Mission-Type Orders in Joint Air Operations

The Air Force's current doctrinal maxims of centralized control and decentralized execution have the potential to produce overcentralized planning at the theater airoperations center (AOC); the result of this tendency is a cumbersome air taskingorder (ATO) and a campaign vulnerable to lost communications, informationoverload, and decapitation. One cure for such problem is the decentralization oftactical planning through the use of mission-type orders at the wing or air task-forcelevel. Mission-type orders include a clear statement of the superior commander'sintent and state each unit's tasks in terms of operational effects to be achieved inseveral days rather than daily targets and aimpoints.