Course of Action

Offensive Operations ACTION: Demonstrate an understanding of U.S. Army Offensive Doctrine. CONDITIONS: Given FM 3-0, FM 7-10, FM 7-8, FM 101-5, FM 101-5-1, a FT Benning Map, a company level operations order, several periods of instruction, appropriate field training, resources and equipment, and training in a classroom and field environment. STANDARDS: Demonstrate adequate understanding of U.S. Army Offensive Doctrine by scoring at least 70% (60% for ISTD) on two written exams, and by developing paragraphs I-III of a platoon operations order. Demonstrate the ability to apply U.S. Army Offensive Doctrine by successfully completing a squad live fire exercise and by successfully conducting offensive operations at platoon level in a field environment.

PROCESS AT PLT/COMPANY LEVEL Mission Analysis Analysis of Mission-begins upon Receipt of Mission Purpose of your mission Task - specified, implied, essential Constraints Restated Mission - who, what (task), when, where, why (purpose), type of operation Terrain & Weather Analysis - significant conclusions of effects on enemy/friendly Enemy Analysis - develop SITTEMP and para 1A (Enemy Situation) Troop Analysis-available assets, combat power Time Analysis-planning timeline, execution Civil Consideration Risk assessment Course of Action Development Analyze Relative Combat Power - determine TTPs, helps confirm/deny decisive point Generate Options Array Initial Forces (Task Organize) Develop Scheme of Maneuver (Actions On Objective) Assign Headquarters Prepare COA Statement and Sketch (Sandtable) Analysis of COA Hasty Wargame (mentally fight your plan from start to finish) Course of Action Comparison - only if time allowed for developing more than 1 Course of Action Selection - only if developed more than 1 *Issue additional WARNO if required M T ET T C Troop Leading Procedures STEPS 1. Receive Mission 2. Issue Warning Order 3. Make a Tentative Plan 4. Initiate Movement 5. Conduct Recon 6. Complete Plan 7. Issue OPORD 8. Supervise Mission/intent 1 and 2 levels up Concept 1 and 2 levels up DECISION MAKING PROCESS AT PLT/COMPANY LEVEL

AGENDA COA Development Decisive Point How to build a COA Concept Sketch and Statement Execution Paragraph

COA Development - What is the Decisive Point? Task and Purpose for Main Effort and Supporting Efforts (nesting of purposes) What is the essential task? Task Organize (weight the Main Effort)/Assign C3 Apply Control Measures for maneuver elements Prepare COA sketch/terrain model and COA statement

DECISIVE POINT DEFINED FM 101-5: Where a unit will mass the effects of overwhelming combat power to achieve a result with respect to terrain, enemy, and time that will accomplish the units purpose. FM 3-0: A geographic place, specific key event, or enabling system that allows commanders to gain a marked advantage over an enemy and greatly influence the outcome of an attack Your MAIN EFFORT is focused at the DECISIVE POINT

DECISIVE POINT DEFINED TWO TYPES OF DECISIVE POINTS TERRAIN BASED—Focused on the seizure, retention, control, occupation, or denial of a specified piece of terrain leading to accomplishment of the unit’s purpose ENEMY BASED—Focused on the destruction, incapacitation, seizure, attrition, clearance, or neutralization of an enemy force that will directly or indirectly lead to the accomplishment of the unit’s purpose Your Decisive Point will fit one of these two types

DECISIVE POINT PRACTICAL EXERCISE

DECISIVE POINT EXERCISE ? OBJ BEAR ? ? xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx What is the PLT’s Decisive Point, and why is it decisive?? D O A T: SEIZE OBJ BEAR P: PREVENT ENEMY FROM MASSING DIRECT FIRES ON Co MAIN EFFORT

COA DEVELOPMENT DETERMINE PURPOSES OF ME & SE (Nesting Concept) P: PREV BYPASS OF ME P: PREV MASSING OF CBT PWR AGAINST THE ME P: PREV ENEMY FROM MASSING IN COMPANY AO DETERMINE DP Remember, the decisive point is achieved by the Main Effort. Likewise, it is tied to the purpose of the Main Effort.

COA DEVELOPMENT Nesting Concept Supporting Efforts are given purposes that support the ME (horizontal nesting). The ME is given the purpose of its Higher Unit (vertical nesting). The nesting concept facilitates Unity of Command as well as Unity of Effort. Remember, the driving aspect of the nesting concept is PURPOSE, not the task. Tasks can and will frequently change, the reason “why” you are given a mission (purpose) will seldom change!!

COA DEVELOPMENT T: clear enemy forces in zone P: to allow the establishment of a defense along Moore Rd by TF 1-15 INF. 2-11 T: destroy the AQ terrorist threat vicinity OBJ BLADE P: to allow the defense along Moore Rd to be established by TF 1-15 INF. B 2-11 1 B 3 B T: Destroy enemy mortar site on OBJ BOBCAT P: Prevent enemy indirect fire against Co ME 2 B T: Destroy enemy AQ Group CP on OBJ BULL P: Allow the establishment of a defense along Moore by TF 1-15 INF T: Destroy AQ terrorist elements on OBJ BEAR P: Prevent organized counterattack against the Co ME

COA DEVELOPMENT DETERMINE PURPOSES OF ME & SE DETERMINE TASKS FOR ME & SE T: DESTROY P: PREV BYPASS OF ME T: SUPPRESS P: PREV MASSING OF CBT PWR AGAINST ME T: SEIZE P: PREV ENEMY FROM MASSING IN COMPANY AO DETERMINE DP

COA DEVELOPMENT DETERMINE PURPOSES OF ME & SE DETERMINE TASKS FOR ME & SE ALLOCATE CBT PWR/TASK ORG T: DESTROY P: PREV BYPASS OF ME T: SUPPRESS P: PREV MASSING OF CBT PWR AGAINST ME T: SEIZE P: PREV ENEMY FROM MASSING IN COMPANY AO DETERMINE DP

COA DEVELOPMENT DETERMINE TASKS FOR ME & SE ALLOCATE CBT PWR/TASK ORG ASSIGN C2 HEADQUARTERS T: DESTROY P: PREV BYPASS OF ME T: SUPPRESS P: PREV MASSING OF CBT PWR AGAINST ME T: SEIZE P: PREV ENEMY FROM MASSING IN COMPANY AO C2 = SQD LDR C2 = SQD LDR DETERMINE DP C2 = PLT LDR

COA DEVELOPMENT ALLOCATE CBT PWR/TASK ORG ASSIGN C2 HEADQUARTERS DEVELOP CONTROL MEASURES T: DESTROY P: PREV BYPASS OF ME T: SUPPRESS P: PREV MASSING OF CBT PWR AGAINST ME T: SEIZE P: PREV ENEMY FROM MASSING IN CO AO C2 = SQD LDR C2 = SQD LDR Determine DP C2 = PLT LDR

COA DEVELOPMENT A complete Course of Action consists of the following: -Task Organization -Mission Statement -COA Statement -COA Sketch C2 = SQD LDR C2 = SQD LDR C2 = PLT LDR

COA DEVELOPMENT GENERIC TASK ORGANIZATION C2 = SQD LDR C2 = PLT LDR SE1 ME SE2 C2 = SQD LDR C2 = PLT LDR

Mission Statement Example WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW Example 3/B/2-11 IN attacks to destroy enemy on OBJ Bear (GL123456) NLT 041200JUL05 in order to prevent enemy counterattack into company AO

Concept Statement CONSISTS OF: Purpose of Operation Type of Attack/Form of Maneuver or Defensive Technique Designates Decisive Point and why it is decisive Task and Purpose of ME/SE Purpose of Fires, Engineers, other BOS elements Endstate with respect to enemy, friendly, terrain

EXAMPLE CONCEPT STATEMENT PLT Mission: 3/B/2-11 IN attacks to destroy enemy on OBJ BEAR (GL123456) NLT 041200JUL05 in order to prevent enemy counterattack into company AO The purpose of this operation is to prevent enemy counterattack into the company AO. We will accomplish this by conducting a penetration of enemy forces on OBJ BEAR. The Decisive Point of this operation is the seizure of the high ground on the southwest corner of OBJ BEAR. It is decisive because seizure of it prevents the enemy from massing combat power against the PLT/Co. SE1 destroys enemy to prevent the bypass of the ME. SE2 suppresses the enemy to prevent them from massing combat power on the ME. The ME seizes OBJ BEAR to prevent the enemy from massing in the AO. The purpose of fires is to prevent the enemy from massing squad-sized elements or larger against the ME. The purpose of engineers is to open a lane for the ME to attack OBJ BEAR. Endstate of this operation is OBJ BEAR seized, hasty defense established, and platoon prepared for follow-on operations.

Concept Sketch Requirements Enemy (crew served wpns, ops, battle positions) Friendly Depict Terrain (contour lines, roads, streams, vegetation, obstacles) Maneuver (your squad icons) Task and purpose for ME and SE Any Control Measures to help your subordinates visualize your concept (TRPs, IDF targets, ORP, SBF, etc.) Decisive Point and why North arrow for orientation

EXAMPLE CONCEPT SKETCH WARE TRAIL OBJ BEAR T: SEIZE OBJ BEAR P: PREVENT ENEMY FROM MASSING T: DESTROY ENEMY P: PREVENT BYPASS OF ME 1 2 prevents the enemy from massing combat power against the PLT/Co LUMPKIN TRAIL DOA BOB ATK PSN T: SUPPRESS P: PREVENT ENEMY FROM MASSING AGAINST ME

Execution Paragraph EXECUTION -- Key Tasks (Key tasks your subordinates need to accomplish. Include Mission Essential Task.) -- Concept of the Operation (incorporate the COA statement and sketch/terrain model) -- Maneuver (assign task/purpose to each element) Scheme of Maneuver

Execution Paragraph EXECUTION (cont’d) -- Scheme of Maneuver Write out step by step how actions are going to occur from the beginning of the mission to completion. Focus your attention on Actions On the Objective!! (Use Sketch/Terrain Model to Brief Maneuver!!)

Execution Paragraph SCHEME OF MANEUVER Can be done in several ways: - By phase (a narrative broken into parts--see your Company OPORD) - Shown strictly on sand table/sketch (field planning) - Execution Matrix (hard at first, best method after you get the hang of it b/c it ensures you cover all BOS elements)

Example Execution Matrix Shell Phase I Phase II Phase III Enemy Maneuver Fires Intel Engineers ADA CSS C3 PLATOON

Execution Paragraph SCHEME OF MANEUVER Must be complete from crossing LD to C/R with primary focus being on Action on OBJ (ORP through to Consolidation/Reorganization) No detail is too small (azimuths, distances, orientations, method for crossing LDA, positioning of MGs, sectors of fire, location of key leaders, critical times, signals, location of CCP/supplies, IDF targets/types, movement formations/techniques, etc… ) Be mindful not to micromanage Again—details, details, details…

Execution Paragraph -- Fires Task (Destroy, Disrupt, Delay, Limit) Purpose Method (Priority, Allocation, Restrictions) Effects -- Engineers (Task, Purpose, Method, Effects) -- Tasks to Maneuver Units -- Tasks to Combat Support Units -- Coordinating Instructions (Including Timeline)

Summary Determine Tasks and Purposes Determine Essential Task - Determine Decisive Point (DP) Determine Tasks and Purposes Determine Essential Task Task Organize (weight the Main Effort)/Assign C3 Implement Control Measures Prepare sketch/terrain model and statement

Homework Typed, Buddy Team OPORD (to include the following) Terrain and Weather Analysis (with GTO on blowup) Paragraph 1A (Enemy) with SITTEMP (on blowup) Paragraph 1B Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3 (Key Tasks, Concept Statement and Sketch, Maneuver [with scheme of maneuver and graphics on blowup], Fires, Tasks to Maneuver Units, Tasks to Combat Support Units, Coordinating Instructions) DUE: 07MAR05 at first formation!!!