This publication provides fundamental principles and guidance for planning, coordinating, and executing joint fire support across the range of military operations. This publication has been prepared under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It sets forth joint doctrine to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in joint operations and provides the doctrinal basis for interagency coordination and for US military involvement in multinational operations. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders (JFCs) and prescribes joint doctrine for operations, education, and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing their appropriate plans. It is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the JFC from organizing the force and executing the mission in a manner the JFC deems most appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of the overall objective. Joint fires are defined as fires delivered during the employment of forces from two or more components in coordinated action to produce desired effects in support of a common objective. Joint fire support is defined as joint fires that assist air, land, maritime, and SOF to move, maneuver, and control territory, populations, airspace, and key waters in support of the joint force commander's (JFC's) scheme of maneuver. The concept of operations (CONOPS) describes how actions of the joint force components and supporting organizations will be integrated, synchronized, and phased to accomplish the mission, including potential branches and sequels. All fires should support the JFC's objectives. Some fires will support maneuver forces, and other fires are independent of maneuver and orient on creating specific effects.