JP 3-60, page 113

The Targeting Assessment Process D-5 building. Assessments of NO DAMAGE or DESTROYED are easily defined and understandable. The difficulty comes in subjective judgment specifying the level of damage between these two extremes. Intermediate damage definitions are dependent on target type and the ease of assessing damage. For example, in buildings, LIGHT, MODERATE, and SEVERE damage is determined by the percent of the target area (building) damaged. In contrast, when assessing armored vehicles, only the DAMAGED category is used. Likewise, runways have more specific categories that include CRATERED, CUT, and INTERDICTED. In assessing physical damage, consider whether the enemy may have used camouflage, concealment, and deception techniques to either minimize or amplify the apparent extent of physical damage, obviously distorting the assessment. 4. In determining the level of physical damage, a confidence level is assigned to the assessment. The three terms used to identify confidence are CONFIRMED, PROBABLE, and POSSIBLE. Detailed information and definitions of these confidence levels, along with physical damage definitions for specific target elements, may be found in the DIA Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) Quick Guide. 5. Collateral damage is also assessed and reported during BDA. Collateral damage is unintentional or incidental injury or damage to persons or objects that would not be lawful military targets in the circumstances ruling at the time. Such damage is not unlawful so long as it is not excessive in light of the overall military advantage anticipated from the attack. 6. Initial reports that contribute to physical damage assessment are often based primarily on visual observation of the target and usually derived from a single source. Further analysis continues with all-source reporting resulting in further supplemental reports. Inputs come from aircrew MISREPs and debriefs, WSV, imagery, and other sources. The unit controlling the weapons system, as well as intelligence collection units that can see the damage, develop bomb damage assessment reports (BDAREPs). The command designated BDA cell is responsible for collating reports and making the final assessment. (b) BDA Phase II, Functional Damage/Change Assessment 1. Functional damage assessment is an estimate of the degradation or destruction of the functional/operational capability of a target to perform its intended mission. Functional assessments are inferred from the assessed physical damage and all- source intelligence information. This assessment must include an estimation of the time required for recuperation or replacement of the target’s function. BDA analysts need to compare the desired effect for the attack with the current status of the target to determine if the targeting effect was created. 2. Functional damage assessment reviews all physical damage assessments and amplifies the initial analysis. A key step in functional damage assessment is identifying and establishing the installation’s or target’s critical elements and their interconnectivity. If destroyed, a critical element will preclude an installation or system from functioning. Additionally, the targets normal level of operation must be quantified. If it is an industrial target, what does it produce? If it is a military installation, what basic