JP 3-60, page 31

II-1 CHAPTER II THE JOINT TARGETING CYCLE 1. General Activities a. Joint targeting is an integral part of joint operation planning and continues through publication of the campaign or contingency plan, OPORD, or fragmentary order. Detailed JIPOE and country assessments, performed by JFCs within their OAs, set the stage for detailed targeting within the joint targeting cycle. Many products used to support a contingency or military operation are developed, maintained, and continuously updated as foundational information for specific targets. b. The consideration of effects during joint operation planning helps establish a coherent relationship between objectives and tasks. During development of COAs and the CONOPS, understanding desired and undesired effects can help the JFC and staff refine the mission statement and the joint force components’ tasks. Once actions are taken against targets, the commander and staff assess the effectiveness of the actions. If there is no evidence that the desired effects were created, reengagement of the target may be necessary, or another method selected to create the desired effects. 2. Categories of Targeting and Targets a. The targeting process can be generally grouped into two categories: deliberate and dynamic. Neither is indicative of the target to be engaged but is more closely aligned with the planning phase in which the target is identified and prosecuted. Timing is the primary factor that determines whether deliberate or dynamic targeting will support the JFC’s targeting requirements (see Figure II-1). (1) Deliberate targeting normally supports the joint force’s future plans effort, which is overseen by the plans directorate of a joint staff (J-5). The timing of focus for this effort varies according to the level of command, type of operation, JFC’s desires, and other factors. (Normally, the future operations directorate focuses on 24 hours out to 72 hours. This is a critical linkage during targeting execution.) Typically the emphasis of the future plans effort is on planning the next phase of operations (sequels to the current operation). In a campaign, this could be planning the next major operation. “The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but a few calculations beforehand. Thus many calculations lead to victory and few calculations to defeat. It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War (circa 500 B.C.)