CWC Doctrine Flashcards
What is the purpose of CWC?
The tactical level of war is unique. Unlike the strategic and operational levels, the tactical level has many
command echelons within it; the command decision cycle is faster with action based on training and doctrine vice
long deliberative processes and procedures; and the command staffs are smaller.
Core capabilities of the US Maritime force
forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and
disaster response.
What is Naval Warfare?
Naval warfare is the employment in combat of surface, subsurface, and air forces to establish, maintain, and
exploit control of the seas and to deny their use to an adversary.
What is command?
Command is the authority that a commander in the Armed Forces lawfully exercises over subordinates by virtue
of rank or assignment. Command includes the authority and responsibility for effectively using available
resources, and for planning the employment, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling military forces for the accomplishment of assigned missions. It also includes responsibility for health, welfare, morale, and discipline of assigned personnel.
Direction
The process of planning, decision making, establishing priorities, formulation of guidance, and
imposing decision.
Coordination
The establishment in operations, according to a changing situation, of an orderly correlation
in time and place of planned actions (synchronization) in order to achieve the best overall result. In the
maritime environment, the term coordination may include certain specified control functions.
The goal of having command?
The aim of command is to achieve the maximum operational and/or administrative effectiveness though direction, coordination, and control.
Control
Authority that may be less than full command exercised by a commander over part of the activities of subordinate or other organizations.
COCOM (command authority)
Combatant Command, unique to the combatant commander.
Cannot be delegated by the combatant commander.
Responsible for the planning, programing, budgeting, and execution process input, assignment of subordinate commanders, relationships with DoD agencies, and the directive authority for logistics.
OPCON
Decentralized command philosophy supports delegation of
OPCON to tactical commanders. However, operational level commanders (TACON) (i.e. JFMCC or numbered fleet commander) typically only delegate OPCON when they are confident
their subordinate Navy commanders, task force (CTFs) understand the operational commander’s intent and that
the tasking requires the broad authorities OPCON contains.
TACON
TACON is inherent in OPCON. Its delegation allows the commander to retain the broad authorities contained within OPCON while providing subordinate commanders sufficient authority for controlling and directing the application of force or tactical use of combat support assets within the assigned mission or task within an operational area (OA). As with OPCON, delegation of TACON cannot be parsed.
Support
Four categories- general, mutual, direct, and close.
It is established when one organization or force is directed to help another.
An establishing directive is normally issued to specify the purpose of the
support relationship, the effect desired, and the action to be taken.
General Support
Support which is given to the supported force as a whole rather than to a particular subdivision thereof.
Mutual Support
That support which units render each other against an enemy because of their assigned tasks, their position relative to each other and to the enemy, and their inherent capabilities.
Direct Support
A mission requiring a force to directly support another force and authorizing it to answer directly to the supported force’s request for assistance.
Close Support
That action of the supported force against target or objectives that are sufficiently near the supported force as to require detailed interrogation or coordination of the supporting action with the fire, movement, or other action of the supported force.
Officer in Tactical Command
The OTC is the senior officer with command authority over all forces within a maritime OA. In a maritime OA that has multiple TFs operating within it, the common superior will
be the JFMCC/numbered fleet commander. The OTC has the overall responsibility of accomplishing the mission of the force and its defense.
Command Nets
Command nets link the OTC and CWC with the warfare commanders and coordinators. In addition, command nets provide a circuit for warfare commanders to coordinate actions
Coordinating and Reporting Nets
Coordinating and reporting nets are dedicated circuits between warfare commanders and operating forces. Because these circuits are dedicated to specific warfare commander circuits, overload is avoided.
Tactical Nets
Tactical nets provide information and orders across warfare commander purviews and thereby link some or all parts of the force.
Task Organization Numerical Representation
XXX.XX.XX.XX
F G U E
O R N L
R P T M
OTC
“Alpha Dog”
PRIMARY- A
SECONDARY- NONE
CWC
“Be Victorious”
PRIMARY- B
SECONDARY- V
AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE COMMANDER
“Weapons Checklist”
PRIMARY- W
SECONDARY- C
Responsible to the CWC for defense of the force against air and ballistic missile threats unless a separate BMDC has been designated. Usually on the most capable platform, including CG, DDG, CVN, LCC, LHA, LHD, or LPD
0-6 Captain
ASW COMMANDER
PRIMARY- X
SECONDARY- Y
Usually a destroyer squadron commodore embarked on the CWC’s flagship
Responsible to the CWC for the defense of the force against submarine threats. Responsible for collecting, evaluating, and disseminating ASW surveillance info to the CWC and the force, and also plans, directs, monitors, and assesses the employment of ASW resources.
INFO OPS WARFARE COMMANDER
“Question Everything”
PRI- Q
SEC- E
Goal is to achieve and maintain information superiority
IWCs are usually a senior commander such as CVN, LHA, and LHD commanding officers (0-6)
SCC*
“Zulu Actual”
PRI- Z
SEC- NONE
In the CWC, the officer assigned some or the entire OTC’s detailed responsibilities for sea combat and granted the tactical control authority to accomplish the assigned missions and tasks; this is an optional position within the structure.
The SCC plans, directs, monitors, and assesses CWC tasks in support of the JFMCC/numbered fleet commander’s maritime support plan for sea control.
Usually a destroyer sqdn commodore for a carrier group and a senior ship CO for and amphibious task organization.
*LINKS ASWC AND SUWC UNDER ONE COMMANDER
STRIKE WARFARE COMMANDER
STWC
“People Killer”
PRI- P
SEC- K
In the CWC, the officer assigned some or the entire OTC’s detailed responsibilities for strike warfare and granted the tactical control authority to accomplish the missions and tasks.
STW consists of naval operations to destroy or neutralize enemy targets ashore. The overall thrust of the STWC’s efforts is offensive.
Usually a CVW commander (0-6)
SUWC
“Ship Talker”
PRI- S
SEC- T
In the CWC, the officer assigned some or the entire OTC’s detailed responsibilities for surface warfare and granted the tactical control authority to accomplish the assigned missions and tasks.
Includes ops to destroy or neutralize enemy naval surface forces and merchant vessels.
SUWC should be embarked in a CVN/LHA/LHD or, if possible, in a ship equipped with a robust global command and control system-maritime (GCCS-M). Duties are usually assigned to the amphibious sqdn commander or CO of the amphibious commander’s flagship.
