Force Projection, at the Right Time and Place, is a Critical Component to Operational Art; Consequently, TPFDDs Remain Relevant, Now and in the Foreseeable Future

摘要

During Operation DESERT SHIELD, U.S. forces were deployed using a TPFDD (Time Phased Force Deployment and Data) process, albeit with mixed reviews. During Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, however, the Secretary of Defense decided to scrap the TPFDD process in favor of a new Request for Forces (RFF) process. Today, both processes are still being used, but the utility of each is the subject of question. This paper analyzes the mechanics of the TPFDD process and its ensuing use during Operation DESERT SHIELD. Subsequently, the mechanics of the RFF process is analyzed, along with its use during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. The mechanics of each process are then compared, with the end results showing that the TPFDD process provides far more detail and meaningful planning data to aid planners and commanders in designing a major operation or campaign. The RFF process, on the other hand, lacks the substance that is necessary to plan and execute major operational deployments. Finally, the advent of new planning processes and systems will keep the TPFDD process viable now and in the foreseeable future.