AFDP 3-60, page 18

Air Force Doctrine Publication 3-60, Targeting 15 aspects of airpower. Such coordination is essential for joint operations. In contested, degraded, and operationally limited (CDO-L) environments, units may continue operations and targeting responsibilities despite the lack of continuous communications with higher headquarters (HHQ). Subordinate commanders with the necessary authority, capability, and capacity to conduct the C2 process may be delegated authority to conduct operations. In this situation, subordinate commanders should ensure they operate in accordance with the air component commander’s targeting intent and within the bounds of issued constraints and restraints.24 DISTRIBUTED OPERATIONS, REACHBACK, AND FEDERATED SUPPORT To best manage the volume of targeting process requirements, the air component commander will arrange forces as required. The air component commander can internally arrange for distributed or split operations. If the requirements outpace internal capacity or if there are deficiencies in manpower and specialized expertise, the air component may request reachback support from other USAF organizations. However, to fully implement the targeting process, the air component should rely on a federated approach. Formal relationships for targeting support, through distributed operations, reachback, or federation, should be established and documented. Distributed operations. Distributed operations in support of targeting occur when independent or interdependent forces, some of which may be outside the JOA, participate in the operational planning or decision-making to accomplish missions and objectives for the commander. Forces conducting distributed operations should be assigned or attached to a CCDR. The design of a distributed operation should enable a more resilient C2 network capable of distributing tasks, information, and responsibilities. The commander may establish a formal supported or supporting relationship between distributed nodes. In other instances, distributed nodes may have a relationship permitting direct liaison or coordination. Theater manning limitations and force protection concerns, coupled with advanced communications capabilities and C2 systems, have driven and enabled air component commanders to conduct distributed operations more frequently.25 Split operations. Split operations are a type of distributed operation. The term describes distributed operations conducted by a single C2 entity across two or more geographic locations. A single commander should have oversight of all aspects of a split operation. For example, sections of the ATO may be developed from a rear area or backup operation center to reduce the deployed AOC footprint. In this case, the AOC is geographically separated and is a split operation. During split operations, the air component commander has the same degree of authority over geographically separated elements as over the deployed AFFOR and AOC. Reachback. Reachback is the process of obtaining products, services, applications, 24 For additional information on unit level targeting, see AFTTP 3-3.IPE, Integrated Planning and Employment, AFTTP 3-4.14, Contingency Intelligence Network (CIN), and Department of the Air Force Manual (DAFMAN) 14-401, Intelligence Analysis and Targeting Tradecraft. 25 For additional information on distributed operations, see AFDP 3-0, Operations, and JP 3-30, Joint Air Operations.