SEJPME I

JP 3-0, Joint Operations. It provides the doctrinal foundation for the Armed Forces of the United States to conduct joint operations across the range of military operations.

Command and Control (C2), Intelligence, Fires, Movement and Maneuver, Protection, and Sustainment. These are related capabilities and activities grouped together to help joint force commanders integrate, synchronize, and direct joint operations.

Only the President or Secretary of Defense can assign Combatant Command authority. COCOM is the highest level of command authority and is non-transferable. It provides full authority to organize and employ commands and forces as the combatant commander considers necessary.

OPCON is the authority to perform those functions of command over subordinate forces involving organizing and employing commands and forces, assigning tasks, designating objectives, and giving authoritative direction. It does not include authority over logistics or administration.

TACON is the authority over forces that is limited to the detailed direction and control of movements or maneuvers within the operational area necessary to accomplish missions or tasks assigned. It does not include authority to change organizational structure or direct administrative/logistics support.

The UCP is a classified document prepared by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and signed by the President. It establishes combatant commands, defines their geographic or functional areas of responsibility, and delineates the authority of the combatant commanders.

Geographic Combatant Commands (GCCs) and Functional Combatant Commands (FCCs). GCCs have geographic areas of responsibility (e.g., USCENTCOM, USEUCOM). FCCs have worldwide functional responsibilities (e.g., USSOCOM, USTRANSCOM, USSTRATCOM, USCYBERCOM, USSPACECOM).

USINDOPACOM (Indo-Pacific), USEUCOM (Europe), USAFRICOM (Africa), USCENTCOM (Central), USSOUTHCOM (Southern), and USNORTHCOM (Northern). Each has a defined area of responsibility.

USSOCOM (Special Operations), USTRANSCOM (Transportation), USSTRATCOM (Strategic), USCYBERCOM (Cyber), and USSPACECOM (Space). They operate worldwide within their functional areas.

Unity of Command means all forces operate under a single commander with the requisite authority to direct all forces employed in pursuit of a common purpose. It is a fundamental principle of joint operations ensuring concentrated effort.

Unity of Effort is coordination and cooperation toward common objectives, even when the participants are not necessarily part of the same command or organization. It is essential in interagency and multinational operations where unity of command may not be achievable.

Strategic, Operational, and Tactical. Strategic level determines national/multinational security objectives and guidance. Operational level links the tactical employment of forces to national/strategic objectives. Tactical level involves battles and engagements to accomplish military objectives.

The JPP is the orderly, analytical set of logical steps used by the joint force commander and staff to plan joint operations. It includes: Planning Initiation, Mission Analysis, COA Development, COA Analysis and Wargaming, COA Comparison, COA Approval, and Plan or Order Development (per JP 5-0).

Planning Initiation. It begins when the commander or higher authority recognizes the need for a plan or order. It includes receipt of a planning directive, mission, or when a crisis develops.

Mission Analysis. The staff analyzes the higher headquarters order/plan, identifies specified and implied tasks, determines the mission, and develops initial staff estimates. The commander issues planning guidance and an initial intent statement.

A COA is a potential way to accomplish the mission. It must be adequate (can accomplish the mission), feasible (can be done with available resources), acceptable (worth the cost), distinguishable (differs significantly from other COAs), and complete (includes all necessary actions).

A clear and concise expression of the purpose of the operation and the desired military end state that supports mission command. It provides focus to the staff and helps subordinate and supporting commanders act to achieve the commander's desired results without further orders.

The JFC is a general term applied to a combatant commander, subunified commander, or joint task force commander authorized to exercise combatant command (command authority) or operational control over a joint force. The JFC has authority to organize forces, direct operations, and assign tasks.

A JTF is a joint force established on a temporary basis to accomplish a specific mission. It can be established by the SecDef, a combatant commander, a subunified commander, or an existing JTF commander. It is dissolved when its purpose is achieved.

The JFC publishes an Operation Plan (OPLAN) or Operation Order (OPORD). An OPLAN is prepared in advance for contingencies. An OPORD is a directive for a current operation, providing detailed instructions.

An OPLAN is a plan for a contingency that may occur in the future and is developed in anticipation. An OPORD is a directive issued by a commander to subordinate commanders for a current operation. An OPLAN can be converted to an OPORD when execution is directed.

Objective, Offensive, Mass, Maneuver, Economy of Force, Unity of Command, Security, Surprise, Simplicity, Restraint, Perseverance, and Legitimacy. These 12 principles provide general guidance for conducting joint operations.

Interagency coordination is the process by which DoD, the Department of State, and other U.S. government agencies coordinate their activities to achieve unified action. It ensures whole-of-government approaches to national security challenges and is critical in stability operations and counterterrorism.

The Country Team is the senior in-country U.S. coordinating and supervising body, headed by the Chief of Mission (usually the Ambassador). It includes all U.S. government personnel in a country except those under a combatant commander's authority. Military must coordinate through the Country Team.

Military actions conducted by forces of two or more nations, usually undertaken within the structure of a coalition or alliance. They require understanding of participating nations' cultures, capabilities, and constraints. Unity of effort is especially important since nations retain sovereignty over their forces.

An alliance is a formal agreement between two or more nations for broad, long-term objectives (e.g., NATO). A coalition is an ad hoc arrangement between two or more nations for common action, usually temporary and formed for a specific purpose.

The CJCS is the principal military adviser to the President, Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. The CJCS does not exercise military command over any combatant forces but transmits communications between the President/SecDef and combatant commanders.

The JSPS is the primary means by which the CJCS, assisted by the Joint Staff, carries out statutory responsibilities to provide strategic direction and advice. It produces documents including the National Military Strategy (NMS) and Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP).

The NMS is the CJCS document that provides military strategic direction to the Armed Forces. It is derived from the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy, and describes how the military will support national objectives.

The Joint Staff assists the CJCS in accomplishing statutory responsibilities. It serves as the CJCS's staff and includes the J-1 through J-8 directorates (Manpower, Intelligence, Operations, Logistics, Strategy/Plans/Policy, C4, Force Structure/Resources/Assessment, Force Structure and Resources).

The J-3 (Operations Directorate) is responsible for monitoring and directing current joint operations worldwide. It serves as the focal point for all joint operational matters and assists the CJCS in managing global military operations.

The J-5 (Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate) develops joint strategic plans and policy recommendations. It supports the CJCS in strategic planning, theater campaign plans review, and policy development for the National Security Council.

APEX is the Department of Defense system for collaborative planning and execution. It replaced the old Joint Operation Planning and Execution System (JOPES). APEX enables parallel and iterative planning across the joint planning enterprise.

GFM is the process by which the SecDef assigns, allocates, and apportions forces and capabilities to combatant commanders and other authorized users. It aligns force assignment, allocation, and apportionment methodologies to support strategic guidance.

Assigned forces are permanently placed under a combatant command by the SecDef through the Forces for Unified Commands memorandum. Allocated forces are temporarily provided to a combatant command for a specific mission or period. Assignment is long-term; allocation is temporary.

The supported commander is the commander having primary responsibility for all aspects of a task assigned by the Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan or other joint operation planning authority. Supporting commands provide forces, capabilities, or other support to the supported commander.

A supporting commander provides augmentation forces, capabilities, or other support to a supported commander. The supporting commander develops supporting plans, ensures the allocated forces and capabilities are employed according to the supported commander's concept.

ROMO encompasses the full spectrum of operations from military engagement, security cooperation, and deterrence in peacetime through major combat operations. It includes crisis response, limited contingency operations, and large-scale combat operations.

Stability operations encompass the military missions, tasks, and activities conducted to maintain or reestablish a safe and secure environment, provide essential governmental services, emergency infrastructure reconstruction, and humanitarian relief. They complement offensive and defensive operations.

Phasing is a way to view and conduct operations in manageable parts. The six phases are: Phase 0 (Shape), Phase I (Deter), Phase II (Seize Initiative), Phase III (Dominate), Phase IV (Stabilize), and Phase V (Enable Civil Authority). Phases may overlap.

Phase 0 (Shape) includes routine military activities and operations to set conditions for a favorable security environment. It includes theater security cooperation, military engagement, exercises, and building partner capacity. It is continuous and occurs before and after other phases.

The center of gravity is the source of power that provides moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act. Identifying the enemy's COG is critical to effective planning. At the strategic level, it might be a military force, alliance, or national will. At operational level, it is usually the enemy's military capability.

A decisive point is a geographic place, specific key event, critical factor, or function that, when acted upon, allows a commander to gain a marked advantage over an adversary or contribute materially to achieving success. It is a key to attacking or protecting a center of gravity.

The Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) advises the commander on enlisted matters, morale, readiness, and professional development. At the combatant command level, the SEA (Senior Enlisted Advisor) bridges the gap between the commander's intent and the enlisted force. The SEAC advises the CJCS.

SEJPME I provides senior enlisted leaders with foundational knowledge of joint matters including joint doctrine, planning, operations, and organization. It develops joint-minded leaders who understand the multi-Service, interagency, and multinational environment.

Title 10, United States Code (10 USC), as amended by the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986. This act strengthened the authority of combatant commanders, the CJCS, and established requirements for joint officer management and education.

Goldwater-Nichols reorganized the DoD to improve joint warfighting capability. It established the CJCS as the principal military adviser, strengthened combatant commander authority, streamlined the chain of command (President → SecDef → Combatant Commanders), and mandated joint duty assignments for officer promotion.

The operational chain of command runs from the President to the Secretary of Defense to the Combatant Commanders. The Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force) are NOT in the operational chain of command — they organize, train, and equip forces for combatant commanders.