JP 3-60, page 9

vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY COMMANDER’S OVERVIEW • Provides an understanding of Targets and Targeting • Explains the Joint Targeting Cycle • Addresses Joint Force Targeting Duties and Responsibilities Understanding Targets and Targeting Targeting is the process of selecting and prioritizing targets and matching the appropriate response to them, considering operational requirements and capabilities. Joint targeting is a fundamental task of the fires function that encompasses many disciplines and requires participation from all joint force staff elements and components, along with various nonmilitary agencies. The primary purpose of joint targeting is to integrate and synchronize all weapon systems and capabilities. Target Description Targets should be logically and causally tied to objectives at all levels—strategic, operational, and tactical. A target is an entity (person, place, or thing) considered for possible engagement or action to alter or neutralize the function it performs for the adversary. A target’s operational importance is determined by conducting an assessment to determine if engaging the target is consistent with planned operations and will help achieve the commander’s objective(s) and the end state. Characteristics of Targets Every target has distinct intrinsic or acquired characteristics that form the basis for target detection, location, identification, and classification for ongoing and future surveillance, analysis, engagement, and assessment. Physical, functional, cognitive, environmental, and temporal are broad categories that help define the characteristics of a target. The purpose of targeting is to integrate and synchronize fires into joint operations by utilizing available capabilities to generate a specific lethal or nonlethal effect on a target. Targeting systematically analyzes and prioritizes targets and matches appropriate lethal and nonlethal actions to those targets to create specific desired effects that achieve the joint force commander’s (JFC’s) objectives, accounting for operational requirements, capabilities, and the results of previous assessments. The emphasis of targeting is on identifying resources (targets) the enemy can