Joint Force Fires Coordinator Study

This study provides the J-7, Joint Staff with conclusions and recommendations regarding the joint force fires coordinator (JFFC) concept, to include development of a Joint Staff position and a recommendation to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During the study period, the Army-Air Force Warfighter Conference results were releases. These results included an agreement that the title "JFFC" should be changed to not connote any command authority. This study addresses the issue with significance, but uses the title "JFFC" as a point of reference for the functions and not to endorse the name. The Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC) study team examined the JFFC concept from the joint force commander's (JFC) viewpoint by identifying joint fires functions and tasks, and testing the appropriateness of their assignment to the J-3, who could be assisted by a JFFC. The definitions of fires, joint fires, and joint fire support along with the JFFC concept provided in the July 1996 final draft of Joint Pub 3-09, "Doctrine for Joint Fire Support," were used as starting points. Data was collected from the Joint Electronic Library (JEL), geographic combatant commands, Service doctrine commands, Joint Universal Lessons Learned System (JULLS), exercise observations, interviews, briefings, meetings, and library resources. The study compares the joint fires functions and tasks performed by the JFC (J-3 cognizance), joint targeting coordination board (JTCB), joint force air component commander (JFACC), and other components. The study draws conclusions and makes recommendations about the potential JFFC impact on joint doctrine and joint targeting procedures, long-range implications, and advantages/disadvantages of establishing a JFFC.