US Army Dictionary of Military Terms

programs and to maintain data (as required) pertaining to recovery, identification, and disposition of all US dead and missing in the assigned theater. Serves as the central clearing point for all mortuary affairs and monitors the deceased and missing personal effects program. Also called JMAO. See also mortuary affairs; personal effects.

(JP 4-06)

joint movement center — The center established to coordinate the employment of all means of transportation (including that provided by allies or host nations) to support the concept of operations. This coordination is accomplished through establishment of transportation policies within the assigned operational area, consistent with relative urgency of need, port and terminal capabilities, transportation asset availability, and priorities set by a joint force commander. Also called JMC. See also concept of operations. (JP 4-0)

joint multi-channel trunking and switching system — That composite multi-channel trunking and switching system formed from assets of the Services, the Defense Information Systems Agency, other available systems, and/or assets controlled by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide an operationally responsive, survivable communication system, preferably in a mobile, transportable, and/or recoverable configuration, for the joint force commander in an operational area.

Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual-Special Operations — A publication providing a single, comprehensive source of information covering weapon effectiveness, selection, and requirements for special operations munitions. In addition, the closely related fields of weapon characteristics and effects, target characteristics, and target vulnerability are treated in limited detail

required by the mission planner. Although emphasis is placed on weapons that are currently in the inventory, information is also included for some weapons not immediately available but projected for the near future. Also called JMEM-SO. (JP 3-05.5)

joint nuclear accident coordinating center

— A combined Defense Special Weapons Agency and Department of Energy centralized agency for exchanging and maintaining information concerned with radiological assistance capabilities and coordinating that assistance in response to an accident or incident involving radioactive materials. Also called JNACC.

joint operation planning — Planning for contingencies that can reasonably be anticipated in an area of responsibility or joint operations area of the command. Planning activities exclusively associated with the preparation of operation plans, operation plans in concept format, campaign plans, and operation orders (other than the Single Integrated Operational Plan) for the conduct of military operations by the combatant commanders in response to requirements established by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint operation planning is coordinated at the national level to support Secretary of Defense Contingency Planning Guidance, strategic requirements in the National Military Strategy, and emerging crises. As such, joint operation planning includes mobilization planning, deployment planning, employment planning, sustainment planning, and redeployment planning procedures. Joint operation planning is performed in accordance with formally established planning and execution procedures. See also contingency plan; execution planning; implementation planning; Joint Operation Planning and Execution

System; joint operation planning process. (JP 5-0)

Joint Operation Planning and Execution System — A system that provides the foundation for conventional command and control by nationaland combatant command-level commanders and their staffs. It is designed to satisfy their information needs in the conduct of joint planning and operations. Joint Operation Planning and Execution System (JOPES) includes joint operation planning policies, procedures, and reporting structures supported by communications and automated data processing systems. JOPES is used to monitor, plan, and execute mobilization, deployment, employment, sustainment, and redeployment activities associated with joint operations. Also called JOPES. See also joint operation planning; joint operations. (JP 5-00.1)

joint operation planning process — A coordinated Joint Staff procedure used by a commander to determine the best method of accomplishing assigned tasks and to direct the action necessary to accomplish the mission. See also joint operation planning; Joint Operation Planning and Execution System. (JP 5-0)

joint operations — A general term to describe military actions conducted by joint forces or by Service forces in relationships (e.g., support, coordinating authority) which, of themselves, do not create joint forces. (JP 0-2)

joint operations area — An area of land, sea, and airspace, defined by a geographic combatant commander or subordinate unified commander, in which a joint force commander (normally a joint task force commander) conducts military operations to accomplish a specific mission. Joint operations areas are particularly useful

when operations are limited in scope and geographic area or when operations are to be conducted on the boundaries between theaters. Also called JOA. See also area of responsibility; joint special operations area. (JP 0-2)

joint operations center — A jointly manned facility of a joint force commander’s headquarters established for planning, monitoring, and guiding the execution of the commander’s decisions. Also called

JOC.

joint patient movement requirements center — A joint force health service support center under the control of the subordinate joint force surgeon, established to coordinate and control, in terms of identifying bed space requirements, the movement of patients within and out of the joint operations area. The joint patient movement requirements center also generates subordinate joint force commander (JFC) plans and schedules to evacuate the subordinate JFC’s patients to medical treatment facilities in accordance with the supported combatant commander’s theater patient movement requirements center theater plans and schedules for movement of the patient to the medical treatment facility. Also called JPMRC.

See also health service support; joint force surgeon; joint operations area; medical treatment facility; patient.

(JP 5-00.2)

joint personnel training and tracking activity — The continental US center established (upon request of the supported combatant commander) to facilitate the reception, accountability, processing, training, and onward movement of both military and civilian individual augmentees preparing for overseas movement to support a joint military operation. Also called JPTTA. (JP 1-0)

joint planning and execution community

— Those headquarters, commands, and agencies involved in the training, preparation, movement, reception, employment, support, and sustainment of military forces assigned or committed to a theater of operations or objective area. It usually consists of the Joint Staff, Services, Service major commands (including the Service wholesale logistic commands), unified commands (and their certain Service component commands), subunified commands, transportation component commands, joint task forces (as applicable), Defense Logistics Agency, and other Defense agencies (e.g., Defense Intelligence Agency) as may be appropriate to a given scenario. Also called JPEC. (JP 5-0)

joint planning group — A joint force planning organization consisting of designated representatives of the joint force headquarters principal and special staff sections, joint force components (Service and/or functional), and other supporting organizations or agencies as deemed necessary by the joint force commander (JFC). Joint planning group membership should be a long-term assignment and members should be designated spokespersons for their respective sections or organizations. Responsibilities and authority of the joint planning group are assigned by the JFC. Normally headed by the joint force chief planner, joint planning group responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, crisis action planning (to include course of action development and refinement), coordination of joint force operation order development, and planning for future operations (e.g., transition, termination, follow-on). Also called JPG.

See also course of action development; crisis action planning; joint operation planning. (JP 5-00.2)

joint psychological operations task force —

A joint special operations task force composed of headquarters and operational assets. It assists the joint force commander in developing strategic, operational, and tactical psychological operation plans for a theater campaign or other operations. Mission requirements will determine its composition and assigned or attached units to support the joint task force commander. Also called JPOTF. See also joint special operations task force; psychological operations; special operations. (JP 3-05.1)

joint publication — A publication containing joint doctrine and/or joint tactics, techniques, and procedures that involves the employment of forces prepared under the cognizance of Joint Staff directorates and applicable to the Military Departments, combatant commands, and other authorized agencies. It is approved by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in coordination with the combatant commands and Services. Also called JP. See also

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Manual; joint doctrine; joint tactics, techniques, and procedures; joint test publication. (JP 1-01)

joint readiness — See readiness.

joint rear area — A specific land area within a joint force commander’s operational area designated to facilitate protection and operation of installations and forces supporting the joint force. Also called JRA.

See also joint force; joint force commander; rear area. (JP 3-10)

joint rear area coordinator — The officer with responsibility for coordinating the overall security of the joint rear area in accordance with joint force commander directives and priorities in order to assist in

providing a secure environment to facilitate sustainment, host-nation support, infrastructure development, and movements of the joint force. The joint rear area coordinator also coordinates intelligence support and ensures that area management is practiced with due consideration for security requirements. Also called JRAC. (JP 3-10)

joint rear area operations — Those operations in the joint rear area that facilitate protection or support of the joint force. See also joint force; joint rear area; rear area.

(JP 3-10)

joint rear tactical operations center — A joint operations cell tailored to assist the joint rear area coordinator in meeting mission responsibilities. Also called JRTOC. (JP 3-10)

joint reception center — The center established in the operational area (per direction of the joint force commander), with responsibility for the reception, accountability, training, processing, of military and civilian individual augmentees upon their arrival in the operational area. Also the center where augmentees will normally be outprocessed through upon departure from the operational area. Also called JRC. (JP 4-01.8)

joint reception complex — The group of nodes (air and/or sea) designated by the supported combatant command, in coordination with the host nation and United States Transportation Command, that receives, processes, services, supports, and facilitates onward movement of personnel, equipment, materiel, and units deploying into, out of, or within a theater line of communications. See also group; node. (JP 4-01.8)

joint reception, staging, onward movement, and integration — A phase of joint force

projection occurring in the operational area. This phase comprises the essential processes required to transition arriving personnel, equipment, and materiel into forces capable of meeting operational requirements. Also called JRSOI. See also integration; joint force; reception; staging. (JP 4-01.8)

joint regional defense command — A joint task force headquarters formed on order of the Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Command within designated continental United States (CONUS) multistate regions, to command and control

(1) execution of land defense of CONUS; and (2) military assistance to civil authority missions. (JP 3-57)

joint restricted frequency list — A time and geographically-oriented listing of TABOO, PROTECTED, and GUARDED functions, nets, and frequencies. It should be limited to the minimum number of frequencies necessary for friendly forces to accomplish objectives. Also called JRFL. See also electronic warfare; guarded frequencies; protected frequencies; TABOO frequencies. (JP 3-51)

joint search and rescue center — A primary search and rescue facility suitably staffed by supervisory personnel and equipped for planning, coordinating, and executing joint search and rescue and combat search and rescue operations within the geographical area assigned to the joint force. The facility is operated jointly by personnel from two or more Service or functional components or it may have a multinational staff of personnel from two or more allied or coalition nations (multinational search and rescue center). The joint search and rescue center should be staffed equitably by trained personnel drawn from each joint force component, including US Coast Guard participation where practical. Also called

JSRC. See also combat search and

rescue; joint search and rescue center director; rescue coordination center; search and rescue. (JP 3-50.2)

joint search and rescue center director —

The designated representative with overall responsibility for operation of the joint search and rescue center. See also combat search and rescue; joint search and rescuecenter;searchandrescue. (JP3-50.2)

joint servicing — That function performed by a jointly staffed and financed activity in support of two or more Military Services. See also servicing.

joint special operations air component commander — The commander within the joint force special operations command responsible for planning and executing joint special air operations and for coordinating and deconflicting such operations with conventional nonspecial operations air activities. The joint special operations air component commander normally will be the commander with the preponderance of assets and/or greatest ability to plan, coordinate, allocate, task, control, and support the assigned joint special operations aviation assets. The joint special operations air component commander may be directly subordinate to the joint force special operations component commander or to any nonspecial operations component or joint force commander as directed. Also called JSOACC. (JP 3-05.3)

joint special operations area — A restricted area of land, sea, and airspace assigned by a joint force commander to the commander of a joint special operations force to conduct special operations activities. The commander of joint special operations forces may further assign a specific area or sector within the joint special operations area to a subordinate commander for mission execution. The scope and duration of the special operations forces’ mission,

friendly and hostile situation, and politico-military considerations all influence the number, composition, and sequencing of special operations forces deployed into a joint special operations area. It may be limited in size to accommodate a discrete direct action mission or may be extensive enough to allow a continuing broad range of unconventional warfare operations. Also called JSOA. (JP 3-05.3)

joint special operations task force — Ajoint task force composed of special operations units from more than one Service, formed to carry out a specific special operation or prosecute special operations in support of a theater campaign or other operations. The joint special operations task force may have conventional non-special operations units assigned or attached to support the conduct of specific missions. Also called JSOTF. (JP 3-05)

joint specialty officer or joint specialist —

An officer on the active duty list who is particularly trained in, and oriented toward, joint matters. Also called JSO.

joint staff — 1. The staff of a commander of a unified or specified command, subordinate unified command, joint task force, or subordinate functional component (when a functional component command will employ forces from more than one Military Department), that includes members from the several Services comprising the force. These members should be assigned in such a manner as to ensure that the commander understands the tactics, techniques, capabilities, needs, and limitations of the component parts of the force. Positions on the staff should be divided so that Service representation and influence generally reflect the Service composition of the force. 2. (capitalized as Joint Staff) The staff under the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as provided for in the National Security Act

of 1947, as amended by the GoldwaterNichols Department of Defense ReorganizationAct of 1986. The Joint Staff assists the Chairman and, subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Chairman and the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out their responsibilities. Also called JS. See also staff. (JP 0-2)

Joint Staff doctrine sponsor — The sponsor for a joint doctrine or joint tactics, techniques, and procedures (JTTP) project. Each joint doctrine or JTTP project will be assigned a Joint Staff doctrine sponsor (JSDS). The JSDS will assist the lead agent and primary review authority as requested and directed. The JSDS will coordinate the draft document with the Joint Staff and provide Joint Staff comments and recommendations to the primary review authority. The JSDS will receive the revised draft from the lead agent, and process the preliminary coordination and final coordination (and test publications, if applicable) for approval. Also called JSDS.

See also joint doctrine; joint tactics, techniques, and procedures. (JP 1-01)

joint state area command — A joint task force headquarters formed on order of Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Command, within existing state boundaries to command and control United States and federalized state elements designated to execute land defense of the continental United States, military support to civil defense, and military assistance to civil authority missions. See also joint regional defense command. (JP 3-57)

Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan — The Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP) provides guidance to the combatant commanders and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to accomplish task and missions based on current military capabilities. It apportions resources to combatant commanders based

on military capabilities resulting from completed program and budget actions and intelligence assessments. The JSCP provides a coherent framework for capabilities-based military advice provided to the National Command Authorities. Also called JSCP. See also combatant commander; joint. (JP 1-0)

Joint Strategic Planning System — The primary means by which the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in consultation with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the combatant commanders, carries out the statutory responsibilities to assist the President and Secretary of Defense in providing strategic direction to the Armed Forces; prepares strategic plans; prepares and reviews contingency plans; advises the President and Secretary of Defense on requirements, programs, and budgets; and provides net assessment on the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the United States and its allies as compared with those of their potential adversaries. Also called JSPS.

joint suppression of enemy air defenses —

A broad term that includes all suppression of enemy air defense activities provided by one component of the joint force in support of another. Also called J-SEAD. See also air defense suppression; suppression of enemy air defenses. (JP 3-01.4)

joint table of allowances — A document that authorizes end-items of materiel for units operated jointly by two or more military assistance advisory groups and missions. Also called JTA.

joint table of distribution — A manpower document that identifies the positions and enumerates the spaces that have been approved for each organizational element of a joint activity for a specific fiscal year (authorization year), and those spaces which have been accepted for planning and

programming purposes for the four subsequent fiscal years (program years). Also called JTD. See also joint manpower program.

Joint Tactical Air Reconnaissance/ Surveillance Mission Report — A preliminary report of information from tactical reconnaissance aircrews rendered by designated debriefing personnel immediately after landing and dispatched prior to compilation of the initial photo interpretation report. It provides a summary of the route conditions, observations, and aircrew actions and identifies sensor products. Also called MISREP.

joint tactics, techniques, and procedures —

The actions and methods that implement joint doctrine and describe how forces will be employed in joint operations. They are authoritative; as such, joint tactics, techniques, and procedures will be followed except when, in the judgment of the commander, exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise. They will be promulgated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in coordination with the combatant commands and Services. Also called JTTP. See also joint doctrine.

(JP 1-01)

joint targeting coordination board — A group formed by the joint force commander to accomplish broad targeting oversight functions that may include but are not limited to coordinating targeting information, providing targeting guidance and priorities, and refining the joint integrated prioritized target list. The board is normally comprised of representatives from the joint force staff, all components, and if required, component subordinate units. Also called JTCB. See also joint integrated prioritized target list. (JP 3-60)

joint targeting steering group — A group formed by a combatant commander to assist

in developing targeting guidance and reconciling competing requests for assets from multiple joint task forces. Also called

JTSG. See also group; joint; targeting.

(JP 3-60)

joint target list — A consolidated list of selected targets considered to have military significance in the combatant commander’s area of responsibility. Also called JTL. See also joint; target. (JP 3-60)

joint task force — A joint force that is constituted and so designated by the Secretary of Defense, a combatant commander, a subunified commander, or an existing joint task force commander. Also called JTF. (JP 0-2)

Joint Technical Coordinating Group for Munitions Effectiveness — A Joint Stafflevel organization tasked to produce generic target vulnerability and weaponeering studies. The special operations working group is a subordinate organization specializing in studies for special operations. Also called JTCG-ME. (JP 3-05.5)

joint test publication — A proposed version of a joint doctrine or joint tactics, techniques, and procedures publication that normally contains contentious issues and is nominated for a test publication and evaluation stage. Joint test publications are approved for evaluation by the Director, Operational Plans and Interoperability (J-7), Joint Staff. Publication of a test publication does not constitute Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff approval of the publication. Prior to final approval as joint doctrine, test publications are expected to be further refined based upon evaluation results. Test publications are automatically superseded upon completion of the evaluation and promulgation of the proposed publication. See also Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

Staff Instruction; joint doctrine; joint

publication; joint tactics, techniques, and procedures. (JP 1-01)

joint theater missile defense — The integration of joint force capabilities to destroy enemy theater missiles in flight or prior to launch or to otherwise disrupt the enemy’s theater missile operations through an appropriate mix of mutually supportive passive missile defense; active missile defense; attack operations; and supporting command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence measures. Enemy theater missiles are those that are aimed at targets outside the continental United States. Also called JTMD. (JP 3-01.5)

joint total asset visibility — The capability designed to consolidate source data from a variety of joint and Service automated information systems to provide joint force commanders with visibility over assets instorage, in-process, and in-transit. Also called JTAV. See also total asset visibility.

(JP 4-01.8)

Joint Transportation Board — Responsible to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Transportation Board assures that common-user transportation resources assigned or available to the Department of Defense (DOD) are allocated as to achieve maximum benefit in meeting DOD objectives. Also called JTB. See also common-user transportation. (JP 4-01)

joint urban operations — All joint operations planned and conducted across the range of military operations on or against objectives on a topographical complex and its adjacent natural terrain where manmade construction or the density of noncombatants are the dominant

features. Also called JUOs. See also joint operations. (JP 3-0)

joint warfighting capabilities assessment —

A team of warfighting and functional area experts from the Joint Staff, unified commands, Services, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Defense agencies tasked by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council with completing assessments and providing military recommendations to improve joint warfighting capabilities. Also called JWCA.

Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System — The sensitive, compartmented information portion of the Defense Information Systems Network. It incorporates advanced networking technologies that permit point-to-point or multipoint information exchange involving voice, text, graphics, data, and video teleconferencing. Also called JWICS. (JP 2-0)

joint zone (air, land, or sea) — An area established for the purpose of permitting friendly surface, air, and subsurface forces to operate simultaneously.

join up — (*) To form separate aircraft or groups of aircraft into a specific formation.

jumpmaster — The assigned airborne qualified individual who controls paratroops from the time they enter the aircraft until they exit. See also stick commander (air transport).

jump speed — The airspeed at which paratroops can jump with comparative safety from an aircraft.

K-day — The basic date for the introduction of a convoy system on any particular convoy lane. See also D-day; M-day.

key employee — Any Reservist identified by his or her employer, private or public, as filling a key position.

key facilities list — A register of selected command installations and industrial facilities of primary importance to the support of military operations or military production programs. It is prepared under the policy direction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

key point — (*) A concentrated site or installation, the destruction or capture of which would seriously affect the war effort or the success of operations.

key position — A civilian position, public or private (designated by the employer and approved by the Secretary concerned), that cannot be vacated during war or national emergency.

keystone publications — Joint doctrine publications that establish the doctrinal foundation for a series of joint publications in the hierarchy of joint publications. Keystone publications are provided for joint personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, plans, and command, control, communications, and computer systems support series publications. See also above- the-line publications; below-the-line publications; capstone publication; joint publication. (JP 1-01)

key terrain — (*) Any locality, or area, the seizure or retention of which affords a marked advantage to either combatant. See also vital ground.

kill box — A three-dimensional area reference that enables timely, effective coordination and control and facilitates rapid attacks. (JP 3-60)

killed in action — A casualty category applicable to a hostile casualty, other than the victim of a terrorist activity, who is killed outright or who dies as a result of wounds or other injuries before reaching a medical treatment facility. Also called KIA. See also casualty category.

killing zone — An area in which a commander plans to force the enemy to concentrate so as to be destroyed with conventional weapons or the tactical employment of nuclear weapons.

kill probability — (*) A measure of the probability of destroying a target.

kiloton weapon — (*) A nuclear weapon, the yield of which is measured in terms of thousands of tons of trinitrotoluene explosive equivalents, producing yields from 1 to 999 kilotons. See also megaton weapon; nominal weapon; subkiloton weapon.

kite — (*) In naval mine warfare, a device which when towed, submerges and planes at a predetermined level without sideways displacement.