Fact Sheet No 1 - A Permanent Headquarters Joint Operations Command

Fact Sheet No 2 - The Role of Headquarters Joint Operations Command

Fact Sheet No 1 - A Permanent Headquarters Joint Operations Command

The Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) will be the operational headquarters for the Australian Defence Force.

Operational command of the Australian Defence Force is now executed through the Chief of Joint Operations. The CJOPS is responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force for the planning and conduct of Defence Force campaigns, operations and other activities as directed. By bringing together staff and agencies, Headquarters Joint Operations Command Project will improve the efficiency of joint planning and the allocation of resources for military campaigns, operations and other [directed] activities, and their execution.

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Fact Sheet No 2 - The Role of Headquarters Joint Operations Command

Command in the Australian Defence Force is undertaken at three broad levels: strategic, operational and tactical. At the strategic level, the Chief of the Defence Force exercises full command of the Australian Defence Force, with the advice of the three Service Chiefs (Chief of Navy, Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force). The Chief of the Defence Force also contributes to the Whole of Government processes by providing advice on the appropriate employment of military force to meet the Government's strategic objectives.

Operational command is exercised through the Chief of Joint Operations, who is concerned with the synchronized application of assigned military force within an overarching campaign plan or a concept of operations to achieve strategic objectives, and may include non-war fighting activities such as disaster relief and support to other Government Departments.

Lower level formations and unit commanders exercise tactical command. They are concerned with the battles and activities undertaken to achieve the objectives within a campaign or operation.

The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force for the planning and conduct of Australian Defence Force campaigns and operations at the operational level of war, and other designated activities. In recent years this has involved a number of high tempo concurrent operations within the near region, and further afield.

Headquarters Joint Operations Command provides the means through which the Australian Defence Force interacts at the operational level with allies, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, regional neighbours, and partners further afield.

In 2003, the Chief of the Defence Force initiated two reviews, one into trends and experiences in higher command and control, and the other into the conduct of operations. These identified a number of contemporary issues that shape current command and control arrangements. These include the appropriate and growing interest of Government in tactical activities that have potentially high strategic implications, and the potential effects of technology on command and control and the passage of information. The reviews found that the Australian Defence Force command structure for operations could be simpler and flatter, and recommended the establishment of a position (Chief of Joint Operations) to control all joint operational activity. The Vice Chief of the Defence Force was originally assigned the role of Chief of Joint Operations, responsible for implementing a range of phased structural changes, culminating in the move of Headquarters Joint Operations Command to the new facility near Bungendore at the end of 2008. In 2007 the role was devolved and a separate position of Chief of Joint Operations was created.

The new Headquarters structure allows the CJOPS to plan and conduct campaigns, operations and other designated activities with a sharp focus on the provision of the best military advice to the Chief of the Defence Force on the appropriate employment of military forces to the accomplishment of the Government's strategic objectives.

The new Headquarters Joint Operations Command facility will enable the optimization of Australian Defence Force command arrangements, and their evolution over time, and provide a significant opportunity to more fully embrace the concepts of Effects Based Operations and Network-Centric Warfare.

Last updated 15 October 2008