UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Military

SECTION II: BOS NARRATIVES

Organized by BOS, these narratives amplify the bullet listings in Section I. As appropriate and/or available, they provide doctrinal references and techniques and procedures for the needed training emphasis. The narratives are labeled IAW the Blueprint of the Battlefield system for reference and long-term trend development.

TA. 1 MANEUVER BOS

Positive Performance

1.1.1 Position/Reposition Forces (Units and Equipment)

* Mortar platoon displacement: Mortar platoons have generally used correct displacement techniques.

Technique: the mortar platoon leader develops a displacement plan as part of the fire plan. The displacement plan is depicted on a map overlay and/or configured using a sandtable during the OPORD. Shown are initial positions and subsequent positions (primary and alternate); routes between positions; control measures to support a specific operation or for a specific length of time.

1.2.1 Employ Direct Fire

* Tank and Bradley gunnery: Tank and Bradley gunnery in both live fire and force on force operations is improving. Boresighting procedures and MILES gunnery techniques are improving.

RESULT: crews are able to destroy more targets with fewer rounds, and to destroy targets at more extended ranges.

Needs Emphasis

1.1 Move

* Movement formations and techniques:

PROBLEMS:
1. Task forces and company/teams do not use movement formations in conjunction with movement techniques.
2. Units only discuss the movement formation they will use while they are moving.

RESULT: too many elements make contact while using the traveling technique, often in a column formation.

Technique: plan movement formations in conjunction with movement techniques. Transition to more secure movement techniques as the likelihood of enemy contact increases.

1.1.1 Position/Reposition Forces (Units and Equipment)

* Heavy Task Force use of dismounted infantry:

PROBLEMS:
1. Task forces do not effectively use their dismounted infantry.
2. Infantry soldiers are often not integrated into the scheme of maneuver.
3. Because of a lack of clear task and purpose, too often infantry soldiers are not used in conjunction with the Bradley fighting vehicle (BFV).
4. When soldier do dismount from the Bradley, they are too often unprepared to accomplish their mission:
  • they leave essential equipment (radios, AT weapons, etc.) behind
  • they are unfamiliar with the tactical situation
  • they are unsure of what they are supposed to accomplish
5. Most infantry squads are untrained and are unfamiliar with infantry drill, as specified in FM 7-7; they often fail to use even a movement formation or technique.

Technique: use every possible Home Station training opportunity to train dismounted infantry drills, and infantry training in conjunction with the BFV.

* Movement techniques for mechanized smoke platoons:

PROBLEMS:
1. Mechanized smoke platoons do not generally execute movement formations and techniques based on METT-T.
2. Smoke platoons lack the necessary training and rehearsal with the maneuver element they support.

Technique: Integrate smoke platoons into Home Station maneuver training with Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) prior to deployment so the smoke platoons can gain the necessary maneuver proficiency to effectively work with the elements they support. DO NOT just use smoke platoons to provide battlefield effects during Home Station training.

* Military Intelligence company support to offensive operations:

PROBLEM: MI companies are too often not ready to conduct forward movement in offensive operations.

Techniques:
1. The MI company must be able to support the higher unit's scheme of maneuver throughout the depth of the battlefield.
2. This requires:

- face to face coordination
- conduct of passage of lines operations
- execution of tactical movement and maneuver
- establishment of site security from ground and air attack
3. NOTE: maneuver elements conducting offensive operations do not have the option of leaving their supporting MI elements behind. This implies that maneuver and MI elements must conduct concurrent Home Station training to establish the necessary familiarity for subsequent maneuver operations.

1.2 Engage Enemy

* Actions on contact:

PROBLEMS:
1. Platoons and companies need improvement in planning and executing actions on contact.
2. During the planning process, specific actions on contact are neglected.
3. Subsequently, these actions are not discussed during mission briefs or rehearsed.

RESULT: units fail to take proper actions on contact and suffer avoidable casualties and jeopardize mission success.

Techniques:
1. Actions on contact are battle drills that should constitute the bulk of a company or platoon level scheme of maneuver.
2. Become familiar with the different types of contact, as detailed in FM 17-15, Tank Platoon.
3. List battle drills in reaction to each of the forms of contact. Then discuss, rehearse and execute these drills during Home Station training exercises.
4. Incorporate the battle drills into the unit SOP; this facilitates subsequent simplification of the orders process and preparation for mission execution.

1.3.1 Control Terrain Through Fire or Fire Potential

* Engagement area preparation:

PROBLEMS:
1. Task forces continue to be overwhelmed by the process and procedure of engagement area (EA) preparation.
2. Instead of building an EA from the inside out, units tend to piecemeal their efforts.
3. They too often fail to set work priorities and fail to adequately supervise preparations.
4. There is also a lack of clear understanding of the commander's intent and his vision for how the battle will unfold. This lack of understanding hinders subordinate commander's ability to intelligently emplace weapons systems and integrate supporting assets.

Technique: See the engagement area article in CALL CTC Quarterly Bulletin, 3rd Quarter, FY 96, "Building an Engagement Area," by CPT Steven Shelby, NTC.


TA.7 Combat Service Support BOS
TA.2 Fire Support BOS Narrative



NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list