug ‘11), JFODS4 incorporates the full scope of new material from JP 1 Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States (Mar ‘13), JP 3-08 Interorganizational Coordination During Joint Operations (Jun ‘11), JP 3-13 Information Operations (Nov ‘14), JP 3-16 Multinational Operations (Jul ‘13), JP 3-33 Joint Task Force Headquarters (Jun ‘12), JP 3-60 Joint Targeting (Jan ‘13), and JP 4-0 Joint Logistics (Oct ‘13).

The nature of the challenges to the United States and its interests demand that the Armed Forces operate as a fully integrated joint team across the range of military operations. The synergy that results from the integration and synchronization of Service components’ capabilities under a single joint force commander maximizes the effectiveness and efficiency of the force.

Military operations vary in scope, purpose, and conflict intensity across a range that extends from military engagement, security cooperation, and deterrence activities to crisis response and limited contingency operations and, if necessary, to major operations and campaigns.

Joint operation planning consists of planning activities associated with joint military operations by combatant commanders and their subordinate joint force commanders in response to contingencies and crises.

Achieving national strategic objectives requires effective unified action resulting in unity of effort -- to include interagency, intergovernmental, nongovernmental and multinational partners. This is accomplished by collaboration, synchronization, and coordination in the use of the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic instruments of national power.

Planning for Planners

Joint/Interagency SMARTbook 1 – Joint Strategic & Operational Planning topics and chapters include Strategic Organization; Planning; Campaign Planning; Joint Operations Planning Overview; Planning Functions; Operational Art, Design, & the Joint Operations Cycle; Global Force Management (GFM); In-Progress Reviews (IPRs); Adaptive Planning and Execution (APEX) and the Joint Operations Planning Process (JOPP); Strategic Guidance/Strategic Direction; Plannning Initiation; Mission Analysis Overview; Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE) & Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB); Mission Analysis Key Steps; Concept Development (Function II); Course of Action (COA) Development; COA Analysis and Wargaming; COA Comparison; COA Selection & Approval; Plan Development (Function III); Plan Assessment (Function IV); Assessment Fundamentals; Execution; Summary and Appendices.

The dawn of the 21st Century presents a global environment characterized by regional instability, failed states, increased weapons proliferation, global terrorism and unconventional threats to United States citizens, interests and territories. If we are to be successful as a nation, we must embrace the realities of this environment and operate with clarity from within. It is this setting that mandates a flexible, adaptive approach to planning and an ever-greater cooperation between all the elements of national power, supported by and coordinated with, that of our allies and various intergovernmental, nongovernmental and regional security organizations. It is within this chaotic environment that planners will craft their trade.

Joint/Interagency SMARTbook 1: Joint Strategic & Operational Planning (Planning for Planners) was developed to assist planners at all levels in understanding how to plan within this environment utilizing the Joint Operational Planning Process; an orderly, logical, analytical progression enabling planners to sequentially follow it to a rational conclusion. By utilizing this planning process, which is conceptually easy-to-understand and applicable in all environments, any plan can come to life.

This new revision of Planning for Planners incorporates the latest thinking on Adaptive Planning and Execution (APEX), Global Force Management (GFM), Campaign Planning and Assessment Fundamentals. Planning for Planners has been utilized since 2007 by war colleges, joint staffs, Services, combatant commands and allies as a step-by-step guide to understanding the complex world of global planning and force management. Paramount to planning is flexibility. The ultimate aspiration of this book is to help develop flexible planners who can cope with the inevitable changes that occur during the planning process.