Mission Analysis

1
TACTICAL PLANNING AIDEMEMOIRE

• Concept Manuvre Warfare
• Focus on the enemy Center of Gravity, the source
  of his freedom of action, his physical strength
  or will to fight
• Atk the enemy cohesion, emphasis on its defeat
  and disruption rather than attempting to hold or
  take the ground
• Fix and strike using tempo, main effort and
  synchronization

• Mission Analysis
• Superior Commanders intent
• Higher Commanders concept of operations
• Assigned tasks (the critical one will help to
  formulate the mission statement)
• Implied tasks
• Constraints (resources, time and space, etc)
• Has the situation changed?
• Clarification (if required)
• Mission statement (2-part, with the msn verb
  linked to the higher purpose)

• BATTLE PROCEDURE
• Receive Warning Order
• Conduct a quick map study and Time Estimate
• Receipt of Orders
• Conduct Mission Analysis
• Issue Initial Warning Order
• Make a Detailed Time Estimate
• Conduct a Map Study and Prepare an Outline Plan
• Prepare a Reconnaissance Plan
• Conduct Reconnaissance
• Do Remainder of Estimate
• Issue a Supplementary Warning Order
• Prepare and Issue Orders
• Coordinate Activities and Requirements of
  Subordinates
• Supervise Deployment
• Execute the Mission

• Mission Command
•  
• Fundamentals
• Unity of Effort
• Decentralize Authority
• Trust
• Mutual Understanding
• Timely and Effective Decision- Making

• Warning Order
• Enemy situation
• Mission / probable tasks
• Time location for orders
• No move before
• Special instructions
• Administration

•  Principles of War
•  Selection and Maintenance of the Aim
• Maintenance of Morale
• Offensive Action
• Surprise
• Security
• Concentration of Force
• Economy of Effort
• Flexibility
• Cooperation
• Administration

Do I respect the principles of war or accept the
risk
Who, where, what to do and time allocated
Do I respect the Intention and End State of my
superior?

• Combat Estimate
• Aim Mission Analysis
• Analysis of factors
• Enemy intent, capacity, etc.
• Ground L, C, R Key Vital
• Own Troops internal external, need to
  regroup, etc.
• Met daylight, weather impact.
• -Time and Space
• - Assessment of Tasks
• Courses open - mine versus enemys most dangerous
  and most likely (advantages disadvantages,
  risks). Review against fundamentals, etc.
• Plan - as a minimum must incl
• - Mission statement
• - Execution (concept of ops, gp tasks, key
  coord instructions)
• - Key CSS and C2 details

COPPED Cover Obstacles Posn of Fire Posn of
Obsn Enemy Distance

• Command Relationship
• OPCOM Split elements, assign msn tasks,
  delegate, coordinate
• OPCON Assign msn tasks, delegate, coordinate
• TACOM Assign tasks, delegate, coordinate
• TACON Coordinate only (def, planning, movement)

As per Mission Task Verbs checklist
Detailed
FLOCARK Features Lanes Objectives Canalizing
Terrain Avenues of Approach Rating of
Approaches Key Terrain\ Vital Ground

• Concept of Operations
• Intent
• Scheme of Manoeuvre
• Main effort
• End State

What are the number and type of troops required
to fulfill each of my assigned and implied tasks?
2

• MISSION AND TASK VERBS (Primary Definition)
• To Atk by fire posn Fires employed to destroy
  the enemy from a distance, normally used when the
  mission does not dictate or support occupation of
  the objective. This task is usually given to the
  supporting element during the offensive and as a
  counter-attack option for the reserve during
  defensive operations.
• To block Deny the enemy access to a given area
  or to prevent enemy advance in a given direction
  or an avenue of approach. It may be for a
  specified time. Units assigned this mission may
  have to retain terrain and accept decisive
  engagement.
• To breach Any means available are employed to
  break through or secure a passage through an
  enemy defense, obstacle, minefield, or
  fortification.
• To bypass Involves manoeuvring around an
  obstacle, position, or enemy force to maintain
  the momentum of advance. Bypassed obstacles and
  enemy forces are reported to higher headquarters.
• To canalize To restrict operations to a narrow
  zone by the use of existing or reinforcing
  obstacles, by fires, and/or unit manoeuvring or
  positioning.
• To clear To remove all enemy forces from a
  specific location, area, or zone.
• To contain To stop, hold, or surround the forces
  of the enemy or to cause the enemy to centre his
  activity on a given front and to prevent his
  withdrawing any part of his forces elsewhere.
• To counter-Atk Attack by a part or all of a
  defending force against an enemy attacking force,
  for such specific purposes as regaining ground
  lost or cutting off or destroying enemy advance
  units, and with the general objective of denying
  to the enemy the attainment of his purpose in
  attacking. In sustained defensive operations, it
  is undertaken to restore the battle position and
  is directed at limited objectives.
• To counter-Atk by fire Fires (direct and
  indirect) employed to destroy the enemy from a
  distance, normally used when the mission does not
  dictate or support occupation of the objective.
  This task is usually given to the supporting
  element during the offensive (see also support by
  fire position) and as a counter-attack option for
  the reserve during defensive operations. An
  attack by fire is not done in conjunction with a
  manoeuvring force. When given this task, the
  intent of the fires must be specified.
• To delay An operation in which a force under
  pressure trades space for time by slowing down
  the enemy's momentum and inflicting maximum
  damage on the enemy without, in principle,
  becoming decisively engaged.
• To destroy To physically render an enemy force
  combat-ineffective unless it is reconstituted.
• To disrupt A tactical task or obstacle effect
  (that integrates fire planning and obstacle
  effort) that breaks apart an enemy's formation
  and tempo, interrupts the enemy's time table,
  causes premature commitment of forces, and/or
  splinters their attack.
• To fix A tactical task in which actions are
  taken to prevent the enemy from moving any part
  of his forces from a specific location and/or for
  a specific period of time by holding or
  surrounding them to prevent their withdrawal for
  use elsewhere.
• To follow and support An operation in which a
  committed force follows and supports the mission
  accomplishment of a force conducting an offensive
  operation. Such a force is not a reserve but is
  committed to accomplish any or all of these
  tasks destroy bypassed units, relieve in place
  any direct pressure or encircling force that has
  halted to contain the enemy block movement of
  enemy reinforcements secure lines of
  communications guard prisoners, key areas, and
  installations secure key terrain and control
  refugees.

• To follow and assume An operation in which a
  committed force follows a force conducting
  offensive operations and is prepared to continue
  the mission of the force it is following when
  that force is fixed, attrited, or otherwise
  unable to continue. Such a force is not a reserve
  but is committed to accomplish specified tasks.
• To guard Given to a a security element whose
  primary task is to protect the main force by
  fighting to gain time, while also observing and
  reporting information.
• To interdict Using fire support or manoeuvre
  forces 1. To seal off an area by any means to
  deny use of a route or approach 2. A tactical
  task which is oriented on the enemy to prevent,
  hinder, or delay the use of an area or route by
  enemy forces.
• To isolate A tactical task given to a unit to
  seal off (both physically and psychologically) an
  enemy from its sources of support, to deny an
  enemy freedom of movement, and prevent an enemy
  unit from having contact with other enemy forces.
  An enemy must not be allowed sanctuary within its
  present position.
• To neutralize To render enemy personnel or
  material incapable of interfering with a
  particular operation
• To occupy Task in which a force moves onto an
  objective, key terrain, or other manmade or
  natural terrain area without opposition and
  controls that entire area.
• To penetrate A form of offensive which seeks
  to break through the enemy's defense and disrupt
  the defensive system.
• Relief-in-place An operation in which all or
  part of a unit is replaced in an area by the
  incoming unit. The responsibilities of the
  replaced elements for the mission and the
  assigned zone of operations are transferred to
  the incoming unit.
• To retain To occupy and hold a terrain feature
  to ensure it is free of enemy occupation or use.
  
• Retirement An operation in which a force out of
  contact moves away from the enemy.
• To screen Given to a security element whose
  primary task is to observe, identify, and report
  information, and which fights only in
  self-protection.
• To secure To gain possession of a position or
  terrain feature, with or without force, and to
  make such disposition as will prevent, as far as
  possible, its destruction or loss by enemy
  action.
• To cover - Security Covering Force A force
  operating apart from the main force for the
  purpose of intercepting, delaying, disorganizing,
  and deceiving the enemy before he can attack the
  force covered. Any body or detachment of troops
  which provides security for a larger force by
  observation, reconnaissance, attack, or
  defense, or by any combination of these methods.
• To seize A tactical task to clear a designated
  area and obtain control of it.
• To support by fire posn Given to a manoeuvre
  element, it moves to a position on the
  battlefield where it can engage the enemy by
  direct fire. The manoeuvre element does not
  attempt to manoeuvre to capture enemy forces or
  terrain.
• To withdraw A planned operation in which a force
  in contact disengages from an enemy force. It
  seeks to disengage its combat forces from an
  enemy although contact may be maintained through
  other means such as indirect fire or
  reconnaissance.
• To withdraw under pressure Most often used
  within a mobile defense concept of operations,
  this task verb is used for units within the main
  defensive area and is designed to deceive the
  enemy into believing he is gaining success.
  Ultimately, the effect of this task is position
  the enemy for destruction, shaping him into a
  specific piece of terrain (normally a killing
  zone) within the MDA.