Major Dolly J. P. Hutagalung/Flight 13/JO-600E/July 30, 2023
“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything,” said Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States.[i] It describes planning as important, especially for military operations. The United States Air Force, as part of the Joint Task Force, has its own way of delivering planning with the Joint Planning Process for Air. According to Air Force doctrine, joint planning is the deliberate process of figuring out how to implement strategic directives-specifically, how to deploy military capabilities in time and space to achieve goals while assuming a manageable degree of risk.[ii] Knowing the JPPA will enlighten the airmen, especially the benefits for the Air Force officers as individuals and collectively.
Learning
JPPA will directly affect all Air Force officers as individuals. In the eyes of
its members, the primary purpose of the Air Force is to apply airpower.[iii] The
JPPA doctrine is part of airpower and will enrich the knowledge of airmen,
especially regarding joint air operations. This knowledge will make airmen
distinguish themselves from other service members and become one characteristic
of the Air Force officers. Moreover, when Air Force Officers are knowledgeable
about joint air operations, they can educate their unit members and communicate
airpower language to other service members. Besides, the Field Grade Officers
will have a big chance to be planners for the Joint Air Operations one day;
therefore, JPPA doctrine is a mandatory skill set. The doctrine is like a
compass; it will guide the officers during the planning process in the correct
direction.
Understanding
the JPPA doctrine will positively impact the airmen collectively. If every Air
Force officer knew and understood the Joint Planning Process holistically, it
would make solid implementation, from planning until execution. Planning
should account for communication requirements in poor environments at all
operational levels and stages.[iv]
The communication phase will be easier and faster when every airman understands
joint operations. With a deep understanding of the JPPA doctrine, the Air Force
officers can exchange ideas and give constructive feedback to develop the
doctrine better. Moreover, the joint planning process involves other service
branches, United States allies, and partners in the global theatre. The Air
Force JJPA understanding sphere becomes insurance to ensure proper joint air
operation. All these conditions will increase the mission’s success percentages
and can mitigate the risk of operation.
To
conclude, planning is essential for every activity, particularly the military,
during training and operation. As Sun Tzu thought, the study and analysis of
war, which is of utmost importance to the state, and an effort to create a
rationale for the planning and execution of military operations are required.[v] Therefore,
the Air Force must polish its joint planning doctrine for the airmen; moreover,
the Air Force officers should have knowledge about the JPPA doctrine. Learning
JPPA will significantly increase the ability of Air Force officers individually and
collectively. Furthermore, the JPPA doctrine should continually transform according
to current developments so that airmen have the best planning to
execute joint air operations globally.
Notes
I wish to thank our Academic Advisor, Dr. Paul Springer, Major Mark Muller, Indonesian Air Force officers, and all students of Flight 13 for their thoughtful comments and suggestions. All errors found therein are my own.
[iii]. Air Force Doctrine Publication (AFDP) 1. The Air Force (PDF), March 10, 2021, 6.
[iv]. Joint Publication (JP) 3-30. Joint Air Operations (PDF), September 17, 2021, xiii.
[v]. Samuel B. Griffith, "Preface," in Sun Tzu the Art of War (New York: Oxford University Press, 1971), x.
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