US ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE
US Army Command and General Staff School
Command and General Staff Officer Course (CGSOC) Common Core
C200 Strategic Context of Operational Art AY 2018-19
CONGRESSIONAL BACKGROUND PAPER
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
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2. You must type your answers, using the format provided in this document. DO NOT USE ANY
OTHER FORMAT. The format you must follow is described below. The text in the example below
provides guidance on the use of the format and preparation of the paper, and also depicts the physical
layout of the paper (single line spacing, indentation, numbering and lettering – 12 font Arial per AR
25-50). The subject of the Congressional Background Paper (Kaliningrad) has been provided to you in
the C207 Strategic Estimate Slides. Use the Army Writing Style mandated by AR 25-50 which
involves starting with the Bottom Line Up Front – BLUF (i.e. thesis in the introduction). Cite sources
IAW ST22-2. The correct use of citations is to treat the subparagraphs in the Background Discussion
section as paraphrases of the C207 Strategic Estimate Slides; unless you use a direct quote. Include a
filled in (Header and left side 2nd page) CGSC Form 1009w with the submission.
The paper consists of two parts:
a. A two page Background/Discussion; and
b. One page Conclusion and Recommendations.
3. You may refer to the online C200 lessons, readings, and references if you need to review key
concepts of the strategic environment block. You may not discuss this assignment with anyone other
than a DDE faculty member or your academic advisor.
4. This writing requirement is worth a total of 100 points. Your grade will be based on three criteria:
a. Substance (accurate depiction of information, ideas, analysis from Strategic Estimate) (75 points).
b. Organization (adherence to prescribed format and guidelines) (5 points)
c. Writing Quality (style – tone, precision; correctness – spelling, punctuation, grammar) (20 points).
SCENARIO AND SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
It is December 2020. You are an Action Officer (AO) and a member of a EUCOM J5 (ECJ5) Joint
Planning Group (JPG). As directed by the Chief of Staff through the J5, your JPG has completed an
update of the Strategic Estimate (see C207 slides provided) for the Baltic Region to get the
Commander up to speed on the situation in the region regarding Kaliningrad and provide the basis for
a commander’s estimate and, if necessary, development of plans.
Following the successful briefing of the Strategic Estimate (where it was approved), the Combatant
Commander learned that he would have to travel to Washington to join the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff at congressional hearings on the situation in the Baltic region regarding Kaliningrad. The
Combatant Commander will depart for Washington sometime in the next few days.
You have been tasked to prepare a paper for the Combatant Commander to use in testimony before
congressional committees and in meetings in Washington regarding Kaliningrad. The intent is to
provide analysis of the Strategic Estimate regarding Kaliningrad, not to regurgitate content.
Use the format provided below
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ECJ5 Action Officer’s GRADE, NAME
APPROVED BY: ____________ DATE 2020
STRATEGIC ESTIMATE OF THE BALTIC REGION
1. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION. Include the heading above with your name. The paper will
not exceed three pages. The focus is Kaliningrad and is designed to provide maximum
information in a manner that is easily absorbed. The format is appropriate for use whenever
the need for presenting summarized information arises. You will use no more than two
pages to summarize the Strategic Estimate that you were provided. This is a narrative
summary not a cut and paste. Within this paper, you must include key points from each
section of the Strategic Estimate: Introduction, Strategic Environment, Strategic Direction,
Strategic and Operational Challenges, Potential Opportunities, and Assessment of Risks. Use
complete, concise sentences and cover sub-points clearly and concisely. Use the headings
below to delineate each section of the paper.
a. Introduction
b. Strategic Environment
c. Strategic Direction
d. Strategic and Operational Challenges
e. Potential Opportunities (Explain each option from the Strategic Estimate using DIME)
this is a description of potential opportunities in each Option that we may leverage, or
that provides a benefit for the U.S.
Option 1: Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic
Option 2: Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic
Option 3: Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic
f. Assessment of Risks & Mitigation
2. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. This section is the opportunity for the Action
Officer (you) to apply your judgment, weigh the alternatives, and recommend one of the
options presented in the approved Strategic Estimate. You will use no more than one page
for your recommendation.
Ensure you address the Validity criteria of Feasible, Acceptable, Suitable, and Complete
in your recommendation. Identify potential risks and mitigation.
Ensure you justify your recommendation by explaining why it is superior in comparison
to the other possible options. You may use the decision matrix slide as a tool to help you
determine the superior option. If you the chart ensure you explain what it means.
