JP 3-33, Joint Task Force Headquarters - Defense Innovation ...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
COMMANDER’S OVERVIEW
Presents an Overview of a Joint Task Force (JTF)
Describes Forming and Organizing a JTF Headquarters
Covers JTF Subordinate Commands
Explains Command and Control of a JTF
Provides Descriptions of the JTF Directorates: Manpower and Personnel,
Intelligence, Operations, Logistics, Plans and Policy, and Communications
Introduction to the Joint Task Force
A combatant commander
(CCDR) will be the joint task
force (JTF) establishing
authority in most situations, but
Secretary of Defense, a
subunified command
commander, and a commander,
joint task force, also may
establish subordinate JTFs.
Joint Functions and Joint Staff
Directorates
A joint task force (JTF) is established when the
scope, complexity, or other factors of the
contingency or crisis require capabilities of Services
from at least two Military Departments operating
under a single joint force commander (JFC). The
JTF establishing authority designates the
commander, joint task force (CJTF), assigns the
mission, designates forces, delegates command
authorities and relationships, and provides other
command and control (C2) guidance necessary for
the CJTF to form the joint force and begin
operations. The appropriate authority may establish
a JTF on a geographic or functional basis or a
combination of the two. In either case, the
establishing authority typically assigns a joint
operations area (JOA) to the JTF. The size,
composition, capabilities, and other attributes will
vary significantly among JTFs based on the mission
and various factors of the operational environment,
such as the adversary, the geography of the JOA,
the nature of the crisis (e.g., flood, earthquake), and
the time available to accomplish the mission.
Joint functions are related capabilities and
activities grouped together to help the JFC and
component commanders integrate, synchronize, and
direct joint operations. Functions that are common
to joint operations at all levels of war fall into six
basic groups: C2, intelligence, fires, movement and
ix