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The Joint Operation Planning and Execution System provides vital information for managing force movements. The author explains how the elements of JOPES fit together.
A newly arrived Army logistician assigned to the U.S. Central Command's J-3 staff is tasked to assist in planning for an upcoming rotation of joint forces operating in Iraq. Hundreds of units will be involved in the deployment and redeployment, and the logistician s boss-a Marine Corps artillery officer-wants him to ensure that this rotation will have an increased fuel storage capacity of 60,000 gallons in case the local fuel pipelines continue to suffer periodic interdiction. His boss adds that he doesn't care which service provides the personnel and equipment needed to expand fuel storage capabilities, just as long as the increased storage is available within the next 60 days. He also wants the logistician to use this planning effort as an opportunity to gain an understanding of JOPES.
Like the subject of this scenario, all logistics leaders should have a basic understanding of JOPES-the Joint Operation Planning and Execution System. In an era characterized by joint operations, a logistician who knows about JOPES and the information that it provides on the movement of forces and their equipment is better prepared to provide logistics support to customers from all of the services.
An article about JOPES tends to be dry reading since learning about it is similar to studying calculus; the nature of the subject does not make for an entertaining presentation or an easy read. Nonetheless, I believe the result is worth the effort because the topic of JOPES (or a future equivalent) will be addressed countless times throughout a logistician's career.
JOPES is an electronic information system that is used to monitor, plan, and execute mobilization, deployment, employment, and sustainment activities associated with joint operations. It provides users with access to joint operations planning policies, procedures, and reporting structures that are supported by communications and automated data processing systems. Force movement information captured in JOPES is used by operators and planners to maintain and manage a database called the Time-Phased Force and Deployment Data (TPFDD). The TPFDD database is used to plan and execute the strategic movement of forces from one geographic region to another. [It must...