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----------------------------------------------------------------The Navy Public Affairs Library (NAVPALIB)A service of the Navy Office of Information, Washington DCSend feedback/questions to navpalib@opnav-emh.navy.mil----------------------------------------------------------------Department of the Navy Policy Paper"...From the Sea" UpdateJOINT OPERATIONSMay 1993 Today, America's National Military Strategy is predicated onlimited and regional warfare against medium sized powers ratherthan global war with another superpower. Successful applicationof military power in these conflicts requires rapid response byjoint forces precisely tailored to meet specific mission orregional requirements. The challenge facing U.S. defense plannersis to provide forces which are both flexible and sufficientlycapable to dominate conflict over a broad array of scenarios.Restructuring U.S. military forces to meet these contemporarychallenges -- both in shape and size -- requires full andcontinuous cooperation between the Services. "...From the Sea" -- the new strategy of the Naval Service --marks a return to traditional expeditionary roles for both theNavy and Marine Corps. It is a marked change from the scope ofglobal conflict envisioned under the Maritime Strategy during theCold War -- a strategy which required independent, "blue water,open ocean" naval operations on the flanks of the Soviet Union.By restricting enemy access to the open sea, thereby protectingvital sea lines of communication, our naval forces were to provideimportant but indirect support to the land campaign. Today, the absence of a global naval threat has virtuallyeliminated the need to conduct separate, independent navaloperations far at sea. Our operational focus has shifted tolittoral warfare and direct support of ground operations. Byexploiting their access to littoral regions, naval forces enablethe introduction of heavier follow-on forces from our otherservices. Littoral warfare in direct support of ground fighting bringsnaval forces squarely into the joint warfighting arena. "...Fromthe Sea" clearly states that Joint Operations -- or "Jointness" --is an essential element of every military operation: "This strategic direction, derived from the National SecurityStrategy, represents a fundamental shift from open-oceanwarfighting on the sea toward joint operations from the sea." Naval Operations in littoral regions transform the classicAir-Land battle into a Sea-Air-Land-Space battle. This confluenceof complex environmental and warfighting challenges demandsspecialized warfare skills, available only through a completelyintegrated joint force. This paper addresses recent and on-going Navy and MarineCorps initiatives designed to implement the concepts embodied in"...From the Sea" in the area of Joint Operations.
 
 JOINT OPERATIONS The Navy and Marine Corps are actively re-defining navalroles in joint operations. The recent (May 1992) USCINCLANTExercise OCEAN VENTURE demonstrated improved integration of jointforces and showcased doctrinal changes. Navy flag officersemployed innovative procedures and new equipment to commandseveral key components of the Joint Task Force at sea and on land.For the first time, the Navy deployed a flexible and robustcommand and control facility ashore which permitted the navalforce commander to command forces at sea from alongside the JointTask Force Commander Ashore. This significantly enhancedcoordination of direct naval support to the ongoing jointoperation. Similarly, the USCINCEUR Exercise ELLIPSE BRAVO, conducted inJune 1992, was a contemporary exercise designed to test ourability to assemble rapidly a Joint Task Force to conduct anemergency evacuation operation. A 22,000 strong Army, Air Force,Navy and Marine Corps Joint force, led by Commander, Sixth Fleet,was completely established within 48 hours. Initially organizedashore, this staff subsequently shifted to an afloat command ship,maintaining effective continuity of command throughout. Duringthis shift, the Air Force General, designated as the Joint ForceAir Component Commander (JFACC), and his staff proved theirability to operate successfully at sea on an aircraft carrier. In July, 1992, during USCINCPAC Exercise TANDEM THRUST,Commander, Third Fleet led a 15,000 man joint force consisting ofland, sea and air forces in the Eastern Pacific. The Joint TaskForce Staff, embarked in the admiral,s flagship, exercised overallcontrol in the exercise which culminated in naval amphibiouslandings and Army airborne assaults. Significantly, the JFACC forthis exercise -- an Air Force general -- coordinated all airoperations remotely from the continental US. The U. S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) has become a model forintegrated, joint warfighting cooperation. Operations in CENTCOMhave spawned new levels of joint understanding, cooperation,efficiency and combat effectiveness. Today, an Air Forcecomposite wing shares the burden of enforcing "No Fly" zones inIraq with their Navy and Marine Corps counterparts. Army, MarineCorps and Special Operations Forces exercise together on a routinebasis. Navy ships enforce U.N. sanctions with maritimesurveillance assistance from Air Force AWACS aircraft. TheUSCENTCOM environment provides an ideal laboratory to developjoint concepts and conduct joint training. For example, during aUSCENTCOM exercise in the Persian Gulf in early 1992, an afloatJFACC successfully developed, planned and executed a mini-aircampaign which included a simulated strike mission with over 70Navy and Air Force aircraft. The value of this joint training hasdemonstrated again in January, 1993 when joint strike operationswere conducted against Iraq as a result of Saddam Hussein'sfailure to comply with United Nations resolutions. Navy led counter-drug Joint Task Forces (JTFs) in theCaribbean and Eastern Pacific offer additional examples of
 
routine, integrated joint operations. These JTFs exploit Navycapabilities in air and open ocean surveillance as well asCommand, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I). Navyships, maritime patrol and airborne radar aircraft operate in anintegrated network with assets from other services and federalagencies. Coast Guard teams operate from Navy ships to board,search and, if necessary, seize vessels smuggling narcotics. JOINT COMMUNICATIONS Over the past ten years, significant progress has been madein establishing standardized procedures and procurement ofinteroperable systems for joint communications. However,occasional interoperability problems still arise, especially inhighly specialized communications systems. For example, theformat and medium used to transmit the daily Air Tasking Orders(ATO) during Operation DESERT STORM were not compatible with navalcommunications systems. While an interim solution was affectedduring the Gulf War, permanent correction of this problem became apriority post-war joint project. In recent joint exercises, shipsat sea have demonstrated the capability to receive and transmitelectronically a DESERT STORM-sized ATO in less than five minutes.Today all deploying aircraft carriers are configured with thiscapability. Other carriers have been partially modified to permita complete installation in less than 24 hours. Procurement planshave been altered to ensure all amphibious assault ships and allaircraft carriers are permanently equipped with this vitalcapability. NAVY ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES Navy Staff Changes: In July of 1992, the staff of the Chiefof Naval Operations was reorganized to "mirror image" thestructure and functions of the Joint Staff. As part of thischange, the new Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources,Warfare Requirements and Assessment has established six "JointMission Assessment Areas." Under this system, Navy procurementprograms are scrutinized and evaluated against their specificcontributions to joint warfighting. This reorganization has alsoeliminated traditional barriers between individual naval warfarecommunities. Naval Doctrine Command: Common doctrine is essential towarfighting efficiency and success in any joint operation.Previous efforts to standardize joint terminology, procedures anddoctrinal development were managed by fleet and Navy staffs.These efforts, while well intended, were decentralized and lackedcohesion. To remedy this situation, the Naval Doctrine Commandwill be established early in 1993. Alternating command betweenNavy admirals and Marine Corps generals, this organization will bethe central point of contact for developing concepts andintegrating naval doctrine into joint warfighting doctrine. Adaptive Joint Force Packaging (AJFP): The Navy and MarineCorps are working closely with the Joint Staff to develop betterways to organize, train and deploy joint forces for day-to-daypresence overseas. This concept will provide Unified Commanderswith joint forces specifically tailored, trained and deployed to
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