AFDD 2-1.9, page 64

54 insufficient time for the more detailed coordination and deconfliction that takes place during deliberate targeting. Commanders must assess risk early, determine what constitutes acceptable risk, and communicate their intent. CFC guidance may stipulate acceptable risk when engaging TSTs. If it does not, then the CFACC must seek to obtain it. When new targets are acquired, Airmen in the CAOC and in the field must rely on commanders’ guidance and their own experience to assess acceptable risk. Particular targets may be determined to be such a threat to the force or to mission accomplishment that the CFACC is willing to accept a higher level of risk in order to attack the target immediately upon detection. Items to be considered in the risk assessment include: › Risk to friendly forces (fratricide), risk to non-combatants, and collateral damage potential. › LOAC and ROE compliance. › Increased risk to attacking forces due to accelerated planning and coordination. › Redundant attacks and wasting limited resources. › Accepted use of non-optimal weapons and fuzing. › Opportunity cost of diverting assets from their planned missions. These considerations must be balanced against the danger of not attacking the target in time and thus risking mission failure, harm to friendly forces, or losing the opportunity to strike the target. More commonly, the risk associated with dynamic targeting involves the trade-off of diverting ISR and strike assets from already- scheduled missions to emerging targets. This should only be done when commanders’ priority given to the new target exceeds that of the old. Proper planning (for such things as on-call assets) can mitigate much of this opportunity cost, however. Handling Changes The COD must be ready to respond with new targeting information in order to provide seamless operations when changes occur. These include things like: › Responding to changes in friendly operations. For instance, if an aircraft tasked to prosecute a target has to abort for maintenance reasons, the COD must know the target’s relative priority in order to provide appropriate targeting guidance. If the target is low priority, it may be best to place it on a subsequent day’s ATO. If it is of higher priority, COD personnel will determine how best to direct or divert resources to prosecute it. COD personnel will have the best picture of what resources are available to prosecute it and what diverting resources may cost. Likewise, if an aircraft or package is diverted to prosecute a TST, the COD must identify the target(s) which will no longer be struck, as well as the new target which will be attacked. This information must be passed to the targeteers and collection managers to ensure coordinated collection and assessment on the new targets.