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Discussion:

Situation: A mechanized infantry battalion task force (TF) received a mission to deploy into a zone of separation established by the UN to execute Peacekeeping operations. The deployment from home station required execution of a tactical road march. The TF was required to execute ROM operations during the road march. The brigade would operate the ROM sites for the battalion.

Problem: The battalion had recently completed training for ROM using organic assets. The brigade assumed responsibility for establishing the ROM and published the procedures as part of the OPORD. The battalion had never rehearsed a ROM using this particular technique designated by the brigade. There was no time available to train and rehearse the new ROM technique before deployment.

Identify the Hazard: The ROM was to be executed by unrehearsed troops on unimproved roads which were bordered by steep drainage ditches. To further complicate the matter, recent steady rains in the vicinity of the ROM sites had made the ground slippery. The road march consisted of multiple serials of intermixed tracked and wheeled vehicles.

Assess the Hazard: The battalion commander and his staff determined during the military planning process that the risk to the success of the mission was extremely high. An attempt to move the large number of heavy tracked and wheeled vehicles through unrehearsed ROM sites in poor weather and on poor roads would likely result in an accident. He determined the possible loss of time, personnel, and materiel outweighed any advantage he would receive by the brigade executing the ROM.

Identify Control Options and Make Decisions: The preferred control option identified by the battalion commander, rehearse the new ROM technique before execution, was not possible. There was no time available to organize and execute an additional rehearsal. The battalion training schedule was already full meeting other mission preparation requirements.

The battalion commander knew he did not have the authority to change the brigade OPORD; he did not have the authority to implement his second control option: Execute the ROM as previously trained and rehearsed. He elevated the hazard and his recommended control to the brigade commander. After discussion, he agreed to the recommended changes and, subsequently, the OPORD was changed.

Implement Control Options: The OPORD was changed, and the battalion was directed to set up and execute the ROM. The battalion OPORD was published with ROM instructions that reflected the previously trained and rehearsed technique. All personnel were briefed to execute the ROM as rehearsed.

Supervise: All leaders focused attention on the execution of the ROM and ensured it was conducted as rehearsed. Duties and procedures were clear and well understood throughout the chain of command. The ROM was executed without incident, and the change of control of the ROM from brigade to battalion did not adversely affect the mission.

Lesson(s): Risk decision authority resides with the individual or agency within the chain of command responsible for assigning the mission. In this case, the brigade had assigned the mission; therefore, the brigade commander was the appropriate level for accepting the risk or making the changes based on analysis and implementation of control options. Had the requirement to execute the ROM been given to the brigade by division, then the appropriate level for decision would be the division commander.

Risk Management Integration--Summary