JP 3-16, Multinational Operations - Defense Technical Information ...

Chapter I
nation (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and US) Multinational
Interoperability Council (MIC). The US also participates in the five-nation (Australian,
Canadian, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and US) Combined Communications-Electronics
Board (CCEB) that enables strategic and deployed force headquarters (HQ) information and
data exchange, and interoperability of communications-electronics systems above the tactical
level of command, and the Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United
States (AUSCANNZUKUS) Naval command, control, communications, and computers
organization working to achieve standardization and interoperability in communications
systems.
(2) Alliances provide a forum to work toward standardization of national
equipment, doctrine, and TTP. Standardization is not an end in itself, but it does provide a
useful framework for commanders and their staffs. Coalitions, however, are by definition
created for a single purpose and usually (but not always) for a finite length of time and, as
such, are ad hoc arrangements. They may not provide commanders with the same
commonality of aim or degree of organizational maturity as alliances.
(3) Alliances usually have developed a degree of standardization with regard to
administrative, logistic, and operational procedures. The mechanisms for this
standardization are international standardization agreements (ISAs). ISAs can be materiel or
nonmateriel in nature. Nonmateriel related ISAs should already be incorporated into US
joint and Service doctrine and TTP. The five paragraph operation order is one common
example. Materiel ISAs are implemented into the equipment design, development, or
adaptation processes to facilitate standardization. In NATO, ISAs are known as
standardization agreements (STANAGs) and allied publications (APs) and are instruments
that are used to establish commonality in procedures and equipment. The ABCA Standards
are another type of ISA. The existence of these ISAs does not mean that they will be
automatically used during an alliance’s multinational operation. Their use should be clearly
specified in the OPLAN or operation order. In addition, these ISAs cannot be used as
vehicles for obligating financial resources or transferring resources.
(4) Multinational publications (MPs) are a series of unclassified ISAs specifically
developed by NATO. MPs provide signatory nations with common doctrine, TTP, and
information for planning and conducting operations. These publications are available to all
nations through a NATO sponsor.
(5) Standardization agreements like APs, MPs, STANAGs, and ABCA Standards
provide a baseline for cooperation within a coalition. In many parts of the world, these
multilateral and other bilateral agreements for standardization between potential coalition
members may be in place prior to the formation of the coalition. However, participants may
not be immediately familiar with such agreements. The MNFC disseminates ISAs among
the MNF or relies on existing standing operating procedures (SOPs) and clearly written,
uncomplicated orders. MNFCs should identify where they can best standardize the force and
achieve interoperability within the force. This is more difficult to accomplish in coalition
operations since participants have not normally been associated prior to the particular
contingency. The same considerations apply when non-alliance members participate in an
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