Principles of Joint Operations

Unity of Command

___________ is vital in employing airpower as it ensures appropriate concentration and priority off effort by one responsible commander with the authority and the capability to direct force employment in pursuit of common objectives

Economy of Force

__________ is the judicious employment and distribution of force by selecting the best mix of airpower capabilities. To ensure overwhelming combat power is available, appropriate effort should be devoted to primary objectives and allocate lesser essential resources to secondary efforts. _______ may require a commander to establish a balance in the application of airpower between attacking, defending, delaying, or conducting other operations, such as information operations, based on the priority of the objectives

Maneuver

_______ places the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power in a multidimensional combat space. The principle of _______ allows potential engagement anywhere, from any direction, at any time, forcing the adversary to be on guard everywhere. Applying the principle of ____ will force the enemy to react, allowing the exploitation of successful friendly operations and reducing friendly vulnerabilities. Forward deployment of airpower assets is one example of ______ that, by its very presence can reassure allies and deter aggressors.

Objective

The purpose of specifying the _____ is to direct every military operation toward a clearly defined, decisive, and achievable goal. The purpose of military operations is to achieve military ____ that support attainment of the overall political goals of the conflict

Security

The purpose of the principle of _____ is to never permit the enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage. Critical to ____ is understanding that it embraces physical, operations, and information ____. ____ may be obtained by staying beyond the enemy’s reach, physically and virtually, as airpower is uniquely suited to operate over the horizon

Offensive

The purpose of an _____ action is to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative. ______ action is the most effective and decisive way to achieve a clearly defined objective. _______ operations are the means by which a military force seizes and holds the initiative while maintaining freedom of action and achieving decisive results.

Mass

The purpose of _____ is to concentrate the efforts of combat power as the most advantageous place and time to produce decisive results. To achieve _____, appropriate Joint Force capabilities are integrated and synchronized where they will have a decisive effect in a short period of time

Surprise

The purpose of ____ is to strike at a time or place or in a manner for which the enemy is unprepared. _______ can help the commander shift the balance of combat power, thus achieving success well out of proportion to the effort expended.

Simplicity

The purpose of ______ is to increase the probability that plans and operations will be executed as intended by preparing clear, uncomplicated plans and concise orders. _____ contributes to successful operations. _____ plans and clear, concise orders minimize misunderstanding and confusion.

Restraint

The purpose of _______ is to limit collateral damage and prevent the unnecessary use of force. A single act could cause significant military and political consequences; therefore, judicious use of force is necessary

Perserverance

The purpose of ______ is to ensure the commitment necessary to attain the national strategic end state. ______ involves preparation for measured, protracted military operations in pursuit of the national strategic end state.

Legitimacy

The purpose of ______ is to maintain legal and moral authority in the conduct of operations. ________, which can be a decisive factor in operations, is based on the actual and perceived legality, morality, and rightness of the actions from the various perspectives of interested audiences

Unity of Effort

The purpose of this principle is to ensure that a wide range of components, agencies, and partners operating during a contingency coordinate their actions and resources, and focus on the same goal. This is a vital principle for the USAF, especially when working in an interagency and multinational environment