TIPS
ON STAFF PLANNING- Expect
to operate at a reduced staff level. All staff and BOS areas must have personnel
trained and prepared to fill in for the principals; a 24-hour operational coverage
and capability is a must.
- Commanders
must be involved from the start.
- Consider
use of a focused course of action (COA). Intelligence preparation of the battlefield
(IPB) is a staff responsibility, not just the S2's. The S2 must integrate the
products from the other BOS, especially AD, EN, FS and CH; also others such
as CSS.
- Battlefield
operating system (BOS) personnel must wear their "red hat" at all times.
- Mission
analysis and wargaming are critical steps; don't take shortcuts here.
- Do
not start the mission analysis briefing until the S2 is ready. The unit commander/XO
must determine what is required for the mission analysis brief and focus the
staff to support the S2 in getting there.
- Capture
and understand the commander's guidance.
- Wargame
only the most critical events.
- Wargame
with the S2/S3 in "action-reaction-counteraction" role.
- Adhere
to the XO's time schedule.
- Know
how long it takes to complete a step.
- Try
to use the same information tools throughout the process.
- The
end product is not the briefings.
- Field
grade officers must determine the standard expected of the staff and hold them
to it. It is one thing to tell a staff to prepare for a meeting; it is another
to identify for them critical areas and end products on which to focus their
preparation. This allows the staff to get their collective heads in the game
and not waste time working on minor issues or doing nothing at all.
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