Doctrine For Joint Rear Area Operations PDF Download

Rear area operations can be divided into two primary functions, supporting the force and protecting the force. This exposition focuses on the failure of current doctrine to adequately address the requirements for rear area operations to produce the conditions necessary for adequate force protection levels. The paper examines joint and service rear area doctrine to determine if it provides a satisfactory solution to future challenges. It provides some alternatives to the current procedures in order to provide the joint force commander the operational control he needs to not only to protect the force but also to better manage and synchronize his warfighting efforts at the operational level. Critical questions include: does componency help or hinder the JRAC (joint rear area coordinator), should the JRAC be a coordinator or a commander, should air and sea space be included in the JRAC's scope of responsibilities, and should the JRAC come from JFC's (joint force commander) headquarters or can he come from the component commander's staff?