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

Forming and Organizing The Joint Task Force Headquarters
(b) The CJTF must determine what staff officer or staff section will have
overall cognizance of all liaison personnel reporting to the JTF HQ for duty (e.g., DCJTF,
chief of staff, or J-3).
(2) Liaison should be established between the JTF HQ and higher commands,
between adjacent units, and between supporting, attached, and assigned forces and the JTF
HQ. Additionally, the JTF also may exchange LNOs with MNFs, HN, and
interorganizational entities.
(a) Normally, liaison personnel perform their duties within the JTF staff
directorate that is responsible for functions related to the liaison personnel’s assigned duties.
(b) They are representatives of their commanders and normally will attend
briefings and maintain close contact with the JTF JOC. LNOs should have access to the
CJTF.
(c) Although the liaison team may have workspace in the operations center to
facilitate the exchange of information, the LNO is not a duty officer, but a representative of
one commander to another.
b. LNOs, whether individually or in teams, perform several critical functions that are
consistent across the range of military operations. The extent to which these functions are
performed depends on the mission and the direction established by the commander they
represent. A successful LNO performs four basic functions.
(1) Monitor. LNOs monitor JTF operations, the gaining organization, and the
sending organization and must understand how each influences the other. LNOs must know
the current situation and planned operations, understand pertinent staff issues, and
understand their commanders’ intent. The JTF battle rhythm, in part, drives the LNOs’ daily
schedule and allows them to maintain the current situation and better advise their
commanders.
(2) Coordinate. LNOs help synchronize current operations and future planning
between the sending organizations, gaining organizations, or the JTF. They also accomplish
this by coordinating with other LNOs and other organizations.
(a) Successful coordination requires a collaborative process that enhances
communications between the LNOs’ organizations.
(b) This process may range from understanding how various organizations
function to collaborative systems that improve communications between organizations.
(3) Advise. LNOs are the experts on the sending organizations’ capabilities and
limitations. They advise the CJTF, JTF staff, and the gaining organizations concerning
capabilities of their organizations. They must be proactive in providing the supported staff
with relevant information on their organization’s capabilities. They are not decision
makers and cannot commit their parent organizations to actions without coordination
and approval.
II-17