Joint Maneuver and Fires Coordination Board: Does the Joint Targeting Coordination Board Need to Evolve?

Joint and service doctrines stress the importance of closely integrating maneuver and fires as complementary operations to maximize their synergistic effect. Joint doctrine provides for joint planning and liaisons to ensure total effectiveness of the joint force. However, if there is a breakdown in the joint planning or liaison efforts, this can create potential seams or sanctuaries the enemy can exploit. The Joint Targeting Coordination Board (JTCB) provides an oversight mechanism for the joint force commander (JFC) to potentially catch any planning and liaison breakdowns or disconnects, but, doctrinally, the JTCB focuses primarily only upon fires. Joint doctrine does not provide the JFC with an oversight mechanism for both maneuver and fires. Specifically, the JTCB, as described in JP 3-60, "Joint Doctrine for Targeting", does not go far enough in providing the JFC the appropriate level of oversight to minimize potential seams and sanctuaries, while keeping the forces responsive to unanticipated actions. The creation of a Joint Maneuver and Fires Coordination Board would help ensure the integration and synchronization of maneuvers and fires within joint operations. Operations Desert Storm and Anaconda provide studies where a JMFCB might have improved integration by catching disconnects earlier in the planning and execution process.