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Strategy Division

Mission

The Strategy Division (SRD) supports the achievement of theater objectives by developing, refining, disseminating, and assessing the Combined Force Air Component Commander's (CFACC) air and space strategy. As one of five divisions within the Combined Air Operations Center, the Strategy Division enables the CAOC to meet its mission as the primary command and control facility for Coalition air operations in the U.S. Central Command’s (USCENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR). 

Function
The Strategy Division represents the CFACC's core, long-range and near-term operational planning and assessment capability. The SRD conducts long-range planning by developing and maintaining the joint air operations plan (JAOP), and performs near-term planning primarily through the air operations directive (AOD) development process. The AOD provides guidance to the Combat Plans Division in producing the daily air tasking order, which directs the detailed execution of missions. At the operational level, SRD assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of air, space, and information operations and makes strategy recommendations to the CFACC. It is also the focal point within the CAOC for planning projects addressing future air and space activities and contingencies. 


Organization

The Strategy Division is led by the Chief of Strategy and is organized into four functionally oriented teams: Strategy Plans, Strategy Guidance, Operational Assessment and Non-Kinetic and Information Operations. Each team composition is tailored to fit mission demands. 

The Strategy Plans Team's (SPT) principal function is to develop and maintain operational-level, long-range joint air strategy that support the combined forces commander and CFACC objectives. During operation execution, the SPT operates in the 96-hours-and-beyond time frame. It can also act as the CFACC's action group for course-of-action development and strategy-related issues and special projects.

The Strategy Guidance Team is responsible for the CAOC's transition from operational-level to tactical-level planning and culminates in the weekly AOD and its daily supplement. The guidance provided is short-range, looking 24-hours to 10 days from execution. This team develops operational guidance, prioritizes operational and tactical objectives, and determines tactical allocation of aircraft.

The Operational Assessment Team operates within all aspects of strategy development and execution, focusing their efforts on evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of air, space, and information operations. This team produces operational assessments in a variety of formats, and supports the other SRD teams in developing guidance, plans, and the AOD.

The Non-Kinetic and Information Operations (NKIO) Team is comprised of Military Information Support Operations (MISO) and cyber planners, who work closely with electronic warfare, space  Special Technical Operations (STO) and military deception planners to incorporate information effects into theater air campaign plans. They coordinate with the NKIO Cell in the Combat Plans Division and the Special Technical Operations Cell in to plan synchronized Electronic Attack (EA), Electronic Support (ES) and Electronic Protection (EP) effects in order to affect communication systems across the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace. The team provides operational and tactical level NKIO guidance for JAOPs, AODs, and operational orders; coordinates information activities with other theater components; and provides Operational Security program management and active network monitoring for Air Forces Central Command. 

Updated July 2017