AFDD 2-1.9, page 34

24 Figure 2.2. The Air Tasking Cycle requirements. Therefore, this section discusses deliberate targeting within the context of the tasking cycle. The tasking cycle develops the products needed to build and execute an ATO and accomplish assessment. Although it is presented below as six separate, sequential phases, in reality the targeting process is bi-directional, iterative, multi-dimensional, sometimes executed in parallel, and part of a larger set of processes. It is built on a foundation laid by thorough IPB. Participants from the CAOC’s strategy, ISR, plans, and operations divisions accomplish various targeting responsibilities, integrating their products into all levels and stages of the tasking process. The cycle consists of the following phases performed at various levels of command (see Figure 2.2): › Objectives, effects, and guidance. › Target development. › Weaponeering and allocation. › ATO production and dissemination. › Execution planning and force execution. › Assessment.