UNAAF
Unified Action Armed Forces
USA United
States
Army
USCINCSOC
Commander in Chief, United States Special
Operations Command
USMC
United States Marine Corps
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TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
air
interdiction
Air operations conducted to destroy,
neutralize, or delay the enemy’s military
potential before it can be brought to bear
effectively against friendly forces at such
distance from friendly forces that detailed
integration of each air mission with the fire
and movement of friendly forces is not
required. (JP 1-02)
amphibious
A geographical area, delineated in the
objective area
initiating directive, for purposes of command
and control within which is located the
objective(s) to be secured by the amphibious
task force. This area must be of sufficient size
to ensure accomplishment of the amphibious
task force’s mission and must provide
sufficient area for conducting necessary sea,
air, and land operations. (JP 1-02)
area
air
Within a unified command, subordinate
defense commander
unified command, or joint task force, the
commander will assign overall responsibility
for air defense to a single commander.
Normally, this will be the component
commander with the preponderance of air
defense capability and the command, control,
and communications capability to plan and
execute integrated air defense operations.
Representation from the other components
involved will be provided, as appropriate, to
the area air defense commander’s
headquarters. Also called AADC. (JP 1-02)
area
of
operations
An operational area defined by the joint force
commander for land and naval forces. Areas of
operation do not typically encompass the
entire operational area of the joint force
commander, but should be large enough for
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component commanders to accomplish their
missions and protect their forces. Also called
AO. (JP 1-02)
battle damage assessment
The timely and accurate estimate of damage
resulting from the application of military
force, either lethal or nonlethal, against a
predetermined objective. Battle damage
assessment can be applied to the employment
of all types of weapon systems (air, ground,
naval, and special forces weapon systems)
throughout the range of military operations.
Battle damage assessment is primarily an
intelligence responsibility with required inputs
and coordination from the operators. Battle
damage assessment is composed of physical
damage assessment, functional damage
assessment, and target system assessment.
Also called BDA. (JP 1-02)
civil-military operations
Group of planned activities in support of
military operations that enhances the
relationship between the military forces and
civilian authorities and population and which
promote the development of favorable
emotions, attitudes, or behavior in neutral,
friendly, or hostile groups. (JP 1-02)
combatant
command Nontransferable command authority
(command authority)
established by Title 10 (Armed Forces),
United States Code, section 164, exercised
only by commanders of unified or specified
combatant commands unless otherwise
directed by the President or the Secretary of
Defense. Combatant command (command
authority) cannot be delegated and is the
authority of a combatant commander to
perform those functions of command over
assigned forces involving organizing and
employing commands and forces, assigning
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tasks, designating objectives, and giving
authoritative direction over all aspects of
military operations, joint training, and logistics
necessary to accomplish the missions assigned
to the command. Combatant command
(command authority) should be exercised
through the commanders of subordinate
organizations. Normally this authority is
exercised through subordinate joint force
commanders and Service and/or functional
component commanders. Combatant
command (command authority) provides full
authority to organize and employ commands
and forces as the combatant commander
considers necessary to accomplish assigned
missions. Operational control is inherent in
combatant command (command authority).
Also
called
COCOM. (JP 1-02)
defensive counterair
All defensive measures designed to detect,
identify, intercept, and destroy or negate
enemy forces attempting to attack or penetrate
the friendly air environment. Also called DCA.
(JP 1-02)
fire support
A fire support coordination measure that is
coordination line
established and adjusted by appropriate land or
amphibious force commanders within their
boundaries in consultation with superior,
subordinate, supporting, and affected
commanders. Fire support coordination lines
(FSCLs) facilitate the expeditious attack of
surface targets of opportunity beyond the
coordinating measure. An FSCL does not
divide an area of operations by defining a
boundary between close and deep operations
or a zone for close air support. The FSCL
applies to all fires of air, land, and sea-based
weapon systems using any type of
ammunition. Forces attacking targets beyond
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an FSCL must inform all affected commanders
in sufficient time to allow necessary reaction
to avoid fratricide. Supporting elements
attacking targets beyond the FSCL must
ensure that the attack will not produce adverse
effects on, or to the rear of, the line. Short of
an FSCL, all air-to-ground and surface-to-
surface attack, operations are controlled by the
appropriate land or amphibious force
commander. The FSCL should follow well-
defined terrain features. Coordination of
attacks beyond the FSCL is especially critical
to commanders of air, land, and special
operations forces. In exceptional
circumstances, the inability to conduct this
coordination will not preclude the attack of
targets beyond the FSCL. However, failure to
do so may increase the risk of fratricide and
could waste limited resources. Also called
FSCL. (JP 1-02)
functional
A command normally, but not necessarily,
component command
composed of forces of two or more military
departments which may be established across
the range of military operations to perform
particular operational missions that may be of
short duration or may extend over a period of
time. (JP 1-02)
joint force air
The joint force air component commander
component commander
derives authority from the joint force
commander who has the authority to exercise
operational control, assign missions, direct
coordination among subordinate commanders,
redirect and organize forces to ensure unity of
effort in the accomplishment of the overall
mission. The joint force commander will
normally designate a joint force air component
commander. The joint force air component
commander ’s responsibilities will be assigned
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by the joint force commander (normally these
would include, but not be limited to, planning,
coordination, allocation, and tasking based on
the joint force commander’s apportionment
decision). Using the joint force commander’s
guidance and authority, and in coordination
with other Service component commanders
and other assigned or supporting commanders,
the joint force air component commander will
recommend to the joint force commander
apportionment of air sorties to various
missions or geographic areas. Also called
JFACC. (JP 1-02) (Note: The revised JP 3-0
will modify this term and definition.)
joint
force
commander
A general term applied to a combatant
commander, subunified commander, or joint
task force commander authorized to exercise
combatant command (command authority) or
operational control over a joint force. Also
called JFC. (JP 1-02)
joint force land
The commander within a unified command,
component commander
subordinate unified command, or joint task
force
responsible
to the establishing
commander for making recommendations on
the proper employment of land forces,
planning and coordinating land operations, or
accomplishing such operational missions as
may be assigned. The joint force land
component commander is given the authority
necessary to accomplish missions and tasks
assigned by the establishing commander. The
joint force land component commander will
normally be the commander with the
preponderance of land forces and the requisite
command and control capabilities. Also called
JFLCC. (JP 1-02) (Note: The revised JP 3-0
will modify this term and definition.)
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joint force maritime
The commander within a unified command,
component commander
subordinate unified command, or joint task
force
responsible
to the establishing
commander for making recommendations on
the proper employment of maritime forces and
assets, planning and coordinating maritime
operations, or accomplishing such operational
missions as may be assigned. The joint force
maritime component commander is given the
authority necessary to accomplish missions
and tasks assigned by the establishing
commander. The joint force maritime
component commander will normally be the
commander with the preponderance of
maritime forces and the requisite command
and control capabilities. Also called JFMCC.
(JP 1-02) (Note: The revised JP 3-0 will
modify this term and definition.)
joint force
The commander within a unified command,
special operations
subordinate unified command, or joint task
component commander force
responsible
to the establishing
commander for making recommendations on
the proper employment of special operations
forces and assets, planning and coordinating
special
operations,
or accomplishing such
operational missions as may be assigned. The
joint force special operations component
commander is given the authority necessary to
accomplish missions and tasks assigned by the
establishing commander. The joint force
special operations component commander will
normally be the commander with the
preponderance of special operations forces and
the requisite command and control
capabilities. Also called JFSOCC. (JP 1-02)
(Note: The revised JP 3-0 will modify this
term and definition.)
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joint operations area
An area of land, sea, and airspace, defined by
a geographic combatant commander or
subordinate unified commander, in which a
joint force commander (normally a joint task
force commander) conducts military
operations to accomplish a specific mission.
Joint operations areas are particularly useful
when operations are limited in scope and
geographic area or when operations are to be
conducted on the boundaries between theaters.
Also called JOA. (JP 1-02)
joint targeting
A group formed by the joint force commander
coordination board
to accomplish broad targeting oversight
functions that may include but are not limited
to coordinating targeting information,
providing targeting guidance and priorities,
and preparing and/or refining joint target lists.
The board is normally comprised of
representatives from the joint force staff, all
components and, if required, component
subordinate units. Also called JTCB. (JP 1-02)
joint task force
A joint force that is constituted and so
designated by the Secretary of Defense, a
combatant commander, a subunified
commander, or an existing joint task force
commander. Also called JTF. (JP 1--02)
Marine air-ground
The Marine Corps principal organization for
task force
all missions across the range of military
operations, composed of forces task-organized
under a single commander capable of
responding rapidly to a contingency anywhere
in the world. The types of forces in the
MAGTF are functionally grouped into four
core elements: a command element, an
aviation combat element, a ground combat
element, and a combat service support
element. The four core elements are categories
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of forces, not formal commands. The basic
structure of the Marine air-ground task force
never varies, though the number, size, and
type of Marine Corps units comprising each of
its four elements will always be mission
dependent. The flexibility of the
organizational structure allows for one or more
subordinate MAFTFs, other Service, and/or
foreign military forces to be assigned or
attached.
Also
called
MAGTF.
Marine
The largest Marine air-ground task force and
expeditionary force
the