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Air Operations Center (AOC) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Twelfth Air Force (12AF) Air Force Forces (AFFOR)

CHAPTER 3

COMBAT PLANS DIVISION

Air warfare cannot be separated into little packets; it knows no boundaries on land or sea ...

- Air Marshall Tedder

1. GENERAL. Combat Plans Division is one of five elements in an Air Operations Center (AOC). The Air Operations Center is the eyes, ears, and voice of the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) to his fighting Air Forces. The mission of Combat Plans Division is to plan tomorrow’s air battles. This division follows the JFACC’s vision and the Joint Force Commander’s Campaign Plan with daily guidance to build the air campaign plan and the daily Air Tasking Order (ATO). ATO’s are the orders issued to all JFACC controlled aircrews which assigns them into offensive missions, defensive missions, and support air missions. ACCI 13-AOC, Vol 3, Chapter 5 should be studied for a review of operational procedures in the Air Operation Center. Annex B to Chapter 2 of this document shows how Combat Plans fits into the AOC structure.

2. MISSION.

A. 12 AF Combat Plans is composed of four organizations which operate in the AOC: Campaign Plans (also do ATO Development), Command and Control, Theater Airlift Campaign Plans, and ATO Production. Each of these entities have many responsibilities and processes to produce their products. The organizational processes are explained in detail in the annexes of this document. The final product of Combat Plans is not only a daily ATO, but also include creating the air operations plan, Special Instructions (SPINS), the Air Space Coordination Order, the Air Defense Plan, Information Warfare, Rules of Engagement, and Space Warfare.

B. Combat Plans advises the JFACC daily on the state of the air campaign. Conducts campaign assessment briefings for the JFACC to determine future air operations. Prepare the JFACC’s recommended air component actions for upcoming CINC’s guidance messages. In additions, Combat Plans advises the JFACC on the level of effort to apply in CAS, OCA, DCA, and INT needed to carry out the CINC’s guidance.

C. Combat Plans develops Air Operation Plans, Air Campaign Strategy and Assessment, JFACC Mission Statements, Air Component Objectives & Tasks with Measures of Merit, Air Defense Plans, Theater Missile Defense Plans, Airspace Control Orders, Guidance Apportionment and Targeting recommendations (JGAT), Master Air Attack Plan (MAAP) for upcoming ATOs, Command and Control (C2) planning, Special Instructions (SPINS), Electronic Combat Plan, Rules of Engagement (ROE), Information Warfare, Space Support Plan, Tactical Deception Plans and the daily Air Tasking Orders. All of these published instructions are required for the air power warfighter to execute combat missions.

(1) During the Crisis Action phase of an operation Combat Plans Division creates an Air Operations Plan. The timing of this activity is hopefully before any combat operations commence. The CINC’s OPLAN, Enemy and Friendly Centers of Gravity, Campaign Objectives and Tasks to the JFACC are first interpreted, then transformed into the JFACC’s Mission Statement, Air Objectives, Tasks with Measures of Merit and an Air Operations Plan for each phase of the campaign. All of these products are approved by the JFACC and then published. Normally the initial Air Tasking Order is built in this phase. Other AOC elements will prepare intelligence of the battlefield, logistic support plan, and create the communications architecture. The Air Operations Center deploys forward and receives command and control authority of the CINC’s Joint/Combined Air Power for the Area of Operations.

(2) During Execution of the campaign Combat Plans continues to produce the daily ATO. In addition, it updates the Airspace Control Order, Air Defense Plans, Theater Missile Defense Plans, SPINS, ROE, Information Warfare, Space Support Plan and Tactical Deception Plans. The Theater Airlift Planners coordinate all the intratheater airlift for the CINC’s campaign. To develop the daily Air Tasking Order, Campaign Plans uses an assessment team to recommend direction and level of efforts to the JFACC to achieve the Campaign Objectives in minimum time and sorties. The key is the assessment of the JFACC’s air combat effectiveness to achieve the Measures of Merit assigned to each task of the Phase Objectives. The following annexes describe in detail the specifics of the processes mentioned above.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES.

A. Advises COMAFFOR on force options.

B. Develops theater rules of engagement in contingencies.

C. Develops COMAFFOR guidance, apportionment, and targeting inputs.

D. Develops COMAFFOR Theater Air Defense Master Plan, Airspace Control Plan, Automated Data Link Tasking, Airspace Control Order, and Air Support Plan.

E. Conducts deliberate and crisis planning and identifies joint issues.

F. Plans and conducts exercises and training.

G. Develops and disseminates the ATO.

I. Conducts campaign assessment analysis

J. Develops campaign/air operations plans.

K. Maintains WWMCCS (GCCS)/JOPES connectivity/readiness.

L. Maintains core Space Warfare expertise.

M. Maintains core Information Warfare expertise.

ANNEX A - Director, Combat Plans

ANNEX B - Campaign Plans

ANNEX C - Command & Control, Combat Airspace & Air Defense Planning

ANNEX D - Theater Airlift Branch

ANNEX E - ATO Production Branch

ANNEX A TO CHAPTER 3

DIRECTOR COMBAT PLANS

 

1. Director Combat Plans. The Director of Combat Plans (DCP) is responsible to the AOC Director for the direction and supervision of the Combat Plans Division. The DCP will know, and ensure Combat Plans Division personnel know the National Command Authority and Joint Force Commander (JFC) guidance, intent and the JFC daily apportionment. The DCP also helps develop the Joint Integrated Prioritized Target List (JIPTL) and the Master Air Attack Plan (MAAP) for the ATO. Specifically, the DCP, or designated representative, will perform the following tasks:

A. Lead the Campaign Planning Cell during crisis action phases to review CINC courses of action (COA), prioritize the COAs, draft an evaluation response message, and develop a theater air ops plan, if required.

B. Review rules of engagement (ROE), plans and related policy documents issued by the JTF Commander, JTF staff or AOC Director, and identify any LIMFACs to the air plan.

C. Direct the development of the MAAP and ATO/ACO for the employment of airborne resources.

D. Review appropriate documents for changes in tactics, techniques, and procedures used by air forces.

E. Refine procedures with the AOC Director, BCE, NALE, SOLE, and ASOC Director for incorporating CAS, reconnaissance, and AI requests, and necessary supporting forces, into the ATO process.

F. Direct the Combat Plans Division to prepare briefings on the recommended commitment and proposed employment plan as required for developing the JIPTL.

G. Supervise the preparation and presentation on the recommended commitments at the air commander's planning conference as guided by the AOC Director.

H. Receive and implement approval/guidance for the commitment of air resources received from the commander.

I. Review information on the results of previous air operations and develop new procedures or tactics, as necessary, to accomplish assigned objectives. Consult with the Chief of Combat Operations (CCO) to obtain a summary of significant problems being encountered in implementing and managing the current ATO in order to improve quality and effectiveness of future tasking.

J. Direct air combat effectiveness assessments in coordination with the Combat Intelligence Division (CID) and other agencies to evaluate results of air operations in terms of attainment of JFC objectives.

K. Direct the preparation of the Airspace Control Plan (ACP) and the Airspace Control Order (ACO) using commander's intent and guidance. Direct development of airspace management plans and procedures required to support allied/joint combat operations.

L. Direct the preparation of the Air Defense Plan (ADP) and Theater Missile Defense Procedures using commander’s intent and guidance. Direct development of command and control plans and procedures required to support allied/joint air defense operations.

 

M. Ensure ATOs properly reflect desired tasking. Particular attention must be taken to ensure cross-references between different missions are accurate and reflect last minute changes not originally planned. During larger scale operations, the Assistant DCP will normally assume the responsibility for coordinating and reviewing the ATO prior to release.

N. Prior to each theater commander's apportionment meeting, provide the AOC Director/JFACC with a recommended apportionment for the next ATO planning period.

O. Develop and maintain a current perspective of the enemy's intentions to include his C2 structure, doctrine, battle philosophy, and how he reacts to theater air operations in coordination with the CID.

P. Oversee Space Warfare, Information Warfare and Tactical Deception planning.

2. Chief Combat Plans. The Chief of Combat Plans (CCP) is responsible to the DCP for assisting in maintaining an adequate span of supervision within the Combat Plans Division. This essentially means that the CCP will be the floor manager of Combat Plans Division, thus allowing the DCP to conduct appropriate vertical coordination. The CCP has the following duties and responsibilities:

A. Evaluate the adequacy of status information provided by the WOCs and correct deficiencies.

B. Evaluate the adequacy of ground and naval liaison support and advise the AOC Director and DCP of deficiencies.

C. Evaluate the adequacy of communications-electronics and weather support, and advise the DCP of recommended changes.

D. Determine the need for intelligence information and special products to support the planning cycle and identify these requirements to CID and DCP.

E. Review each ATO/ATM prior to submitting to AOC Director and DCP for release.

F. Develop an alternate ATO distribution plan for situations when CTAPS/TBMCS is not available. This plan should include use of airborne and/or ground couriers.

G. Review incoming message traffic and ensure proper distribution within Combat Plans.

H. Supervise preparation and coordination of combat mission packages to ensure proper integration of all assets essential to mission success, e.g., tankers, AWACS, EC assets, escort, etc.

I. Supervise the training of augmentees assigned to the Combat Plans Division.

J. Review outgoing reports prior to submission to AOC Director and DCP.

K. Ensure backup procedures are developed to allow ATO development if the primary CTAPS/TBMCS system is inoperable.

 

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Air Operations Center (AOC) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Twelfth Air Force (12AF) Air Force Forces (AFFOR)