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I'll give you a "B". . .nah, and "A-" (I'm feeling generous tonight).

>>3. COGs? Maybe I'm just slow tonight, but I'm at a loss."<<

That would be Centers of Gravity. Targets are targets are targets, but some are more important than others because of their impact and importance. A few select centers of gravity destroyed and you can win quickly, efficiently and with less loss of life. Basically, proper targeting as a result of effects-based attacks makes great strategic, operational and tactical sense. Why shoot every tank and every troop when you can drop a bridge that isolates the bad guys and they never enter the fight? You get the picture.

>>4. The Theater Commander always "owns" everything. Under him, he will have an air element commander. This does not have to be a USAF Officer. It will likely be whoever owns the most stuff in the AOR.<<

Partial credit. The air element commander is the Joint Forces Air Component Commander, and yes, sometimes he may not be Air Force, and it is not based on who owns the most stuff in the AOR. The JFACC is the guy with the preponderance of air assets AND the ability to command and control those assets. This is why you will never see an Army guy as JFACC, he may have the most air assets (helos), but he has no ability to command and control an air campaign. The Navy may be JFACC until the Air Force arrives and then a whole dance occurs as the JFACC shifts from afloat to ashore.

Nice job.

Thanks for the info. I'm familiar with the concept on centers of gravity, but I've never been on a JFACC staff. Remembering acronyms was never my strong point anyway.

Perhaps I generalized a bit too much on #4 to say that the selection is "whoever has the most stuff". Yes, it must be relevant, important stuff, and it wouldn't HAVE TO BE that service, BUT turf wars being what they are, it usually goes to that person. Wouldn't you agree?