TARGETING IMPLICATION IN A JOINT FORCE OPERATION FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE

In this paper I wanted to highlight the importance of the targeting process in planning and conducting an eventual joint force operation for the purpose of armed national defense. Even though Romania is an active member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), for national defense purposes Romanian armed forces must be capable to plan and conduct operations with existent armed structures until allied forces would intervene in case of an armed aggression under article 5 specifications. Having participated with forces and structures in various multinational operations and exercises alongside current national contributions under NATO partnership, Romanian armed forces continuously improve their level of training and over time implemented in our standing doctrines and field manuals many of our partner’s procedures. One such procedure is the target management process. National joint force headquarters including those functioning at component and division levels should permanently consider, plan and conduct target management training for responsible personnel, especially with those working in information and operation modules, as they will be part of targeting working committees, groups or cells that activate at their respective structures both in peacetime or combat operations. One other significant factor influencing the target management process in a national defense operation is the application of Laws of Armed Conflict and rules of engagement in an eventual armed aggression.