Institutional Affiliation(s)
Running Head: REFLECTION 1
REFLECTION 6
Reflection
Student’s Name(s)
Institutional Affiliation(s)
Reflection
Joint functions represent the interconnected capabilities and actions intertwined with assisting a Joint Force Commander (JFC) in integrating, analyzing, and directing critical joint operations. From the course, I have established the interrelation of join functions and the collective planning process since they collaborate to achieve a successful joint operation or a military campaign. At the initiation stage, the JFCs recognize the need for military employment to respond to a possible upcoming crisis. The joint function of Command and Control (C2) plays a significant role in helping the Joint Force Commanders to create the vision, guidance plan, and set sustainable goals for the Joint Force (JF). Command and Control induce authority to the JFCs over an assignment and the JFS for the mission achievement. A well-established C2 demonstrates higher performance at the initiation stage. Joint Functions ensure that the force’s capabilities are adequately integrated, represented, and utilized in the planning process.
Intelligence as a critical joint function enables the JFCs to comprehend the operational environment adequate, a significant fundamental for joint warfare. The feature is essential in the joint planning process since it assists the JCFs to visualize the battlefield environment and gain the superiority information. It is a critical function in the mission analysis by ensuring the Joint Force’s adherence to the Joint Force Commanders’ mission. Joint functions equip the JFCs with the facts and assumptions about an operational environment and analyze the limitations or possible collective operation challenges. By the intelligence Joint Function, the commanders develop an ability to estimate threats to the Joint Forces that may bring combat-related injuries, diseases, and non-combat casualties.
Importantly, Joint Functions develops the JFCs with a clear understanding of force-friendly employment by assessing the army to deploy in a mission or military campaign and deploy them to achieve the intended purpose and timing of the deployment. While planning mission analysis involves getting clear information relating to the operational environment which Joint Functions performs through detailed surveillance and investigation of diverse elements. Joint functions provide information that is necessary for the course of action (COA). Joint Function depicts the adequacy of the mission, feasibility, and balanced acceptability in terms of cost and risk associated with an execution (Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2017). For example, in the Iraq war of 2003-2011, the United States forces commander General David Petraeus significantly applied the C2 Joint Function to control the joint forces regarding the mission accomplishment. The Joint Forces Commanders of the army postulated a clear vision of the possible campaign in the joint planning to mitigate the insurgency and provide the Iraq State with a stable and sustainable internal and external force. Additionally, the JFCs in the Iraq campaign in 2003 to 2011 deployed troops at most populated local towns and cities to examine the battlespace operational environment and primarily comprehend the risks and insecurities associated with the operation. Indeed it is because of a thoroughly executed intelligence as the critical joint Function that insurgency had decreased in 2007. Also, the United States used the intelligence information obtained to plan on the Army deployment operations, which were executed in phases and by different levels of the Joint Forces.
Based on the lessons learned, my knowledge for joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational (JIIM) operations has significantly increased. I have established that they are primarily embedded in national defense interests by developing a security-based relationship. The JIIM operations are originally executed with an independent nation’s consent and a multinational organization, both prospecting a mutual objective. Importantly, the joint services assist a Joint Force Commander in examining the corporations and governments’ capabilities to develop an efficient security model that aims to stabilize the defense mechanisms. JIIM operations stand out individually to promote improved diplomatic relations for security improvement as the fundamental goal for the intergovernmental relations (Tomich, 2014). Thus, I strongly agree that the lesson has significantly developed my understanding of JIIM operations. For instance, in Iraq and Afghanistan, Joint Forces Commanders directs vast elements from other key stakeholders of the international security by responding to multinational directives and integrating campaign teams with the operations or activities of the United States government, its agencies, and its associate national governments and those of the NGOs. As a senior advisor in the instability, peace in all aspects and elements of the foreign interrelation would be my priority. It is essential to apply or execute JIIM operations by involving other governmental agencies and NGOs in conflict resolution and peace advocacy.
As a senior military leader, the most useful DJIIM subjects are creative thinking and strategic problem-solving. Creative thinking would help establish new approaches and strategies for solving conflicts and doing things in a different productive way. A leader stability operations face challenges, and an outdated approach would render the operation undoable and mission ineffective. Therefore, JIIM operations involve continuous creative thinking through inventions and innovations.
Under the strategic problem solving, a commander gains the ability to predict issues that subordinates might encounter, threatening the security and the well-being of the general international society. The subject articulates the need for negotiation and inclusivity of all critical global security stakeholders, such as government agencies, other governments, and the NGOs. It significantly equips a military leader or a future senior advisor with the necessary skills to recognize other associates’ inputs in achieving sustainable global peace. DJIIM establishes suggestions and approaches for various situations collaboratively with other key stakeholders.
Conclusively, this article encompasses my reflection on the entire knowledge gained from this course. Joint functions play a critical role in the command and control, and intelligence functions in the Joint Planning Process for the mission accomplishment. It helps clear the uncertainties in the operational environment for the success of a mission. Additionally, I have gained significant knowledge of the JIIM operations that would help in a military leader’s actual activities.
Reference
Joint Chiefs of Staff. (2017). Joint publication 5-0: Joint planning.
Tomich, D. J. (2014). Increasing JIIM Interoperability in the Security Cooperation Environment. US Army War College.