JP 3-60, page 65

The Joint Targeting Cycle II-35 e. The commander should be focused on the purpose of the fires with regard to creating effects against chosen targets. Effects are more than the results of the fires. Effects are the cumulative results of target engagements by lethal and nonlethal means. Once the target is engaged, the commander must assess the effectiveness of the engagement. If the desired effect was not created, the target may need to be reengaged or another method selected to create the effect. There are many different ways to categorize effects. One important distinction is between direct and indirect effects. (1) Direct effects are the immediate, first-order consequences of a military action (weapons employment results, etc.), unaltered by intervening events or mechanisms. They In the previous example, the joint force air component commander (JFACC) needs to preserve certain enemy airfields for friendly use after eliminating the enemy air threat, because current friendly forward air bases are not near enough for the desired level of support of impending ground operations. An undesired effect of friendly’s offensive counterair operations would be the destruction of runways at selected enemy airfields. In response to this, either the joint force commander’s (JFC’s) or JFACC’s operational limitations could include the constraint, enemy airfields A, B, and D must be able to support friendly air operations by D+10. Refer to Joint Publication 5- 0, Joint Operation Planning, for more information on the use of operational limitations during planning. In the following example, the joint force land component commander (JFLCC) designates two bridges that span Red River in the JFLCC’s area of operations as high-priority targets for attack in the next 24 hours (by D+8). The JFC approves the targets. The joint air operations center (JAOC) analyzes the targets, selects aimpoints, munitions, and platforms, and includes the missions on the air tasking order (ATO) for execution. Missions are flown the following day, and battle damage assessment indicates the bridges are damaged sufficiently to prevent foot and vehicle traffic, the typical desired effect for this type of target. 12 hours later the joint fires element (JFE) at the joint force headquarters tasks the JAOC to hit the targets again. When JAOC ATO planners ask for clarifications, the JFE explains that Red River—an interior line of communication for enemy forces—is a main supply route. Apparently enemy forces use river barges extensively for most classes of supply, including fuel and ammunition. The JFLCC had established the desired effect: enemy forces cannot resupply along Red River beginning D+8. But friendly ground forces are still conducting entry operations 100 kilometers from Red River, and are not in position to create this effect. JFLCC planners have determined that completely dropping all spans of the two bridges will result in an obstacle impassable to the river barges, thus creating the JFLCC’s desired effect. With this understanding, JAOC planners adjust the aimpoints and munitions to drop the spans of the two bridges, the target effect necessary to create the JFLCC’s desired effect, although 36 hours later than expected.