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                           Chapter 3


                          TODAY'S ISSUES


3001.   JOINT FORCE AIR COMPONENT COMMANDER

a.   Last May, the Air Farce distributed a letter on the subject
to its major commands and key officers in joint assignments.
The apparent purpose of the letter was to educate readers on the
details of the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC)
concept approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1986.   The
letter described a unified command functional arrangement option,
provided interpretation of JFACC provisions from both Air Force
and ascribed Naval Services' vieTjpoints, and encouraged Air Force
commanders and joint planners to pursue institutionalization of
the JFACC option in joint and combined command arrangements and
operational plans.   Based on a number of reports and inquiries
from Navy and Marine Corps commands, the letter appears to have
stimulated a concerted effort in the direction encouraged.   These
communications also have been consistent in expressing concern
over perceived interpretations, selective applications, or
rephrased provisions of jointly approved concepts and doctrines.

b.   The complexity and importance of joint operations dictate
that Marines and Airmen alike understand the specifics of ap-
proved doctrine, understand the differ~ng philosophies of force
employment between the two Services, and are able to articulate
the capabilities of each Service to employ its forces in support
of joint force objectives.   To this end, JCS actions in recent
years have approved joint doctrine Service procedures and doc-
trine which are compatible with joint force employment concepts
and have established or affirmed command relationships designed
to capitalize on individual Service capabilities.   The 1986
Omnibus Agreement for employment of Marine air-ground task force
(MAGTF)  aviation in sustained operations ashore and the JFACC
concept available to a Joint Force Commander (JFC)  are illustra-
tive of such JCS actions.

C.   This section conveys information about and affirms the Marine
Corps position of support for the JFACC concept.   It also pro-
vides a comparison of the differing but operationally compatible
Air Force and Marine Corps philosophies of force employment.

d.   The doctrinal framework for employment of a MAGTF is the
effective integration of combined arms for combat operations at
the tactical level.   Marine Corps structure is derived from law,
which establishes a Corps to provide  ~.. forces of combined arms,
together with supporting air components,  for service with the
fleet..", and for "...such other such duties as the President

                                3-1

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