Joint Doctrine

Question 1

What is the purpose of joint doctrine?

Answer 1

Guide the employment and integration of the U.S. military to create unity of effort and unity of command.

It promotes a common perspective from which to plan, train, and conduct joint military operations.

Question 2

What does Multinational doctrine, in respect to airpower, establish?

Answer 2

It describes the best way to integrate and employ the USAF with the forces of allies in coalition warfare. It establishes principles, organization, and fundamental procedures agreed upon between or among Allied Forces.

Question 3

There are how many levels of USAF doctrine? What are they?

Answer 3

Three.
Basic, Operational, Tactical.

Question 4

What is Basic Doctrine?

Answer 4

Basic doctrine states the most fundamental and enduring beliefs that describe and guide the proper use, presentation, and organization of forces in military action.

Why we fight, who we are, what we do, how we do it.

Question 5

What is Tactical Doctrine?

Answer 5

Describes the proper employment of specific USAF assets, individually or in concert with other assets, to accomplish detailed objectives.

Question 6

What is Operational Doctrine?

Answer 6

Describes detailed organization of forces and applies the principles of basic doctrine to military actions.

Operational doctrine guides the proper organization and employment of airpower forces in the context of distinct objectives, force capabilities, broad functional areas, and operational environments.

Question 7

What is Unity of Command?
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 7

Concentration and priority of effort by one responsible commander with the authority and the capability to direct force employment in pursuit of common objectives.

Question 8

Economy of Force
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 8

Judicious employment and distribution of force by selecting the best mix of airpower capabilities.

In one sense the use of overwhelming force, but also not using more force than reasonably necessary.

Question 9

Maneuver
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 9

Placing the enemy on guard everywhere, putting them at a disadvantage and forcing them to react.

Question 10

Objective
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 10

To direct operations toward a defined and attainable objective that contributes to established strategic, operational, and tactical goals. Political and military goals should be aligned and clearly articulated.

It shapes priorities.

Question 11

Security
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 11

Never permit the enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage.

Question 12

Offensive
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 12

Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative. Act rather than react, dictate to the enemy.

Question 13

Mass
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 13

Concentration of military power. Airpower achieves mass through highly effective attack, rather than overwhelming numbers.

Question 14

Surprise
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 14

One of airpower’s strongest advantages. Leverages the principle of security by attacking the enemy at a time, place, or in a manner for which they are not prepared.

Question 15

Simplicity
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 15

Avoiding unnecessary complexity in organizing, preparing, planning, and conducting military operations. Simplicity ensures that guidance, plans, and orders are as simple and direct as a military objective allows.

Question 16

Restraint
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 16

Preventing the unnecessary use of force. Restraint requires the careful and disciplined balancing of the need for security, the conduct of military operations, and the achievement of national objectives.

Question 17

Perseverance
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 17

Ensuring the commitment necessary to achieve national objectives. Involves preparation for measured, protracted military operations in pursuit of national objectives.

Question 18

Legitimacy
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 18

Maintaining legal and moral authority in the conduct of operations. Legitimacy, 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.

Question 19

Unity of Effort
(Principles of Joint Operations)

Answer 19

Ensuring that a wide range of components, agencies, and partners operating during a contingency coordinate their actions and resources and focus on the same goal.

Question 20

What are the seven tenets of airpower?

Answer 20

Mission Command (centralized command, distributed control, decentralized execution)
Flexibility and Versatility
Synergistic Effects
Persistence (keeping on pressure)
Concentration (of power)
Priority
Balance