AFDP 3-60, page 17

Air Force Doctrine Publication 3-60, Targeting 14 Air Force Forces (AFFOR) A2. The AFFOR A2 provides intelligence support to the air component commander and assigned or attached Service component forces. The A2 guides Service component intelligence forces and prioritizes intelligence efforts to support targeting activities. The A2 develops and maintains theater intelligence support to the targeting process, including federated and reachback support agreements consistent with JFC and air component commander guidance. The A2 integrates, prioritizes, deconflicts, and oversees target intelligence production in support of the air component. The A2 coordinates and collaborates with the JFC J-2 and the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance division (ISRD) for issues impacting the JCMB and JTCB. AFFOR A3. The AFFOR A3 supports the air component commander in directing and controlling air forces. With the A2, the A3 develops and maintains targeting guidance and procedures and integrates, prioritizes, deconflicts, and oversees target nomination and target development production to support the air component. The A3 can also represent the air component commander’s prioritized target equities to the JFC, the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) enterprise, and national agencies. In some cases, the A3 will directly oversee the AOC. Other Air Component Staff Organizations. The air component staff should align efforts with their joint counterparts to facilitate the targeting process. For example, the AFFOR A4 can help plan, monitor, and assess munitions availability and assist in assessing adversary sustainment capabilities in support of the targeting cycle. The A5 plans directorate can conduct comprehensive force-level movement and execution planning and is a focal point for planning not under the purview of the AOC. The commander’s SJA can provide counsel throughout the targeting process to ensure adherence to ROE and LoW issues. The public affairs staff can help advise, plan, and assess the effects of targeting on the information environment in coordination with the JFC public affairs staff.23 UNIT LEVEL TARGETING Individual units have targeting responsibilities that support and enhance AOC efforts and tactical level execution. Commanders, mission planners, and intelligence specialists within these units should ensure the validity and accuracy of the targeting information provided to them for mission planning purposes. This responsibility may include verifying ATO guidance, targeting coordinates, and adjudicating ATO errors or conflicts. Specific data provided to mission planners should be checked for integrity, including verification of target coordinates, elevations, weapon azimuths, and impact dive angles, fuzing instructions, collateral damage considerations, and target area graphics, when direct electronic transfer of such data is not possible or fails. Air and ground units realize significant benefits when working together to plan missions at the tactical level. Army ground liaison officers working with tactical air units can provide insight into ground component plans and coordinate directly with missions flown in support of ground commanders. Air liaison officers are aligned with tactical ground maneuver units and serve as advisors to ground commanders on targeting and other 23 For additional information on the AFFOR staff, see AFDP 3-0.1, Command and Control, and AFI 13-103, Air Component Headquarters AFFOR Staff Operations, Readiness, and Structures.