FM 100-5 Operations - Survival Ebooks Military Manuals Survival ...

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMOPERATIONSSpecified CommandThe NCA may also direct the establishment ofspecified commands (combatant commands) to accomplishbroad, continuing missions. A specified commandis primarily a single-service command, although it mayhave elements of other services assigned. Like a unifiedcommand, a specified command receives strategicdirection from the JCS.Joint Task ForceThe Secretary of Defense and the commanders ofunified and specified commands, subordinate unifiedcommands, and existing JTFs may establish joint taskforces. Elements of two or more services operatingunder a single JTF commander comprise the task force.It performs missions having specific, limited objectivesor missions of short duration. It normally dissolveswhen it achieves its purpose. The JTF commanderis responsible to the JTF establishing authorityand has OPCON of assigned and attached forces.He normally augments his own staff with representativesfrom component forces.Operation Urgent Fury—the 1983 US contingencyoperation in Grenada—illustrates the JTF concept. USAtlantic Command (LANTCOM) formed two JTFs forthis operation:- JTF 123 combined Navy and Army SOF.- JTF 120 consisted of a Navy task group, a Navytask force composed primarily of a Marine expeditionaryunit, and an Army task force composedof two brigades from the 82d Airborne Division.A JTF could have both Marine and Army componentsassigned and operating independently as in theexample above. It also could have a JFLCC with allor selected land forces under his OPCON or TACON.The size of the ARFOR within the JTF varies with themission of the JTF, but a brigade, division, or corpsheadquarters normally commands and controlsARFOR. Many actions of the JTF may be tactical, butthe entire JTF operation is normally operational. TheJTF may often be the preferred organization for C2during the early stages of force-projection operations.If the JTF operation requires the commitment oflarge land forces over a large land AO, the Army componentcommander may be the JTF commander. Hecould be a corps or numbered army commander. Thus,while usually fighting at the tactical or operationallevel, a corps commander (as a JTF commander) couldbe required to plan and conduct a joint campaign toachieve strategic objectives, employing forces frommultiple services. In this event, the JTF establishingauthority should provide additional communications,intelligence, and planning capabilities.Component CommandEach unified and subordinate unified commandhas an Army component. The Army service componentcommander (ASCC) is responsible for properlyemploying his forces and accomplishing operationaltasks assigned by the joint commander. The ASCCestablishes the link between ARFOR and the joint command,plans and executes operations in support of thejoint campaign, plans and executes support operationsto sustain subordinate ARFOR, and provides supportto other services in accordance with executive agentresponsibilities.The ASCC is also responsible for overseeing internaladministration and discipline; training Armydoctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures; designatingspecific units to meet joint force requirements;providing logistics functions normal to the component;ensuring tactical employment of service components;and providing service component intelligence operations.The choice of a functional command (for example,land component) or a component (for example,ARFOR) belongs to the theater commander. Due tothe more straightforward supporting relationships betweenthe parent services and the combatant commandstructure, ARFOR generally prefer the latter. However,at times, operational considerations and geographicalconditions make functional command relationshipsmore appropriate. Major operations on landthat have immediate impact on one another, for example,may best be coordinated under a single landcomponent commander. In forced-entry operations,functional command may be the preferred method inorder to best synchronize limited combat power in earlystages of the buildup. However, for sustained operationsover time, component command offers someadvantages for long-term support arrangements.Army execution of these roles can vary across thefull range of military operations. During peacetime,the ASCC is responsible for all of the ARFOR assignedto his command. During war and operations other thanwar, the combatant commander may elect to alter thepeacetime structure. For example, he might establishan Army command that reports directly to him and4-4