Thread by @GBNT1952

Let’s walk through how the kill chain works for all military targets from the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of warfare, a thread: 🧵

https://twitter.com/gbnt1952/status/1995127586473521506

First concept: Positive Identification (PID)

PID is a reasonable certainty that what you’re looking at is a legitimate military target under the Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC) and the Rules of Engagement (ROE).

No PID = no shot or not clear to engage. Full stop.

PID can come from:

- Visual ID (eyes/optics/UAS feed)
- Sensors (radar, IR, SIGINT)
- Intel correlation (we know Enemy Boat X should be here, now)
- Behavior (hostile act or obvious hostile intent)

But “looks sketchy” does not equal PID.

Now, about how many commanders must approve. There are basically two worlds:

1. Self defense (immediate threat)

2. Planned/Deliberate engagement (no immediate threat)

The number of signatures changes a lot between those.

Self defense scenario

If a boat or vehicle is committing a hostile act (firing, ramming, so on) or shows hostile intent (clearly about to attack), the rule is simple:

The on ground commander can authorize the shot.

That is 1 level of approval.

In self defense, the kill chain compresses:

- PID: “Yes, that’s the threat.”
- ROE: Self defense is authorized.
- Authority: On ground commander.

You do not have time to call a 4 star when someone is about to blow you up.

Now, the more interesting case (and the one more people like to scrutinize despite its layers of redundancy):

Planned or deliberate strike (vehicle is suspicious, intel says hostile, but it’s not actively attacking).

Here you usually get 3 to 4 levels of command in the loop before engagement.

Step 1: Tactical Commander (Level 1)

This is your:

- Boat officer in charge
- Ground Force Commander
- Aircraft/helo commander

They confirm PID at their level and request permission to engage.

They cannot just decide alone (unless ROE says self defense).

Step 2: Mission Commander / Element Lead (Level 2)

Examples of Level 2:

- Ground Force Commander overseeing multiple elements
- Air Mission Commander
- Maritime Task Unit leader

They own the mission, not just one asset. They verify:

- Does this strike support the mission?
- Is it worth the risk?

Step 3: Task Force / Battalion Level Command (Level 3)

This might be:

- SOF Task Force HQ
- Battalion/Task Group HQ
- Carrier Strike Group staff

Here you get:

- Legal review (JAG)
- Collateral Damage Estimate (CDE)
- ROE check
- Blue force deconfliction

Step 4: Operational/Component Command (Level 4)

Examples of level 4:

- Theater JOC
- Maritime Component Commander
- Combined Joint Task Force HQ

They look at:

- Strategic impact
- Political risk
- Theater wide ROE interpretation

At this level, one “yes or no” can change headlines.

So, a maritime strike on a boat or non self sefense target, a common pattern is:

1. Tactical commander
2. Mission or element commander
3. Task force or strike group
4. Maritime or theater HQ

That is 3 to 4 distinct approvals before a missile or gun run is cleared.

And that’s just authority.

Before actual engagement you still need:

- PID confirmed
- Collateral Damage Estimate acceptable
- ROE satisfied
- Proper weapon selected
- Air/sea deconfliction complete

Then you get a “Cleared hot.”

For highly sensitive targets (such as hitting something near a neutral country or high value political target), approval can climb even higher:

5 to 6 levels, up to a Combatant Commander or national leadership.

Yes, that many people for one target.

SOF side note:

Special Operations sometimes get streamlined authorities for pre-approved target sets.

Even then, you’re usually looking at:

- GFC (on scene)
- Task Force HQ
- Theater JOC

So, about 2 to 3 levels, not a lone cowboy with a rifle.

Why so many signatures?

Because every strike must satisfy three big constraints:

1. Legal (LOAC, ROE)

2. Operational (good for the mission)

3. Strategic (good for the overall campaign & politics)

Keep all of this in mind the next time someone is whining about war crimes while they have the military expertise of a potato.