JAPCC Flyer on Joint Fires July 2012
Introduction
Ten years have passed since Operation Anaconda took
place, a direct combat operation in the Afghanistan theatre
involving a large number of U.S. and coalition forces work-
ing with allied Afghan military units with the goal to elimi-
nate al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. During this historic Oper-
ation, I was a member of the VF-211 Checkmates, an F-14
squadron aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). During this
deployment, I was tasked to be the Mission Commander
of a section of F-14s during one of the Operation's most
well-known battles, one that took place atop the mountain
peaks of the Shahi-Kot Valley as the aircrew and personnel
of a downed MH-47 helicopter were engaged in a ‘danger
close’ firefight with enemy forces. My mission was ‘on-call’
Close Air Support (CAS), with the goal of supporting the
soldiers to allow for the rescue and recovery of all per-
sonnel. My training as a Forward Air Controller Airborne
(FAC-A) and my sound understanding of Close Air Support
(CAS) and Joint Fires doctrine undoubtedly helped save
lives that day.
Demand for Joint Fires Experts
As the current conflict in Afghanistan has evolved over the
past decade, so has the joint application of firepower and
asso ciated weapons systems. Today, at the heart of Joint Fires,
hundreds of Forward Air Controllers / Joint Terminal Attack
Controllers (FAC / JTACs) are supporting land commanders and
troops across the ISAF theatre of operations with their air, Joint
Fires and CAS expertise. Joint Fires Observers (JFOs), also sup-
porting the fight in Afghanistan, are considered to be a signifi-
cant force multiplier and of great value to the coalition in the
Joint Fires community.
As highlighted in the JAPCC’s September 2011 publication,
Air-Land Integration (An Operational Assessment), “CAS is
probably the most difficult mission flown by aircraft on today’s
battlefield, requires the highest level of integration with ground
forces, indirect fires, and other assets; and in most cases de-
mands the greatest precision due to the proximity of friendly
forces. Furthermore, it has the highest potential for negative
ramifications if something goes wrong, such as fratricide and
collateral damage.”
The JAPCC offers three overarching principles in respect to
Air-Land Integration and Joint Fires: First, true integration of
forces operating in the air and surface environments cannot
be achieved without a thorough understanding of the full ex-
tent of their respective capabilities. Second, all those involved
in the delivery of effects must have a common understanding
of Joint doctrine as well as the doctrine of the individual com-
ponents of a joint force, if agility (both in command and exe-
cution), tactical synergy, and exponential capability are to be
JAPCC Flyer
Edition 7
“Joint forces will operate in an en-
vironment that is dierent from
today. The speed and pace of
con ict will continue to acceler-
ate and the threat will take on an
increasingly diverse nature char-
acterized by its ability to adapt
and decentralize in an attempt
todefeat or outright exploit our
dependence on technologies.”
General Martin E. Dempsey
Chairman, US Joint Chiefs of Staff
© Top: U.S. Navy, MC2 James R. Evans
© Bottom: AVDD, Richard Frigge
Fires are a Joint Business
