4.4 Direct and Lead Subordinate Forces
* Staff Battle Drills [Brigade Maneuver/C2]: Staff do not routinely perform staff battle drills to streamline tactical operation center (TOC) operations.
PROBLEMS:
1. Battle Captains and Battle NCOs are not proficient in orchestrating staff battle drills.
2.
Staffs rarely
train
at Home Station on executing staff battle drills.
Techniques:
1. Train the battlestaff, at Home Station, on basic TOC drills. This will allow the principle staff to focus on future operations, and to react when needed on major battlefield events.
2.
References:
-
CALL Newsletter 95-7 Tactical
Operations Center (TOC).
-
CALL Newsletter 95-4 CTC
2QFY95 Bulletin,
article entitled "What Now Battle Captain?"
*
MI Company Collective Skills [Intelligence]:
PROBLEMS:
1. Command and control at the company and platoon level.
2. Overall collective skills.
3.
Task execution.
EXAMPLES:
1. The MI company team does not coordinate and synchronize well within the unit itself.
2. Collective tasks such as direction finding (DF) operations are a major problem for SIGINT operations.
3.
GSR teams:
-
continue to show implanting weakness by failing to implant sensors tactically.
-
fail to verify radio line of site and coordinate what frequency to use for
repeaters.
-
sensor string configurations and distances do not allow the teams to determine
direction
or length of columns.
4.
HUMINT teams continue to display weak interrogation approach techniques, and
are not prepared to conduct CI screening with developed
plans.
-
teams do not relate to their respective roles.
-
teams fail to have a clear picture of the battlefield, and lack focus.
Techniques:
1. Use FM 25-101 as a reference for planning and resourcing battle focused training.
2.
At Home Station, train on METL tasks.
3.
Identify battle tasks and individual tasks that support the METL, then train
the tasks to standard. This will improve mission execution and enhance unit
command and control.
4.4.1
Prepare Plans or Orders
*
Precision in Graphic and Graphic Reproduction/Dissemination [Battalion Command
and Control]:
PROBLEM:
Without a TOC
battle drill
to
update, reproduce and disseminate graphics, battalions often go for
days
without
subordinate elements having even basic
graphics,
ie. unit boundaries.
Techniques: for graphics dissemination -
1. Establish a courier system.
2. Use LOGPACs.
3.
Take advantage of battlefield circulation by the command group to assist with
dissemination.
*
Staff Integration [Combat Service Support]:
Brigade
and battalion S1s, S4s, FSB support operations and the MPs continue to be omitted
from the Tactical Decision Making Process. Specifically, they are routinely
omitted from:
-
personnel, casualty, and logistical estimate detailed briefings
-
COA development
-
wargaming
Also,
MP platoons do not have sufficient warning to conduct troop leading procedures
and prepare to successfully accomplish their mission.
RESULT:
logistics, CHS and personnel considerations are not
integrated and synchronized
with
the ground tactical plan.
Technique:
Conduct
Home Station collective training using the Tactical Decision Making Process
and integrating maneuver element staffs with CSS staffs and the military police.
*
Tactical Decision Making Process (TDMP) [Combat Service Support]:
FSB
staffs routinely fail to execute or poorly execute the TDMP. FSB staffs have
trouble with the following tasks:
-
Conduct mission analysis
-
Conduct IPB
-
Develop feasible courses of action
-
Develop the supporting commander's operations estimate
-
Prepare OPLAN/OPORD and annexes
Techniques:
1. Conduct Home Station collective training exercising TDMP.
2. Practice TDMP when planning routine garrison missions and daily operations.
3.
References:
-
ST 101-5 Command
and Staff Decision Processes
-
CALL
Newsletter 95-12 Tactical
Decision Making: Abbreviated Planning
-
CALL JRTC Orders Trainers Support Package
4.4.1.1
Develop and Complete Plans or Orders
*
Backbriefs and Rehearsals [Battalion Maneuver]:
Backbriefs
and rehearsals are not routinely done, and when they are, they usually amount
to nothing more than talking
through
the
concept of the operation.
PROBLEMS: Commanders and S3s . . .
1. do not deliberately plan or properly prepare for rehearsals.
2. fail to focus on key events.
3. do not address branches and sequels.
4. do not use a synchronization matrix or execution checklist to guide the rehearsal.
5.
fail to adequately note changes to the concept based on the rehearsal and then
publish
a FRAGO
to
update subordinate units.
Techniques:
1. Conduct confirmation briefs by commanders immediately after the OPORD to ensure they understand their tasks and purposes. The format must be standard, and the battalion staff must attend.
2. Backbriefs are essential, but they should not be the sole means of rehearsal. Backbriefs alone do not facilitate the visualization of the entire task force plan.
3. Rehearsal must be properly planned and prepared for. The entire staff should be present. Do not sacrifice rehearsals because of time. Rehearsals, next to wargaming, represent the most important means of ensuring synchronization.
4. Use a synchronization matrix or an execution checklist to guide the rehearsal and to ensure all the BOS are covered. Concentrate on key events.
5. When sufficient time is available, there is no substitute for a full-force rehearsal from battalion down to platoon leader level.
6.
References:
-
CALL Newsletter 91-1 Rehearsals
-
FM
7-8, Chapter 2
-
FM 7-10, Chapters 2,4,5-7
PROBLEMS:
1. Once units leave the Intermediate Staging Base, rehearsals are infrequently conducted and seldom provide benefit to the operation.
2. Fire supporters are generally not integrated into the maneuver rehearsal, as recommended in FM 7-20.
3. Most fire support rehearsals result in only a confirmation of the planned target list.
4.
Rehearsal techniques listed in FM 6-20-1 are not being used.
Techniques:
1. Develop a sound SOP to cover the essential elements of a rehearsal.
2. Integrate fire support into the maneuver rehearsal. Each commander and FSO should succinctly describe the actions as each unit fights with maneuver and fires.
3. The FSO must be able to describe what enemy action will trigger a specific fire support task/event.
4. A walk-on terrain model is usually worth the required time to construct it.
5. Train the how to of rehearsal at Home Station.
6.
Reference: FM 6-20-1, pages 3-12 through 3-15 for rehearsal overview.
Back
to JRTC BOS LIST
Back
to TA. 4 COMMAND AND CONTROL BOS LIST
Back
to TA. 4 COMMAND AND CONTROL BOS
Go
to TA. 4 COMMAND AND CONTROL BOS: CONTINUED
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
