Joint Mission Essential Task List (Jmetl) Development Handbook: September, 2002

Publisher Marketing: This handbook is designed to help combatant commanders, subordinate joint force commanders, and functional or Service component commanders implement the Joint Mission Essential Task List (JMETL) process described in CJCSI 3500.01, Joint Training Policy for the Armed Forces of the United States. Definition of Joint Training. Joint training is military training based on joint doctrine designed to prepare joint forces and/or joint staffs to respond to operational requirements identified by joint force commanders. Joint training generally involves the performance of tasks by members or elements of more than one military Service under the direction of a joint force commander. The responsibility for joint training resides with the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), combatant commanders, and subordinate joint force commanders. Importance of Joint Training. Over the past several years, U. S. military forces have significantly downsized and moved from forward bases back to the Continental United States (CONUS). During the same period, the range of missions U. S. military forces must prepare for has greatly expanded. This combination of factors greatly increases the requirements for employment of joint forces. Thus, jointness will be central to the successful execution of future missions required of the U. S. Armed Forces and joint doctrine will assume increasing importance to the conduct of assigned missions. Consequently, if our armed forces are going to fight jointly, they must train jointly.