cpls course tactical planning

.docx

School

American Military University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

328

Subject

Information Systems

Date

Jan 9, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by UltraSeaLion385

TACTICAL PLANNING BAMCIS OVERVIEW The troop leading steps are meant to aid leaders in making tactically sound decisions, formulating plans, coherently communicating those plans, and turning those decisions into action. BAMCIS BEGIN PLANNING ARRANGE FOR RECONNAISSANCE AND COORDINATION MAKE RECONNAISSANCE AND COORDINATION COMPLETE THE PLAN ISSUE THE ORDER SUPERVISE RECEIPT OF MISSION The receipt of a mission triggers the troop leading steps. • To make effective use of available time, the leader issues a warning order (an abbreviated set of instructions to inform of an impending action) to subordinates; this allows subordinate leaders to begin preparations while the leader conducts a detailed analysis. • At the end of this step, leaders will emerge with an initial plan that they expect to execute, pending the validation of the assumptions made during planning. To begin answering questions about the enemy or environment, leaders will arrange to conduct a reconnaissance. ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION The purpose of the estimate of the situation is to collect and analyze relevant information for developing, within the time limits and available information, the most effective solution to a problem. • Although normally used in solving tactical problems, it is applicable to other military activities. The estimate is as thorough as time and circumstances permit. • Estimates are revised continuously as factors affecting the operation change, as new facts are recognized, as assumptions are replaced by facts or rendered invalid, or as changes to the mission are received or indicated.

• Detailed analysis conducted before mission execution will increase the speed and accuracy of decisions as the situation changes at the point of friction. ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION (METT-T ANALYSIS) The format, often referred to by the acronym METT-T, provides a logical sequence for analyzing all relevant factors. METT-T MISSION ENEMY TERRAIN AND WEATHER TROOPS AND FIRE SUPPORT TIME, SPACE AND LOGISTICS ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION: MISSION ANALYSIS The first step in the estimate is mission analysis; it is the means for the unit leader to gain an understanding of the mission. • Task analysis: The unit leader must identify and understand all that is required for the successful accomplishment of the mission. This includes tasks received in the unit's task statement and coordinating instructions from the higher commander's operations order. • Limitations: These are restrictions on the freedom of action of the friendly force; these prohibit the commander from doing something specific. Tactical control measures, rules of engagement (ROE), and the statements, "Be prepared to...," "Not earlier than...," "On order...," are some examples of limitations. ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION: ENEMY ANALYSIS Enemy analysis is conducted to not only know what assets the enemy has, but also to understand what the enemy is doing. • What is the enemy trying to accomplish? • How will the enemy use each available element of combat power? Input comes from many sources including enemy doctrine, current enemy activities indicated in higher's order, units that have previously operated in the area, and the unit's intelligence section. The information used to analyze the enemy situation includes the following:

Composition, Disposition, and Strength Answer the questions: • What does the enemy have? • What is the enemy trying to accomplish? Describe your enemy: • Identify the forces and equipment that the enemy can bring to bear within your unit's zone or sector. • Also considered are known and suspected enemy locations and strength estimates in relation to personnel, equipment, and support capabilities. • The elements of the acronym SALUTE are helpful when developing and organizing this information. - Size - Activity - Location - Unit - Time - Equipment Capabilities and Limitations Answer the questions: • What can the enemy do? • How will the enemy use each available element of combat power? Analyze the enemy’s ability or inability to conduct various operations against your unit under any reasonably foreseeable situation. • The acronym DRAW-D serves as a reminder of the minimum factors to be considered. What is the enemy's capability to: - Defend - Reinforce - Attack - Withdraw - Delay For example, can the enemy effectively attack at night? Can they conduct a deliberate defense against us, or do they lack sufficient forces and equipment? Will the enemy be reinforced by elements of other units as a result of our

attack? How long will this reinforcement take? Can it be done at night? Is the reinforcement force transported by vehicle or will it be traveling on foot? ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION: TERRAIN & WEATHER ANALYSIS The analysis of terrain and weather must always be conducted from the friendly and enemy perspectives. • The enemy perspective is arguably the more important of the two because you will use this information in conjunction with your enemy analysis to support your estimate of the enemy's most likely course of action. • This is not simply a regurgitation of existing physical terrain, current weather conditions, and human terrain, but an analysis of the effects of the military aspects of physical terrain, weather and human terrain (civil considerations). Terrain Analysis The connection between the terrain and tactics should be analyzed considering the military aspects of terrain. These aspects are identified in the acronym OCOKA. • O – Observation and Fields of Fire - Observation is the ability to see friendly and enemy forces and key aspects of the terrain to judge strength, prevent surprise, and respond to threats. - Field of fire is an area with a direct line of sight that weapons may cover/fire upon effectively from a given position. • C – Cover and Concealment - Cover is protection against enemy fire, both direct and from shelling. - Concealment is protection from enemy observation and surveillance, including features that protect both horizontally and vertically. • O - Obstacles - Obstacles are natural or manmade terrain features that prevent, restrict, divert, or delay military movement. • K – Key Terrain - Key terrain is any ground that must be controlled to achieve military success. • A – Avenues of Approach - Avenue of approach is any relatively unobstructed ground route that leads to an objective or key terrain. Weather Analysis

Consideration of the weather's effects is an essential part of the analysis. The leader determines how the weather will affect visibility, mobility, and survivability of friendly and enemy units by considering the military aspects of weather. • Visibility The leader identifies conclusions about visibility factors such as light data (begin morning nautical twilight [BMNT], sunrise [SR], sunset [SS], end evening nautical twilight [EENT], moonrise [MR], moonset [MS], and percentage of illumination), fog, and smog, and about battlefield obscurants such as smoke and dust. • Winds Winds of sufficient speed can reduce the combat effectiveness of a force as the result of blowing dust, smoke, sand, or precipitation. Windblown sand, dust, rain, or snow can reduce the effectiveness of radar and other communication systems. Strong winds can also limit aviation operations. • Precipitation Precipitation affects soil trafficability, visibility, and the functioning of many electro-optical systems. • Cloud Cover Cloud cover affects ground operations by limiting illumination and the solar heating of targets. Heavy cloud cover can degrade many target acquisition systems, infrared-guided munitions, and general aviation operations. • Temperature and Humidity Extremes of temperature and humidity reduce personnel and equipment capabilities and may require the use of special shelter or equipment. Civil Considerations (Human Terrain) Civil considerations include the influences of man-made infrastructure; civilian institutions; and the attitudes and activities of civilian leaders, populations, and organizations within an AO, with regard to the conduct of military operations. • Areas Key civilian areas are localities or aspects of the terrain within an AO that have significance to the local populace. • Structures Analyzing a structure involves determining how its location, functions, and capabilities can support operations. • Capabilities Capabilities can refer to the ability of local authorities—those of the host nation or some other body—to provide a populace with key functions or

services. • Organizations Organizations are nonmilitary groups or institutions in the AO. They influence and interact with the populace and each other. • People People is a general term describing all nonmilitary personnel that military forces encounter in the AO. This includes those personnel outside the AO whose actions, opinions, or political influence can affect the mission. • Events Events are routine, cyclical, planned, or spontaneous activities that significantly affect organizations, people, and military operations. ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION: TROOPS & FIRE SUPPORT AVAILABLE In the same way that we analyze the enemy's composition, disposition, and strengths along with enemy capabilities and limitations, a unit leader must also analyze the friendly assets available and their capabilities. The unit leader must also consider: • Mental and physical condition of the Marines • Level of unit and individual training • Status of equipment and fire support assets Organic Identify the capabilities and limitations of the assets your organic unit will bring to bear on the enemy during the conduct of the mission. Fire Support Available Identify locations, azimuths of fire, contact information, employment (general support [GS], direct support [DS], or attached [(ATT]), and any priority of fires of indirect fire support agencies. In addition, identify any available air assets. What weapons will they bring to the fight? What are the capabilities of their fires? When and how long are they on station?. Attachments and Detachments Identify: • Assets (if any) that will detach from your unit • Units or assets that have been attached to your unit

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help