Plans and Planning

OperationsTactical Science Course1Action will remove the doubt that theory cannot solve.The art of war is theapplication of the science!Tehyi Hsieh16

2Operational AnalysisA fundamental, but sometimes complex prerequisite for any commander to achieve successOperational Design the tool for translating operational requirements into tactical guidanceFive elements involved:Mission, enemy (obstacles) terrain and weather, troops and support available, and time availableA first step in gaining true situational awareness

METT|T153MissionA clear, concise statement of what is to be done and for what purposeProvides the basis for which all planning must necessarily follow and from which the essential tasks are derivedWill require prioritization of multiple objectives, including enabling objectivesMETT|T144Enemy (Obstacles)Identifies the threatWhile many law enforcement operations involve an adversary (enemy), they are just as likely to encounter tactical operations responding to floods, fires, earthquakes, haz-mat spills, and the likeIdentifies whatever needs to be defeated, removed, circumvented, or surmounted to succeedSWOT Analysis Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and ThreatsMETT|T135SWOT Analysis -Strengths and weaknesses most often are used as inward looking to analyze capabilities. Opportunities and threats are most often outward looking and useful to analyze favorable and unfavorable circumstancesTerrain and WeatherTerrain Analysis KOCOAWeatherPrecipitation, sunrise, sunset, moon rise, moon set, percent illumination, winds, humidity, and the like can all affect operationsBoth terrain and weather will impact operations, most commonly as eitherTrafficabilityVisibilityMETT|T126Troops and Support AvailableMost critical step to estimate effectiveness, efficiency and sustainmentNumbers and types of troops availableCapabilities and location of each type of unitCustody, traffic, detectives, patrol, SWAT, bomb disposal, canine, air support, heavy transport, etc.Square pegs in square holes, round pegs in round holesTroops are always consumersFood, water, batteries, ammunition, etc.Pilots are worthless without aircraft, trucks and buses are worthless without fuel METT|T117TimeThe time available and time required may be incompatibleHarsh time constraints always favor training!Time always imposes prioritization requirementsYou can not have or do everything at onceMissions, tasks and assignments may be:Time drivenResource drivenMETT|T108Time driven missions are those that take a given time regardless of the number of resources employed. Travel time is a good example. If it takes one hour to move a bus down a road to a given point, it wont matter how many buses or how many drivers, it will still take 60 minutes.

Resource driven missions are those that will be completed faster with more resources. If it takes 10 hours for one person to build a barricade, ten people should do it in one hour.

The best course of action is to identify those missions, tasks and assignments that will profit from more resources and not waste resources on those that wont.

FogCalled the Fog of War by the militaryInformation will always be ambiguous, uncertain, unreliable, or even conflictingYou will never be absolutely certain of an appropriate course of action

A condition that prohibits a tactical commander from obtaining accurate information in a timely manner.99

FrictionManifests itself in at least three distinct dimensionsPhysical PsychologicalSelf-Induced

The force that resists all action. It makes the simple difficult and the difficult seemingly impossible.810Is as ever present as gravity and a force that must be overcome to succeed

Management vs. CommandLeadershipDirection of PeopleManagementImplies the ability to effectively direct, administer or carry on businessThing oriented (Project, Program, etc.)Process rather than eventCommandThe ruthless application of powerObject oriented (Get it done!)Tends to be more of an event than a process

711Command vs. ControlCommandThe Formal Exercise of Absolute AuthorityAuthority bestowed by a commandersposition in the organizationControlInfluence exerted by:Personal ExpertisePersonal PersuasionCharisma

612Command RelationshipsHomeVisitorHomeVisitorJoint CommandDefault ModeMutual Aid is provided to requesting agencyCommand falls to agency with jurisdiction and responsibilityUnified CommandRequires an agreementOften happens when the aid provided greatly exceeds the supported agencys assetsCommand is shared inside a single command module513Changed to reflect NIMS, 7-27-2007SupportGeneralOpsDirectLogisticsIntelGeneral SupportDefault ModeC2 remains the sameSupporting unit responsible for all administrative and operational needsDirect SupportRequires AssignmentC2 reverts to supported unitSupported unit responsible for all administrative and operational needs of supporting unitHQ414OrdersOrders are how plans are implemented, coordinated and controlledConsent may be expressed or impliedSilence is Consent is the default modeExpressed Consent will be required when a commander desires to make the decisionTwo parts to every orderWhat to do as precisely as practicalWhy it is necessary as clearly as possible315Four Types of OrdersAlert Orderused to initiate a heightened state of vigilance or preparation for some actionWarning Orderused when it appears certain that some action, individual or unit will be requiredExecute Orderused to implement or carry out some action in accordance with a planFragmentary (Frag) Orderused to modify or rescind any existing order216Decision Points & Trip WiresControl measures designed to encourage initiative without relinquishing strategic oversightDecision Point an event, time or sequence at which further guidance is necessary to proceedDecision is automatically defaulted to commander or designeeTrip Wire used to automatically implement a plan, procedure or series of actions within predetermined guidelinesProvides a means to allow complex plans to be developed and briefed and then automatically implemented in the heat of battle

117Analyzing the Battlespace

Area of OperationsAreas of InterestArea of InfluenceArea of OperationsWhere operations are being conductedArea of InfluenceWhere operations are planned or capable of being conductedAlways somewhat subjectiveArea of InterestAreas of concern to an operationDo not need to be contiguous18The AO (Area of Operations) is actually a sector within the much larger concept of BattlespaceAn important difference between a military operation and a surgical operation is that the patient is not tied down. But it is a common fault of generalship to assume that he is.Captain Sir Basil Liddell Hart19