Mission
The Combat Plans Division applies operational art to develop detailed execution plans for air and space operations. As one of five divisions within the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), the CPD allows the CAOC to meet its mission as the primary command and control facility for Coalition air campaigns in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa (HOA).

Function
The CPD produces execution plans that integrate and synchronize specific air and space capabilities and assets, with the ground commander's intent in order to accomplish the Combined Forces Command mission. These plans are based on CFC objectives and distribution, the air operations directive, forces made available for the Combined Force Air Component Commander (CFACC) tasking and the operational environment. The end result is the publication and dissemination of the air tasking order and other planning and tasking documents.

Organization
The CPD is led by the director of combat plans and organized into four functionally oriented teams: Targeting Effects Team; Master Air Attack Plan team; Air Tasking Order Production team; and Command and Control (C2) Plans team.

The Targeting Effects Team ensures the daily target selection process reflects guidance from the Air Operations Directive and produces the daily draft Joint Integrated Prioritized Target List. They provide inputs into the CFACC's Component Prioritized Collection List and review both the restricted and no-strike target lists. They also validate targeting solutions desired point of impact selection - for kinetic and non-kinetic weapons to achieve desired effects.

The Master Air Attack Plan (MAAP) team develops the daily MAAP by matching air and space resources to effects-based requirements. The MAAP is the CFACC's prioritized flow of air assets, based on mission importance, timing and airspace to support ground goals and objectives. It synthesizes CFACC guidance, desired effects, supported component's priorities, available resources, and friendly and enemy capabilities. The MAAP team consists of operational representatives from all air and space power disciplines and coordinates with component, service, host nation and Coalition representatives.

The Air Tasking Order Production (ATO) team constructs, publishes, and disseminates the daily ATO, which tasks air and space capabilities and assets in accordance with the MAAP. The ATO production team merges Air Force, Navy, Marine, Army, and Coalition partners' air battle plans, along with the theater airspace plan, through the Theater Battle Management Corps System, into a single ATO with associated Airspace Coordination Order (ACO). The ATO/ACO provides the CFACC the means to control air assets within the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility.

The Command and Control (C2) Plans team is composed of four cells: C2 Communications cell; Air Defense Planning cell; Airspace Management Plannning cell; and Special Instructions (SPINS) cell. The team's function is directly related to the CFACC's roles as the Airspace Control Authority (ACA), Area Air Defense Commander (AADC), and Space Control Authority (SCA). C2 Plans works line-of-sight radar and communication limits, drafts C2 airspace deconfliction, or route conflict detection measures, and produces the daily, weekly and baseline Special Instructions (SPINS). These documents provide accurate and timely dissemination of the Iraq, Afghanistan, and HOA special instructions for combat operations. Additionally, the C2 Plans team is responsible for developing and distributing several other documents which are critical to the mission. 
March 2008