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Military

SECTION II

NT - NEEDS EMPHASIS TECHNIQUES, PART 2

TA.3 AIR DEFENSE

TA.3 Negative Trend 1: Early warning dissemination and reaction

  1. Use the command net for dissemination of early warning, stressed by key leaders.
  2. The early warning system must be fully understood and practiced by all elements within the Brigade Combat Team (BCT). Procedures for air defense elements and maneuver/support elements must be clearly defined within unit SOPs and then practiced during training exercises. Warning plans must have necessary redundancy and establish clear and effective triggers based on different threats.
  3. Incorporate explanation and discussion of local air defense warnings (LADWs) in Home Station training.
  4. Reaction to early warnings should be incorporated into Home Station training events. Unit SOPs should clearly identify air attack drills for Tactical Assembly Areas (TAAs), offensive and defensive operations. The trigger to implement these drills should be based on local air defense warnings (Snowman, Look Out, Dynamite) which more accurately identify the threat to the task force.
  5. Do not use the air defense warning system to control the level of readiness of ADA fire units. Develop a readiness status operating procedure that balances readiness requirements, based on IPB and the air defense warning system, and the requirements to conduct sustained operations.

TA.4 COMMAND AND CONTROL

TA.4 Negative Trend 1: Course of Action (COA) development and wargaming

  1. Task forces must train the planning process at Home Station. Through this training each staff officer must identify the products needed to conduct each step of the decision making process and the end products that each step generates. The Commander's Battle Staff Handbook, dated 15 May 93, is a good reference. The end product of this training will be a staff SOP with incorporated drills that will allow the task force staff to produce a quality order in a timely manner.
  2. Chapter 2 of FM 7-20 and Chapter 2 of FM 7-10 provide excellent information on developing a COA and scheme of maneuver. Include their techniques into unit SOP if necessary.
  3. Focus on COA development by task force in training at Home Station:
    - detailed and precise for task force and by event
    - details, task, and purpose for company/teams
  4. Brigade staffs must read and use the five step COA development process in FM 101-5, ST 101-5, or CALL Newsletter 93-3, The Battalion and Brigade Battle Staff. The five steps:
    1) analyze relative combat power
    2) array initial forces
    3) develop the scheme of maneuver
    4) determine C2 means and maneuver control measures
    5) prepare COA statement and sketch
  5. Fully develop a COA into a draft plan with enough detail to wargame effectively:
    - do battle calculus
    - check battlefield geometry
    - develop a detailed concept of operations
    *--- clear tasks and purpose for each BOS
    *--- based upon commander's guidance
  6. FM 101-5-1 provides the correct doctrinal definitions that should be used when assigning company/team task and purpose.
  7. Use the box method, when time is limited, and when alternative courses of action are being compared.
  8. Identify critical events and known decision points prior to the wargame.
  9. Staffs should take 30 to 40 minutes prior to initiating the wargame (while plans CPTs are gathering tools for the wargame) to ensure each BOS rep understands the concept for his piece of the fight.
  10. Wargaming should refine and synchronize the plan and determine triggers for execution. Units need to use a synchronization matrix to help facilitate and record events that are being wargamed by phase and synchronized by BOS.
  11. The task force XO or S-3 needs to take charge of the wargaming process and needs to ensure that the battle staff stays focused on the critical events and the decisive point.
  12. Create wargaming kits (micro armor, or other items to replicate units; synchronization matrices; large scale maps, etc.) to expedite the set-up and conduct of wargames.
  13. Use two phases of wargaming:
    - The initial wargaming occurs after the commander gives his planning guidance, and if he directs that more than one COA be developed. This initial wargaming is done to the level of detail necessary to provide a sound COA recommendation to the commander.
    - The second wargaming occurs after COA approval, when the commander also refines his planning guidance and intent. This session is a synchronization session and is done to the level of detail that time allows. This should be the most time consuming step in the planning process. Wargaming products include details for final plans and orders:
    - event template
    - decision tools (decision support template, decision support matrix)
    - high priority target lists
    - very detailed synchronization matrix
    - branch plans
  14. Fire Support Officers (FSOs) and Air Liaison Officers (ALOs) are key players and they must be fully integrated in the wargame for fire support to be properly integrated into the plan. Targeting/scheme of fire is developing during the wargame. The ALO must be present and plan CAS even if brigade has not allocated any CAS to the task force. Usually task forces are allocated CAS in the middle of execution, so if the ALO is not ready to use it in a moment's notice, it will be wasted.

TA.4 Negative Trend 2: Task Force Rehearsals

  1. Rehearse how to rehearse at Home Station. Reference FM 71-123.
  2. CALL Newsletter 91-1, Rehearsals, addresses the rehearsal sequence, types of rehearsals, and rehearsal techniques.
  3. Units should integrate platoon and squad battle drills into internal battle drill books. These should be understood at every level and rehearsed extensively at Home Station.
  4. Units need to rehearse all critical events in a battle including actions on the objective, not just actions on contact and breaching. Both planning and preparation for offensive operations should begin with actions on the objective and then work back to the tasks preceding crossing the line of departure. Rehearsals are extremely important in validating a detailed plan, and uncovering aspects of the plan which might have to be changed to be successful.
  5. FM 71-2, Tank and Mechanized Infantry Battalion/Task Force, and FM 71-1, Tank and Mechanized Infantry Company/team, provide excellent checklists for task for and company/team planning, as well as actions to be rehearsed.
  6. CSS rehearsals.
    - The brigade leadership must ensure that the CSS plan is integrated in the brigade overall tactical scheme of maneuver. Incorporation of the Fire Support Battalion (FSB) commander and brigade primary CSS staff member into the combined arms rehearsal process will lead to better integration and synchronization of CSS in the brigade's operation.
    - Medical treatment facility locations and CASEVAC procedures must be totally understood by all elements within the brigade (combat, combat support and CSS personnel) before the rehearsal begins, and then reiterated during rehearsal. These procedures must be exercised during Home Station training so that timely treatment minimizes the died of wounds (DOW) rate.
  7. Fire support (FS) rehearsals.
    - Revise unit fire rehearsal SOPs to require all primary and alternate executors to participate.
    - Subordinate units should have a clear understanding of brigade scheme of fires before conducting fire support rehearsal. Each subordinate element must rehearse independently prior to the brigade fire support rehearsal. Use the brigade fire support execution matrix to detail responsibilities for subordinate units and observers.
    - Ensure task force level plans coordinate with the brigade plan and players have rehearsed their parts before brigade rehearsal.
    - Ensure all key participants are on net prior to rehearsal.
    - FSCOORD gives his guidance.
    - After a target list verification and scheme of fires review (if needed), have the S-2 address the enemy actions that will trigger FS events, followed by each executor making the appropriate radio calls to complete the event.
    - The Fire Support Officer (FSO) and observers fight the plan as they envision it unfolding during execution. The FSO can make on-the-spot corrections, and also build in flexibility by adding "curves", such as the enemy formation goes north instead of south, or is 500 meters off the planned target to practice branches or hasty adjustments to the plan.
  8. Air defense (AD) battery rehearsals. During the brigade rehearsal, the AD battery participants conduct AD rehearsals. When task force commanders and S-3s return from brigade rehearsal, then make any adjustments to the AD plan. Conduct sand table rehearsals, as a minimum.
  9. MI Company Rehearsals. Each unit should construct a package of terrain model supplies, then use the supplies to build a terrain model for each mission. The rehearsal should discuss the BLUFOR and OPFOR scheme of maneuver and fires.
  10. Combined arms breaching rehearsals. Review Appendix D, Breaching Rehearsals, to FM 90-13-1, Combined Arms Breaching Operations, for information on conducting a successful rehearsal. Also review CALL Newsletter 91-1, Rehearsals.

TA.4 Negative Trend 3: Communication and signal operations

  1. Battalion Signal Officer (BSO) integration.
    - Prepare written/graphical communications annexes for task force OPORDs using examples found in FM 11-43.
    - Integrate the task force BSOs into the Tactical Decision Making Process (TDMP). Use him as the task force communications subject matter expert (SME).
    - Make BSOs CPTs where possible.
  2. Deployment of RETRANS Teams.
    - Battalion Signal Officers (BSOs) must take time to provide the RETRANS team with a clear OPORD. Reference FM 11-43 for a sample RETRANS OPORD.
    - The RETRANS team chief must provide input in the development of the RETRANS mission so that any experiences he/she has is integrated. The RETRANS team chief should also attend the orders brief or rehearsal to get an understanding of the mission they are supporting.
    - The BSO should insure the mission is understood by the team by having them backbrief their mission.
    Signal unit situation awareness.
    - Signal units should prepare some graphical portrayal of the scheme of maneuver/maneuver graphics in their sector and keep this product updated. Conduct daily briefings at the node centers on current situation with maneuver graphics.
    - Leaders should check to ensure soldiers understand the current situation before departing to remote sites. They will need copies of the maneuver graphics, the OPORD, as well as receive updates during mission preparation and execution.
    - This emphasis on situational awareness will result in fewer personnel casualties from enemy contact. The rate of CSS fratricide from minefields, artillery and direct fire will also decrease.
    Unit cross talk during battle.
    - Include cross talk as sub-task for all missions in ARTEP 71-1-MTP. Include techniques and guidelines for cross-talk in doctrinal literature.
    - Units must practice and train information exchange during all training exercises.
    - Establish priority for cross talk on the net by event or phase during development of the OPORD or rehearsal.
    - Include guidance on the use of nets in paragraph 5 of the OPORD.
  3. Communication support of brigade COLTs.
    - Coordinate fully and early with the artillery signal officer so he can adequately plan FM retrans team support to brigade COLTs. Early coordination could result, for example, in the decision for the retrans team to be OPCON to the brigade signal officer with the mission to establish and maintain the FM link from the COLTs to the artillery unit.
    - Provide timely and accurate information and current enemy SITREPs.
    - Arrange for artillery retrans teams to be OPCON to the Battalion Signal Officer (BSO) to establish and maintain the FM link to artillery units supporting brigade COLTs.
  4. ALOC/BSOC work environment. Rebuild the back of the truck with a shelter of the approximate dimensions of the old M-109 van.
    - build in shelves for the communications systems
    - use filing cabinets (or drawers) for the Personnel and Administration Center (PAC) and the S-4 shop to use for day-to-day field operations.
    - use cabinets/drawers to store office supplies
    - establish some work space for radio telephone operators (RTOs) and officers in charge (OICs) to function.

TA.4 Negative Trend 4: Tactical Decision Making Process (TDMP)

  1. Train the Tactical Decision Making Process (TDMP) at Home Station. Use CALL Newsletter 95-12, Tactical Decision Making: "Abbreviated Planning" as training reference.
  2. Involve battalion commanders and S-3s to guide and review TDMP process and products.
  3. In Home Station training, use the methodology for the brigade planning process in Chapter 1 of FM 71-123. Focus targeting team members on following the decide, detect, deliver methodology outlined in FM 6-20-10 to develop a plan that will link lookers to shooters and result in a scheme of fires that is synchronized with the scheme of maneuver.
  4. Battalion XOs should fill the role of "Chief of Staff". They should:
    - direct and control battalion OPORD timeline
    - involve entire staff
    - prevent delays
    - ensure timely OPORD issue
  5. Detailed planning considerations, such as actions on contact and actions on the objective must not be short-circuited. Successful time analysis will allow the inclusion of critical decisionmaking and planning tasks that will result in a more synchronized operation.
  6. Engineer battalion staffs must train and practice the Tactical Decision Making Process (TDMP) at Home Station with the brigade staff so they are familiar with their orders process and able to parallel plan in conjunction with it. Insure all staff members understand their roles and responsibilities in battalion OPORD process and their necessary input to the Assistant Brigade Engineer (ABE) for brigade OPORD process.
  7. Task force commanders must know what fire support assets are available to support their mission as they go through the tactical decision making process (TDMP). Good digital communications during planning and coordination greatly assists efforts to obtain assets- available information. When the Fire Support Officer (FSO) receives this information, he needs to translate it into meaningful information the maneuver commander can use.

Table of Contents
Section II: NT - Needs Emphasis Techniques, Part 1
Section II: NT - Needs Emphasis Techniques, Part 3



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