AFDD 2-1.9, page 17

7 › Capabilities analysis. › Commander’s decision and force assignment. › Mission planning and force execution. › Assessment. Commander’s objectives, guidance, and intent. This is the most important step in the joint targeting process, because it encapsulates all the national-level guidance in a set of outcomes relevant to the present situation and set the course for all that follows, even though these are determined during strategy development and not as part of the targeting process, per se. Many times, however, targeteers working before formal planning for a contingency begins or during normal peacetime operations may have to infer or make assumptions concerning these. This should be done using the best guidance available at the time. A good specific objective must be understandable, require action, be attainable, allow some room to reach the solution, and provide criteria for use in measuring both progress and effectiveness Target development, vetting, validation, nomination, and prioritization. Target development is the systematic examination of potential target systems to determine the type and duration of action that must be exerted on each target to create desired effects that achieve the commander’s objectives. Target vetting leverages the expertise of the national intelligence community to verify the fidelity of the intelligence and analysis used to develop the target(s). Target validation determines whether a target remains a viable element of a target system and whether it complies with the law of armed conflict (LOAC) and the rules of engagement. Once targets are developed, vetted, and validated, they are nominated for approval and action in a given time period. As part of this process, they are prioritized relative to all joint targets in a joint integrated prioritized target list (JIPTL), which is submitted to the combined force commander (CFC) for approval. Capabilities analysis. This portion of the joint targeting process involves evaluating available capabilities against desired effects to determine the appropriate options available to the commander. The outputs of this stage inform the commander’s estimate within the joint planning and execution system. Commander’s decision and force assignment. Once the CFC has approved the JIPTL, joint force components prepare tasking orders and release them to executing forces and units. The joint targeting process facilitates creation of tasking orders by providing amplifying information needed for detailed unit-level planning. Mission planning and force execution. Upon receipt of tasking orders, tasked units perform detailed execution planning and perform their missions. Assessment. All assessments related to targeting should be included here. This phase evaluates the effectiveness of operations and feeds development of future strategy, guidance, and adaptation to the adversary’s actions.