Purpose

To describe the process for management of Combat Support Liaison Officers (LNOs) who represent the DCMA Director on the Combatant Command and Joint Staffs.  These individuals ensure that key members of the Combatant Commanders staff are aware of the Agency’s mission and capabilities.  LNOs incorporate DCMA support into theater operations plans (OPLANs) and concept plans (CONPLANs).  Since Component Command headquarters execute contracts to support theater operations, LNOs also ensure that those Component Commands’ key staff elements are kept abreast of the Agency’s capabilities to support contingency operations.

Applicability

This instruction applies to all DCMA LNOs who are assigned to a Combatant Command (COCOM) Headquarters.

Changes

No significant changes.  Change to DCMA instruction format only.

References

General Order FY02-02, Establishing the Combat Support Liaison Officer (LNO) Team as a part of the DCMA Combat Support Operations Center
CJCSI 3100.01A, Joint Strategic Planning System (JSPS) and other JSPS planning publications
DODD 5105.64, Defense Contract Management Agency
Joint Pub 4-07, Joint Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Common-User Logistics During Joint Operations

Procedures

5.1.  Combat Support Liaison Officers (LNOs) link the Agency to the Warrior.  The LNOs act on behalf of the Agency Director in meetings and reside in the Combatant Commanders’/Joint Staff Joint Logistics Readiness Center. While DCMA attaches LNOs to Unified Command staffs, these LNOs remain formally assigned to the Combat Support Center, DCMAC-T, and retain requirements to keep key Agency personnel fully informed. LNOs perform functions listed below to provide Unified Commanders quality support and to keep DCMA fully informed of support opportunities / requirements. 

    5.1.1 Ensure smooth and continuous information flow between DCMA and supported staffs. Ensure key Unified and Component Commands’ staff members know about DCMA’s missions and capabilities.
    5.1.2 Ensure senior Agency leadership is kept abreast of matters of importance to DCMA.
    5.1.3 Educate our warrior customers. Make Combatant Command (COCOM) key leaders, particularly J-3, J-4, J-7 and J-8, aware of the support DCMA provides and how they leverage DCMA capabilities. 
    5.1.4 Facilitate DCMA participation in crisis and deliberate planning. Review OPLANS and CONPLANS to identify / leverage DCMA support and incorporate DCMA supporting plans into COCOM - directed OPLANS and CONPLANS.
    5.1.5.  The LNO assists Combatant Commanders with review and comment to JCS/Service Component programs, plans, assessments and documents forwarded for review and comment throughout the four main subject areas in the JSPS process; Strategic Direction, Strategic Plans, Program Advice, and Strategic Assessments. While it is primarily the responsibility of the LNO to provide DCMA specific input to the various plans, that input should in almost all cases be coordinated through the Combat Support Center (CSC) with the appropriate DCMA HQ staff element prior to final submission.

        5.1.5.1. Strategic Direction:  The LNO assists the Combatant Commander and theater Service Components in review and comment to strategic direction initiatives and documents sent from the Chairmen, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). The LNO accomplishes this by reviewing the Chairman’s Guidance, Joint Vision documents, and National Military Strategy and applying the DCMA mission support strategy to each.
        5.1.5.2. Strategic Plans: The LNO assists the Combatant Commander and theater Service Components in review and comment to strategic plans initiatives and documents sent from the CJCS. The LNO accomplishes this by applying DCMA mission support to review of the Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP), Operational Plans (OPLANs), Concept Plans (CONPLANs), and supplemental instructions.
        5.1.5.3. Program Advice:  The LNO assists the Combatant Commander and theater Service Components with programming advice to the CJCS by applying DCMA mission support to review and comment to the Chairman’s Program Recommendations (CPR), Chairman’s Program Assessment (CPA), and Joint Planning Document (JPD). Special attention to the Theater Commanders' inputs to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) – Joint War fighting Capabilities Assessment (JWCA) and Joint Requirements Board inputs to the CPR and CPA is necessary. Proper attention to these programs and documents will better facilitate DCMA strategic planning for support to Service Components and Combatant Commanders' needs for future acquisition strategies.
        5.1.5.4. Strategic Assessments:  The LNO assists the Combatant Commander and theater Service Components with Joint Net Assessment to the CJCS by applying DCMA mission support to review and comment to the JQRR, JCS strategic plans, JWCA, JCS/Theater Commander war games, exercises and assessments. 

    5.1.5. Facilitate CCAS member's deployment.  Monitor the readiness of DCMA elements / CCAS members to fully support the COCOMs mission and keep the CSC informed of COCOM needs. By COCOM articulation of their requirements, DCMA will have a better understanding of the necessary support. Close ties with DCMAI and the CMO responsible for IRT deployment is essential.  The CSC, LNOs, and DCMAI should work together to keep information flowing regarding these CCAS teams.
    5.1.6. Facilitate, with the CSC exercise planners, the optimum approach to DCMA participation in COCOM-directed exercises to and educate the Unified and Component Command staff elements of potential DCMA contributions.
    5.1.7. The LNO assists with Combat Support Agency Review Team (CSART) inquires and facilitates CSART visits on behalf of DCMA.
    5.1.8. Theater specific duties and responsibilities are provided in the support agreements made with each organization that has a DCMA LNO.
    5.1.9. LNOs update DCMA's Director, Deputy Director, Chief of Staff and Director of DCMA’s Combat Support Center weekly.  LNOs route their communications, except in urgent or emergency situations, to the CSC.  For any matters with the potential to positively or negatively impact the Agency’s mission, resources or image, including senior customer comments, requirements or decisions; impending (unscheduled / unanticipated) plan activations; and matters involving Agency support, services, products or personnel that might be reported in the news media, DCMA requires LNOs to directly contact the Director of DCMA’s Combat Support Center, Chief of Staff or Public Affairs Office as quickly as possible.
    5.1.10. Coordination with DCMA Districts - The DCMA Districts (East, West and International) play critical roles in the execution of the Agency’s mission.  They select individuals for deployment in support of contingency operations.  They direct action to meet customer high priority delivery requirements.  They direct the actions of contract management organizations (CMOs).  CMOs execute DCMA missions.  Only Districts task CMOs, and direct the activities of Customer Liaison Representatives (CLRs).  LNOs should keep CMOs in their AOR informed of LNO activities and COCOM areas of interest. However, if an LNO needs information or support from a CMO the request must be routed via the CSC. Recognizing that significant time zone differences could impact the LNOs ability to respond to his/her COCOM, the LNO can “cc” the affected CMO from which support is needed when requesting information from the CSC.
    5.1.11. COCOM Readiness Issues – DCMA benefits from knowing readiness issues important to the COCOM.  The Agency established Program Integrator (PI) for Readiness positions.   PIs monitor our success in supporting spare parts and repair support for critical weapons systems.  They benefit from data reported at Unified Command level, including:

• Critical systems identified by the COCOM / Component Commanders

• Critical / key systems that are below their required readiness rates

• Other data on systems performance / readiness being monitored by the COCOM's staff

    5.1.12. LNOs submit weekly reports to the Director of the CSC. This report provides information that DCMA staff elements need to fulfill their responsibilities.  Additionally, DCMA needs daily situation reports (SITREPs) during crisis – action planning and ongoing contingencies. The CSC provides guidance on format and contents.
    5.1.13.  Weekly reports should include, but are not limited to, the following information as applicable for the week:

• Administrative & Situation Overview

• Key Events

• Event Details to include the possible impact to DCMA
• Intelligence / Reconnaissance.
• Logistics
• Communications / Connectivity
• Personnel
• Significant Political / Military / Diplomatic Events
• LNO Evaluation
• Upcoming Events

    5.1.14. LNOs will e-mail their report to the CSC weekly NLT noon Wednesday.  The CSC will make further distribution.
    5.1.15. To support the sharing of information between the LNO and the Combat Support Center, an LNO Workshop will be conducted once a year as a minimum. This workshop will normally be held at HQ CSC. The purpose of the Workshop is to share ideas and any joint issues each LNO may have. The outcome of these discussions will be development of lessons learned and successful practices. Coordination will be initiated to get on the Director / Deputy Director's calendar for discussion and Senior Leader insight on pertinent subjects
    5.1.16. The Director of the CSC, DCMAC-T, approves requests for annual leave (military and civilian personnel) and sick leave (civilian personnel only).  Administrative procedures differ for military and civilian personnel.  Leave authorization / approval procedures differ among the military services.  LNOs use the most expeditious means of completing the required documentation.  LNOs bear the responsibility to inform CSC Director of leave plans.
    5.1.17. DCMA assigns LNOs to DCMAC-T, under the Chief of Staff (HQ DCMA-DS).  DCMAC-T provides LNOs all required budgetary, administrative and personnel support.
    5.1.18. All equipment that the LNO needs to support the COCOM will be made available in accordance with DCMA’s MOA with each Unified Command.

Definitions

COCOM - Combatant Command - A unified or specified command with a broad continuing mission under a single commander established and so designated by the President, through the Secretary of Defense and with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Combatant commands typically have geographic or functional responsibilities.

CONPLAN - Concept Plan - An operation plan in concept format.

CSC - Combat Support Center - The command and control operation for the Agency.

LNO - Liaison Officer - DCMA link between the Director and Combatant Command / Joint Staff elements.

OPLAN - Operations Plan - Any plan, except for the Single Integrated Operational Plan, for the conduct of military operations. Plans are prepared by combatant commanders in response to requirements established by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and by commanders of subordinate commands in response to requirements tasked by the establishing unified commander.

Forms

There are no unique DCMA forms for this instruction.