Air Operations Center - AOC

Question 1

AOC / JAOC / CAOC

Answer 1

AOC - USAF Assets

JAOC - other services

CAOC - other countries

Question 2

AOC Mission

Answer 2

The AOC provides operational-level C2 or air, space, and cyberspace operations. It is the focal point for planning, directing, and assessing air, space, and cyberspace operations to meet JFACC operational objectives and guidance.

Question 3

A1

Answer 3

Personnel

Question 4

A2

Answer 4

Intelligence

Question 5

A3

Answer 5

Operations

Question 6

A4

Answer 6

Logistics

Question 7

A5

Answer 7

Plans

Question 8

A6

Answer 8

Communications

Question 9

A7

Answer 9

Installations

Question 10

A8

Answer 10

Strategy

Question 11

A9

Answer 11

Analysis

Question 12

AOC Divisions

Answer 12

active only during war or for contingencies or exercises

Strategy

Combat Plans

ISR

Combat Ops

Air Mobility

Question 13

Strat Div

Answer 13

The strategy division concentrates on long-range planning of air, space, and cyberspace (information) operations to achieve theater objectives by developing, refining, disseminating, and assessing the JFACC’s aerospace strategy

comprehensive Joint Air Operations Plan (JAOP)

Question 14

Combat plans

Answer 14

The combat plans division (CPD) develops detailed short-range (tomorrow & day-after-tomorrow) execution plans for aerospace operations

ATO and ACO

master air attack plan (MAAP) planners then pair available attack assets with targets on the joint integrated prioritized target list (JIPTL)

overall flow of attacks

Question 15

Combat Ops

Answer 15

The combat operations division (COD) is responsible for monitoring and executing the current ATO (i.e., “today’s war”)

The COD is also the focal point for monitoring the execution of joint and combined operations.

assumes responsibility for the ATO as soon as it is published

real time changes to the ATO/ACO to support mission requirements

Question 16

ISR

Answer 16

husband the scarce air and space ISR resources under the command of the JFACC

first duty of the ISR branch is to assess the effects of the JFC’s strategy

Second, the ISR branch must detect enemy initiatives early enough that our forces may blunt them before they can be brought to bear against our troops

Finally, the ISR division must answer the mail, responding to the myriad requests for support by allocating resources to specific tasks both scheduled (via the ATO) and immediate (via a presence within the COD).

Question 17

Air Mobility Division

Answer 17

seemingly unlimited demand with a limited supply of tankers and transports

Director of Mobility Forces is appointed outside the JFACCs chain of command

The DIRMOBFOR also advocates on behalf of the AMD to provide the right mix of tanker and cargo aircraft to support theater operations without handicapping operations in other theaters (and for other AMDs)

MEDEVAC

Question 18

Component Liasons

Answer 18

Battlefield Coordination Detachment

Naval & Amphibious Liaison Element

MARLO

Special Operations Liaison Element

Coalition/Allied Liaison Officers (LNO)

Question 19

Information Warfare Team

Answer 19

The NAF A8 provides the information warfare (IW) team

Question 20

Judge Advocate

Answer 20

The judge advocate (JA) and their paralegals advise the JFACC and all the AOC divisions on issues regarding the rules of engagement (ROE) and the Law of Armed Conflict.

Question 21

Weather Support Team

Answer 21

short and long term forecasts of atmospheric and solar conditions

Question 22

Logistics Team

Answer 22

The logistics team ensures the ATO does not overreach our ability to provide bombs, bullets, and fuel to the flying squadrons.

Question 23

AOC PLATFORM

Answer 23

Traditionally located at the biggest air base in the theater of operations, the AOC might be under canvas or occupy the penthouse of a five-star hotel

At least one big screen will display the Common Operating Picture (COP), a mosaic of data link inputs that represent a near-real-time graphic of aerial activity in the area or responsibility (AOR).

Question 24

TBMCS

Answer 24

collection of Unix-based software applications that assist AOC teams to create, modify, publish, and transmit the ATO, ACO, SPINS, OPTASKLINK, and other directives and documents

Question 25

AOC Sensors

Answer 25

It is completely reliant on data feeds from subordinate TACS units to create a picture of theater activity. These feeds come via data links

Question 26

AOC Communications

Answer 26

A6

Telephones

2-3 UHF

UHF SATCOM (Bulk - The Current Operations Division will maintain two SATCOM links, one with the AWACS and Joint STARS battle management teams, and another with all of the data link participants. A third SATCOM will be available for the SOLE, and perhaps a fourth as a dedicated voice link with the Navy’s carrier air group.)

Air Defense Systems Integrator (ADSI) has become standard-issue to nearly every AOC (takes LINK11 / LNK16 / Misc Radar feed into one COP)

Question 27

ATO

Answer 27

Each ATO covers a 24-hour period (NORAD 1 Month)

3 Day Cycle

1st 24 HRS (Targets / Units)

Next 12 HRS (WP Loads / T/O times / Refueling)

Pushed 12 Hrs Prior to Execution

24 HRS of Execution

So at any given time, there are three ATOs—today’s, tomorrow’s, and the day-after-tomorrow’s-in the AOC

In addition to the 3-day ATO cycle there is always an ATO in long-range production at the Strategy Division prior to the cycle and an ATO that is being assessed by the ISR Division after the execution of that ATO

Question 28

ACO

Answer 28

Airspace Control Order (30 Days or Longer)

The ACO is the three-dimensional map of the theater airspace. It divides responsibility for airspace control between civil and military authorities, and between service branches and controlling agencies within the branch

Question 29

OPTASKLINK

Answer 29

30-day or longer period. The OPTASKLINK gives each data link capable unit the detailed information on machine settings; codes and radio frequencies to be used; as well as identifying primary and alternate net control stations (NCS) and net time references (NTR) required to successfully join and participate in the theater data link architecture.

Question 30

SPINS

Answer 30

Special Instructions for Airmen (SPINS)

directives that just don’t seem to fit into any other document – might alter or clarify guidance already in the ACO or ATO