Military

Here's how ADOs have "missed the boat" in the past, and what you can do to become a successful air defender.

(1) "KNOW YOUR ENEMY."

Sun Tzu had it right when he said, "Know your enemy, and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat."

Think about it. As the task force ADO, you must understand more than just the enemy air threat. You must know how he fights, when and where he will be seen on the battlefield, what he will target, and what his weaknesses are.

Problem: In the past ADOs have not demonstrated a solid understanding of the enemy they are fighting.

EXAMPLES:

1. ADOs assume that the only rotary-wing threat they will ever face is the MI-24 HIND D. Not every potential adversary in the world will have that particular weapon platform in its inventory. In fact, the OPFOR at the CMTC uses the HIND E.

What should this tell you, the knowledgeable task force ADO? The HIND E uses the AT-6 SPIRAL Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) system, not the AT-3 SAGGER. The SPIRAL has an improved range of five kilometers. It also gives the HIND an improved night-time capability. The SPIRAL takes about five seconds to fly the full five kilometers to its target. This capability affects how, where, and when the OPFOR can deploy its HINDs, not to mention the flight profile it would have to use. This is an important piece of information when you're wargaming the task force's courses of action with the rest of the staff.

2. ADOs have difficulty visualizing how the battle will unfold (i.e., wargaming) and understanding when and where the enemy will employ the air threat. During the meeting engagement, the OPFOR at the CMTC usually uses their MI-24 HIND Es in the armed reconnaissance role, especially if the OPFOR commander's ground reconnaissance effort was not as successful as expected.

What does this tell you, the ADO? Most ADOs assume that all HINDs will fly in support of the Advanced Guard or Forward Detachment Main Body (AGMB/FDMB). This is what you were taught at the schoolhouse. For the most part, it's true. But what if the OPFOR commander decides to use his HINDs in an armed reconnaissance role? The ADO should be searching for the Forward Patrol (FP) or the Forward Security Element (FSE) to determine how the HINDs are committed. This implies that you will need to move your air defense coverage forward with the company/teams tasked with the mission of fixing or destroying the FP or FSE.

The bottom line. Understand who the enemy is, what his capabilities are, and where and when they will be employed so that you can mass your assets at the right time and place.

(2) IDENTIFY THE COMMANDER'S PRIORITIES FOR COVERAGE.

Problem: Identify the Priorities for Air Defense Coverage.

ADOs who have recently rotated through the CMTC have frequently failed to assist the commander in completing this cornerstone step. Nothing that you do as the ADO during the planning process is as essential to success as identifying the commander's priorities for air defense coverage. There is no way you can come up with a truly sound air defense plan if you don't first clearly identify the priorities. Clearly identify your priorities for each phase down to the company/team level.

Why is it important that you and the commander identify the priorities for coverage by phase down to the company/team level? There are two reasons:

1. There is no way you can develop a sound base plan that will set the stage for the task force's success if you don't first understand the commander's priorities.

EXAMPLE: If the commander believes that Team COBRA must survive the task force's fight against the FP/FSE so it can take on the AGMB, then that might be your top priority. If Team COBRA dies to the air threat before it completes its mission, how will the task force win the ground battle? The task force will lose, and so will you. If you don't understand the importance of Team COBRA, then you probably won't make sure to cover it at the critical place and time. You will fail to complete your mission.

2. If you and your platoon understand the air defense priorities of each phase down to company/team level, it will be a lot easier for you to shift your coverage during the actual battle.

EXAMPLE: If Team COBRA was the priority for coverage during the main battle and the FSE destroys it, who should you protect? Do you continue to protect a dead asset? Most ADOs do! Do you know the commander's next priority? Who does the commander plan to use in place of Team COBRA -- the team that now must survive the air threat to complete the task force's mission?

Knowing those priorities beforehand makes it easier to shift your coverage during the actual battle.
Result: Enhanced flexibility.

How do you come up with the priorities for coverage?

a. Participate in the task force staff wargaming process. As the task force staff analyzes different courses of action, you can:

mentally picture each course of action;
conduct a quick analysis using criticality, vulnerability, recouperability, and threat;
make a list of what you think the priorities should be by phase for each COA.

b. During the course of action brief, after the commander decides which course of action he will follow, ask him what your priority of coverage should be and give him your recommendations. This will ensure that you understand his priorities and intent as you prepare your operations order and air defense annex.

(3) UNDERSTAND THE SCHEME OF MANEUVER.

Once you understand the threat and have a clear grasp of the commander's priorities, you must develop an understanding of how the task force plans to fight the ground battle.

This knowledge is of paramount importance. Your goal is to mass the appropriate combat power forward at the critical place and time.

EXAMPLES:

1. The task force S2 says that the HINDs will fly in support of the Main Body because the task force's counter-reconnaissance plan failed.

• Where should you place your assets?
• What company/team is assigned the responsibility of fixing the AGMB?

2. The S2 decides that the enemy will fly in the armed reconnaissance role. Which company/team has the mission to fix the FSE that the HINDs are covering?

How can you more easily place your assets at the critical place and time to destroy the enemy air threat before he can target the task force?

• Actively participate during the task force's wargaming process.
• Understand the task force's scheme of maneuver; i.e., who will fight where and what.

(4) IDENTIFY ALL AVAILABLE FRIENDLY ASSETS.

According to Sun Tzu, "Know your enemy and know yourself...." It's more than knowing who the enemy is. You've also got to know who is on your side. And the first asset that comes to every ADO's mind is his own organic platoon. But that's only the beginning.

What friendly assets do you have around you who can help you complete your mission?

a. Ask yourself what other air defense artillery assets can assist you in identifying or destroying the enemy air threat.

Have you coordinated with all adjacent air defenders?
Are you talking to each other, ensuring that early warning is being passed?
How about the Air Defense Scouts?
Where are they located?
Who controls them?
Do they have eyes on those avenues that might affect your task force?
Do not ignore your reinforcing air defenders.

EXAMPLE: During the past couple of rotations, most ADOs had a reinforcing Avenger platoon, but were unsure how to use them. Even if the reinforcing platoon leader is a senior lieutenant, YOU are the task force's ADO. YOU are responsible for placing those reinforcing assets on the battlefield to counter the air threat. Don't issue vague orders hoping that the reinforcing platoon leader will do magically things for you. YOU must lead them.

b. Do not ignore non-air defense assets within the task force. They can also help you. The task force scouts are usually assigned ground Named Areas of Interest (NAIs) that are also critical to the air defender. Coordinate with the task force S2 to ensure that the scouts also look up at that third dimension as well as at the ground. Include the air threat in the task force's Reconnaissance and Surveillance Plan.

CONCLUSION

Young ADOs, don't be discouraged. Don't be intimidated. Coming up with a sound task force air defense plan is not impossible. Just apply "The Four Basics." The plan will fall together. And once the plan is formalized, don't forget to continually review the four basics to ensure that your plan doesn't become obsolete before you implement it!

"Driving Where the Water Flows"

"Incoming!!!" - How to Reduce the Effectiveness of Enemy Indirect Fires