Chapter
IV EXECUTION
EXECUTION
| "Your infantry on my infantry, I'm going to win. Your artillery on my infantry, I'm going to run. Your helicopters on my infantry, I'm going to hide. But any two of those combined, or even worse, all three combined on my infantry, I'll lose every time."--Comment made by the former JRTC OPFOR Commander, LTC Sittnick |
Ultimately, the purpose of the search and attack is to destroy the enemy. Once you find the enemy, you must rapidly fix, and subsequently mass your combat power to facilitate its destruction. Massing your combat power must incorporate a combined arms approach, including all battlefield operating systems. This chapter focuses on those issues that directly relate or contribute to finishing the enemy.
Issue: Few battalion and brigade battle staffs have practiced battle drills enough to facilitate the rapid action necessary once contact with the enemy is made.
Discussion: As events occur on the battlefield, staffs must possess the capability to rapidly assess the situation, develop viable courses of action, and generate the orders and instructions necessary to implement those decisions. Well-developed and -rehearsed staff battle drills can help reduce the time required to appropriately handle certain types of events. Not all events can be adequately addressed by a simple staff battle drill. More complex events may require the use of the MDMP to solve. However, there are numerous events or activities that can and should be solved by a simple staff battle drill. Battle drills should be developed to handle those events which require immediate decisions and actions but do not require the detailed planning inherent in the MDMP. Examples of these types of events that occur while conducting a search and attack include:
- Reacting
to contact with the enemy
- Clearance
of fires
- Capturing
of an enemy prisoner of war
- Mine
incident
- Casualty
evacuation
- Reacting
to enemy surface-to-air missile launch
- Reacting
to enemy indirect fires
- Identification
of enemy cache
- Civil
disturbance/village incident
- Enemy threat in rear area
This list is not all inclusive, but does provide a fundamental list of events that should be handled by nothing more that a staff battle drill. In the search and attack environment, once contact with the enemy is made, you do not have long to rapidly fix and finish the enemy before he breaks contact. Battle drills are a tool that can help reduce the time required to solve these common problems.
TTP:
- Identify those events or activities that happen on a recurring basis. Once identified, develop a staff battle drill that adequately addresses each event.
- Ensure all personnel who work in your TOC are familiar with, and understand, their roles and responsibilities during the execution of the battle drill.
- Once developed, rehearse these drills as often as possible.
- Conduct AARs to assess your proficiency, as well as the need to adjust or fine-tune your battle drills.
(See example below for staff battle drills.)
DRILL/SECTION | REACT TO ENEMY MINE INCIDENT | REACT TO ENEMY CONTACT |
| TF S2 | -
PLOT LOCATION - UPDATE/ADJUST SITTEMPs AS NECESSARY - CONDUCT PATTERN ANALYSIS - PASS INFORMATION HORIZONTALLY & VERTICALLY AS NECESSARY - ASSESS NEED TO CONDUCT A DEBRIEF WITH INVOLVED UNITS - GET ENEMY BDA, UPDATE ENEMY STRENGTHS - COORD EPW SUPPORT (IPW/CI) | -
PLOT LOCATIONS - UPDATE/ADJUST SITTEMPs AS NECESSARY - CONDUCT PATTERN ANALYSIS - PASS INFORMATION HORIZONTALLY & VERTICALLY AS NECESSARY - ASSESS NEED TO CONDUCT A DEBRIEF WITH INVOLVED UNITS - GET ENEMY BDA, UPDATE ENEMY STRENGTHS - COORD EPW SUPPORT (IPW/CI) |
| TF S3 | -
RECEIVE/PLOT SALUTE REPORT; CLARIFY AS NECESSARY - DISSEMINATE REPORT WITHIN TOC - REPORT INCIDENT HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY IMMEDIATELY - INFORM CDR/XO/S3 - CONFIRM LOCATION OF SUBORD & SUPPORTING UNITS' VICINITY CONTACT INCLUDING UNITS CURRENTLY MOVING ON ROUTE - COORD ROUTE CLEARANCE EFFORT: ENG, FIRE SPT, SECURITY - ASSESS NEED TO SEARCH AREA FOR ADDITIONAL ENEMY ACTIVITY: MINE, CACHES, ENEMY OP - OBTAIN BDA, UPDATE UNIT COMBAT POWER STATUS - ALERT MEDICAL ASSETS OF POSSIBLE CASEVAC - CONFIRM/ADJUST FLIGHT ROUTE AS NECESSARY FOR AIR MEDEVAC - CLEAR AIRSPACE AS REQUIRED FOR AIR MEDEVAC - COORD TO ISOLATE AREA; DETERMINE ALTERNATE ROUTES - ASSESS NEED TO UPGRADE FORCE PROTECTION MEASURES | -
RECEIVE/PLOT SALUTE REPORT; CLARIFY AS NECESSARY - DISSEMINATE REPORT WITHIN TOC - REPORT INCIDENT HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY IMMEDIATELY - INFORM CDR/XO/S3 - CONFIRM LOCATION OF SUBORD & SUPPORTING UNITS' VICINITY CONTACT - ASSESS NEED TO COMMIT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HANDLE CONTACT: QRF, RESERVE, AVIATION, CAS, FIRE SPT - OBTAIN BDA; UPDATE UNIT COMBAT POWER STATUS - ALERT MEDICAL ASSETS OF POSSIBLE CASEVAC - CONFIRM/ADJUST FLIGHT ROUTE AS NECESSARY FOR AIR MEDEVAC - CLEAR AIRSPACE AS REQUIRED FOR AIR MEDEVAC - REPORT INCIDENT TO HIGHER HEADQUARTERS - ASSESS NEED TO UPGRADE FORCE PROTECTION MEASURES |
| TF FSE | -
ASSESS NEED TO EMPLACE CFZ TO COVER INCIDENT - ASSESS NEED TO ADJUST FIRE SUPPORT PLAN, BASED ON ADJUSTED MANEUVER PLAN - DETERMINE IF CONTACT IS IN VICINITY OF EXITING TARGET - ADJUST PRIORITY OF FIRES AND TARGETS AS NECESSARY - INFORM SUBORDINATE FSO/FO THAT APPROPRIATE TARGET IS IN EFFECT - ASSESS WHICH FIRE SUPPORT ASSET WILL SHOOT MISSION IF REQUESTED (81MM/105MM/155MM/NGF); SEND WARNING ORDER | -
ASSESS NEED TO EMPLACE CFZ TO COVER INCIDENT - ASSESS NEED TO ADJUST FIRE SUPPORT PLAN, BASED ON ADJUSTED MANEUVER PLAN - DETERMINE IF CONTACT IS IN VICINITY OF EXISTING TARGET - ADJUST PRIORITY OF FIRES AND TARGETS AS NECESSARY - INFORM SUBORDINATE FSO/FO THAT APPROPRIATE TARGET IS IN EFFECT - ASSESS WHICH FIRE SUPPORT ASSET WILL SHOOT MISSION IF REQUESTED (81MM/105MM/155MM/NGF); SEND WARNING ORDER - APPROVE FIRE MISSION ONCE GRID IS CLEARED (SEE CLEARANCE OF FIRE DRILL) |
| TF ENG | -
UPDATE ROUTE STATUS; RECOMMEND ALTERNATE ROUTES - REPORT ROUTE STATUS, HORIZONTALLY & VERTICALLY - COORD CLEARANCE OF ROUTE INCLUDING: SECURITY, FIRE SUPPORT; ASSESS ROUTE CLEARANCE ASSETS (MICLIC, PLOWS, ROLLERS, REMOTE ASSETS) - IF CACHE IS FOUND, ASSIST IN DESTRUCTION OF EQUIPMENT AS REQUIRED | -
CHECK ROUTE STATUS TO SUPPORT CASEVAC, RESUPPLY, MOVEMENT OF REINFORCEMENTS
- IF ROUTE IS NOT CLEAR, COORD ROUTE CLEARANCE INCLUDING: SECURITY, FIRE SUPPORT; ASSESS ROUTE CLEARANCE ASSETS (MICLIC, PLOWS, ROLLERS, REMOTE ASSETS) |
| TF ADO | -
ASSESS APPLICABLE ENEMY AIR AVENUES OF APPROACH - REVIEW STATUS OF ASSETS IN VICINITY AND ADJUST AS NECESSARY - ALERT SUBORDINATE UNITS OF POSSIBLE AIR MEDEVAC | -
ASSESS APPLICABLE ENEMY AIR AVENUES OF APPROACH - REVIEW STATUS OF ASSETS IN VICINITY AND ADJUST AS NECESSARY - NOTIFY SUBORD OF PENDING FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY AS NECESSARY |
| TF S1/S4 MEDO | -
PLOT REPORT - DISSEMINATE REPORT WITHIN ALOC - COORD RECOVERY OPERATION AS NECESSARY (SECURITY, ROUTE) - SEND WARNING ORDER TO CASEVAC ASSETS - IF GROUND EVAC, COORD FOR SECURITY AND ROUTE CLEARANCE - IF AIR MEDEAVAC, COORD CLEARANCE OF AIRSPACE - OBTAIN UPDATED COMBAT POWER, LOGSTATS REPORTS AS NECESSARY - COORD LOG RESUPPLY IF REQUIRED - IF ENEMY CACHE IS FOUND, ASSESS TRANS REQUIREMENTS TO MOVE EQUIP OR CL V REQUIREMENTS TO DESTROY EQUIP - INITIATE PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT RECONSTITUTION PROCEDURES AS NECESSARY. | -
PLOT REPORT -DISSEMINATE REPORT WITHIN ALOC - COORD RECOVERY OPERATION AS NECESSARY (SECURITY, ROUTE) - SEND WARNING ORDER TO CASEVAC ASSETS - IF GROUND EVAC, COORD FOR SECURITY AND ROUTE CLEARANCE - IF AIR MEDEAVAC, COORD CLEARANCE OF AIRSPACE - OBTAIN UPDATED COMBAT POWER, LOGSTATS REPORTS AS NECESSARY - COORD LOG RESUPPLY IF REQUIRED - INITIATE PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT RECONSTITUTION PROCEDURES AS NECESSARY. |
| TF SIGO | - ASSESS NEED FOR RETRANS SUPPORT | - ASSESS NEED FOR RETRANS SUPPORT |
| CA/PSYOP/PAO | -
ASSESS NEED FOR PRESS RELEASE - ASSESS NEED FOR PSYOP/CA INVOLVEMENT | -
ASSESS NEED FOR PRESS RELEASE - ASSESS NEED FOR PSYOP/CA INVOLVEMENT |
| TF S2 | -
PLOT/UPDATE ENEMY TARGET - UPDATE/ADJUST SITTEMPs AS REQUIRED - PASS INFORMATION HORIZONTALLY/VERTICALLY AS NECESSARY - RECEIVE ENEMY BDA AND ASSESS ENEMY STRENGTH | -
IF RADAR ACQUIRED FIRE MISSION, PLOT LOCATION - UPDATE/ADJUST SITTEMPs AS REQUIRED - CONDUCT PATTERN ANALYSIS - PASS INFORMATION HORIZONTALLY/VERTICALLY AS NECESSARY |
| TF S3 | -
RECEIVE REQUEST FOR INDIRECT FIRES - VERIFY FRIENDLY UNIT LOCATIONS VICINITY CONTACT - PASS TARGET DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION TO S2 - ONCE GRID IS CLEARED, NOTIFY FSE AND OTHER STAFF SECTIONS IN TOC AND APPROVE FIRE MISSION - MONITOR FIRE MISSION AND GET ENEMY BDA; PASS TO S2 | -
RECEIVE REPORT - DISSEMINATE REPORT THROUGHOUT TOC - IF RADAR ACQUIRED FIRE MISSION, GET LOCATION AND PLOT - VERIFY FRIENDLY UNIT LOCATIONS VICINITY CONTACT - ONCE GRID IS CLEARED, NOTIFY FSE AND OTHER STAFF SECTIONS IN TOC AND APPROVE FIRE MISSION - MONITOR FIRE MISSION, AND GET ENEMY BDA; PASS TO S2 - ASSESS NEED TO UPGRADE FORCE PROTECTION MEASURES - ASSESS NEED FOR CASEVAC; COORD AS NECESSARY - REPORT INCIDENT TO HIGHER HEADQUARTERS |
| TF FSE | -
RECEIVE REQUEST FOR INDIRECT FIRES; PASS INFO TO S3/BATTLE CPT - COORD AIR SPACE MANAGEMENT WITH AVN - ONCE GRID IS CLEARED, APPROVE FIRING OF MISSION - MONITOR FIRE MISSION AND GET ENEMY BDA; PASS TO S2/S3 - ASSESS NEED TO REPOSITION INDIRECT FIRE ASSETS | -
CONTACT DS BN TO DETERMINE IF RADARS ACQUIRED FIRE MISSION - IF RADAR DID ACQUIRE, GET LOCATION AND PASS TO BATTLE CPT - COORD AIR SPACE MANAGEMENT WITH AVN - ONCE GRID IS CLEARED, APPROVE FIRING OF MISSION - MONITOR FIRE MISSION AND GET ENEMY BDA; PASS TO S2/S3 - ASSESS NEED TO REPOSITION INDIRECT FIRE ASSETS |
| TF ENG | - ASSESS MOBILITY DAMAGE ALONG KEY ROUTES AS NECESSARY | -
CHECK ROUTE STATUS TO SUPPORT CASEVAC/RESUPPLY/MOVEMENT OF REINFORCEMENTS - IF ROUTE IS NOT CLEAR, COORD ROUTE CLEARANCE WITH S3 INCLUDING SECURITY, FIRE SUPPORT |
| TF ADO | -
ASSESS APPLICABLE ENEMY AIR AVENUES OF APPROACH - REVIEW STATUS OF ASSETS IN VICINITY AND ADJUST AS NECESSARY | -
ASSESS APPLICABLE ENEMY AIR AVENUES OF APPROACH - REVIEW STATUS OF ASSETS IN VICINITY AND ADJUST AS NECESSARY |
| TF S1/S4 MEDO | -
PLOT REPORT - DISSEMINATE REPORT WITHIN ALOC - COORD CL V RESUPPLY AS NECESSARY | -
PLOT REPORT - DISSEMINATE REPORT WITHIN ALOC - SEND WARNING ORDER TO CASEVAC ASSETS - IF GROUND EVAC, COORD FOR SECURITY, ROUTE CLEARANCE, AND ESCORT AS NECESSARY - IF AIR MEDEAVAC, COORD CLEARANCE OF AIRSPACE - OBTAIN UPDATED COMBAT POWER, LOGSTATS REPORTS AS NECESSARY - COORD RECOVERY OPERATION (SECURITY) - COORD LOG RESUPPLY |
| TF SIGO | ||
| CA/PSYOP/PAO | - ASSESS NEED TO PREPARE PRESS RELEASE | - ASSESS NEED TO PREPARE PRESS RELEASE |
Chapter
III: Setting the Conditions
Chapter
IV, Part 2
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