TPLF (APP-28)

Phase I – Step 1

RECEIPT OF MISSION
MAJ Miroslav MAJTNER
ICD INSTRUCTOR 1
 SCOPE

AIM
To provide an overview of the topic and set up students
for the practical exercise.

AGENDA
• Introduction
• Receipt of Mission – 9 tasks
• Summary (instructions for exercise)
REFERENCES
 INTRODUCTION

TACTICAL PLANNING FOR LAND FORCES

 an iterative approach to planning of tactical ops

 integrates the activities of the commander, staff, subordinate
headquarters, and other partners...

 3 Phases (7 sequential steps)

 Phase I – Understanding the Situation and Problem
 Phase II – Consider and Develop COAs
 Phase III – Communication
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Doctrine
Science Of War
Experience Tactics “How To Do What Is Right”

Techniques
Judgment
Staff
Procedures
Commander Knowledge

Knowledge Management

Art Of War
“What Is Right”

Execution
Vision Intent Mission OPORD/OPLAN
 TACTICAL PLANNING FOR LAND FORCES
Understand and Visualize PHASE 1
Issue
Cmdr’s Initial Planning Guidance
1. RECEIPT OF MISSION WNGO 1

RUNNING ESTIMATES (CONTINUAL)

2. MISSION ANALYSIS Mission Analysis
CDR´S VISUALISATION (CONTINUAL)

Describe
a) Order Analysis Briefing
Issue Cmdr’s Initial Intent
Deliver Order Analysis Brief b) Evaluation of Factors WNGO 2
Issue Cmdr’s Planning Guidance
PHASE 2
Deliver back brief to higher Cmdr
3. COA DEVELOPMENT COA Briefing
Refine Cmdr´s Planning Guidance
COA Analysis
4. COA ANALYSIS Briefing

COA COMPARISON COA Decision

Briefing
Direct
Approve COA PHASE 3
Refine Cmdr’s Final Intent & CCIR
6. CDR´s DECISION WNGO 3
Issue Final Planning Guidance
7. ORDERS PRODUCTION OPORD
Approve OPLAN / OPORD Dissemination and Transition Briefing

PREPARATION REHEARSALS

EXECUTION
 Receipt of Mission

Purpose: Alert the staff and subordinate units

PROCESS OUTPUT
RECEIPT OF
INPUT MISSION
Commander´s
Initial Planning Guidance
Higher HQ Plan / Order
Initial Allocation of Time
New Mission
Anticipated by Commander WNGO # 1
(9 TASKS)
 Receipt of Mission

TO DO LIST!
1. Alert the staff and other Key Participants IAW SOP
2. Prepare for Planning
3. Initiate Intelligence Preparation of the Operating Environment
4. Update Running Estimates
5. Estimate Mission Timelines
6. Estimate Staff Planning Timelines
7. Prepare and Deliver Receipt of Mission Briefing
8. Prepare and Issue the Commander’s Initial Planning Guidance
9. Issue Initial Warning Order (WNGO)
The critical product is an initial allocation of time available
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 1 – Alert the Staff and other Key Participants

- initiation of planning – after new mission / change of situation

- key players – Cmdr, COS, S3, involved entire staff

- participants of planning – defined in unit´s SOP

- plannning process – in context with higher HQ plans/orders

- planning often begins in the absence of a higher HQ´s OPORD

- in these cases – planning effort is based on a WNGO

 Receipt of Mission

TASK 2 – Prepare for Planning

Gathering necessary tools:

 current running estimates

 higher HQs’ / other organizations’ intel and assessment products

 all documents related to the mission and area of operations (AOO)

including: - higher HQs’ WNGOs, OPLANs and OPORDs,
- maps, terrain products, and operational graphics,
- products of other agencies and organizations,
- doctrines, SOPs from internal and higher HQ.
 TIP: carefully review the REFERENCES of the higher HQ OPORD.
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 3 – Initiate Intelligence Preparation of the Operating

Environment (IPOE)

IPOE – elaborate, time consuming process during which

multiple products and overlays have to be produced

 HIGHER HQ – provide their IPOE products to subordinate

units by NLT the end of Step 2 – Mission Analysis

 SUBORDINATE HQs – enabled to prepare the products of the

Area Evaluation and Actor Evaluation in Step 1... CONT...
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 3 – Initiate Intelligence Preparation of the Operating

Environment (IPOE)

The Area Evaluation products :

- Combined Obstacle Overlay [COO],
- Modified Combined Obstacle Overlay [MCOO]
- Weather forecast matrix, etc.

The Actor Evaluation

- provides information about organization,
doctrine and vulnerabilities of adversaries
or enemies.
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 4 – Update Running Estimates

It is the continuous assessment of the current situation used to

determine if the current operation is proceeding according to the
commander’s intent and if planned operations are supportable.

The commander and each staff member maintain a running

estimate, during which they continuously consider the effects of
new information and update the following:
 Facts, Assumptions
 Friendly force status
 Enemy activities and capabilities
 Terrain, Weather, Troops, Support, Time and Civil issuess
 Conclusions and recommendations
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 4 – Update Running Estimates

• During planning - focused on supporting Cdr’s decision on

selected COAs.
• During preparation - focus on any command decisions that
affect the ability of the unit to execute the upcoming
operation.
• During execution - focus on anticipated command
decisions.
• It is based on Combat Functions!
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 4 – Update Running Estimates

THE COMMANDER'S ESTIMATE

• is an analysis of all the factors that could affect a mission
• The Commander integrates:
• his personal knowledge of the situation,
• his analysis of METT-TC factors (mission variables),
• the assessments of his subordinate commanders,
• and any relevant details he gains from his staff.

• analysis includes: risk assessment, force protection, and

effective utilization of all resources.
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 4 – Update Running Estimates

THE OPERATIONS ESTIMATE (S3 STAFF)

• considers all elements that can influence the unit's current
operations and feasible future courses of action,
 staff needs to understand:
• Cmdr´s Intent ( 1 and 2 echelons above)
• CONOPS
• TASKORG (2 echelons down)
• The risk assessment
• The unit´s status (locations, current missions, combat
capabilities, including level of training, effectiveness, type of
equipment, degree of mobility, limitations)
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 4 – Update Running Estimates

PERSONNEL ESTIMATE
 prepared by S1 staff
• how all human resources and personnel factors impact soldier
and unit effectiveness before, during, and after the mission.
• includes overall personnel status of the organisation,
subordinate units and any attached or supporting elements.
• assessment of following factors:
• organisational climate, unit-strength maintenance,
• soldiers´ readiness, cohesion, disciline, law and order,
• medical evacuation and hospitalisation, replacements...
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 4 – Update Running Estimates

LOGISTICS ESTIMATE (S4 STAFF)

• assessment of the sustainment situation of the organisation,
subordinate units and attached or supporting elements

 how service support factors can affect mission acomplishement:

• supply,
• transportation,
• services, maintenance,
• labor,
• facilities, construction
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 4 – Update Running Estimates

OTHER STAFF RUNNING ESTIMATES
• each staff officer creates his own running estimate in relation to
the situation and his functional responsibilities

• A staff officer may also make such

estimates when performing
dual roles, for instance, when
he functions as both a subordinate
unit commander and a special
staff officer.
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 5 – Estimate MISSION TIMELINE

• 19 Oct xx- Receive OPORD, initiate Tactical Planning

• 18 Dec xx - Concept Back Brief
Plan
• 19 Dec xx- Tactical Panning
• 12 Jan xx - OPORD Brief
• 13 April xx - OPORD Rehearsal
Prepare
• 16 May xx – Reconnaissance
• 01 June xx- PCIs PCCs
Execute • 14 June xx – Execute Mission
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 5 – Estimate MISSION TIMELINE

• prepared by listing all actions that must be completed

• assign time periods to each of those actions
• reverse order – e.g. from „H-hour“ till „time now“
• remember 1/3 : 2/3 rule for planning !!!
OPORD
TIME NOW OPORD BRIEF REHEARSAL RECCE H-HOUR

PLAN PREPARE EXECUTE

WHO
is doing

WHAT
and

WHEN
are the
products

DUE
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 7 – Prepare and Deliver Receipt of Mission Briefing

THE RECEIPT OF MISSION BRIEF MAY CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING:

 Superior HQs’ Cmdr’s intent (2 echelons up).
 Higher HQs’ Cmdr’s mission, intent, and CONOPS (1 echelon up).
 Formation’s/Unit’s role in the overall plan.
 Mission of each adjacent unit.
 Initial results of IPOE.
 AOO, AoI, AOI
 Situation of own forces.
 Mission timelines, Estimated Staff planning timelines.
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 8 – Prepare and Issue Cdr’s Initial Planning Guidance

• Cdr’s Initial Planning Guidance includes, but is not limited to:

 Mission and higher HQs objectives
 Approved mission and planning timelines.
 Methods to abbreviate the tactical planning, if required.
 Necessary coordination to include exchange of liaison officers.
 Information requirements.
 Authorized movements and initiation of intelligence collection.
 Collaborative planning times and locations.
 Additional Staff tasks
 Commander´s Initial Planning guidance Card
Initial Time Allocation Authorised Movements /
- from mission receipt to mission execution Initiation of Information Collection tasks
- time for own and subordinates planning - limitations from higher HQ
TASK
- 1/3 to 2/3 8 – Prepare and Issue
rule Cdr’s Initialto Planning
- movements Guidance
positiions to gain advantage
Design / Type of Planning Collaborative Planning Times and Locations
- type of planning process
- Army design, MDMP, TPLF - with both higher and lower echelons
- ....

TPLF Abbreviation Techniques Initial Information Requirements

- fullscale/abbreviated planning process - extra staff space
- number of briefings/meetings, - questions from Cmdr which need answers
- number of COAs to be developed before the start of planning (CCIR...)
- how many WNGOs issued...
Coordination / Liaison Additional Staff Tasks
- higher-echelon to lower echelons - extra staff space
- left establish liaison with units on their right - additional tasks from Cmdr for early stages
- supporting units to supported, rear to front of planning
-units during FPOL, RPOL, during relief...
Any Additional Guidance
 Receipt of Mission

TASK 9 – Issue Initial Warning Order (WNGO)

• Issuing WNGO - the last activity in Phase I: Step 1
• FIVE paragraph OPORD format (ATP-3.2.2, Anex G, Appendix1)
• Include as much as information as you determine is necessary,
but as minimum:
– type of operation
– general location of the operation
– initial timeline
– any movements or reconnaissance to initiate

Warning orders maximize subordinates' planning time

 Receipt of Mission

Communicating Orders

• However, available means of communication, time, and

duplication capabilities drive the content (quantity & format)
of the order.
• Means of communication include . . .
– Radio / telephone (vocal)
– Digital message (AMCS)
– Messenger (hard-copy)
– Fax (hard-copy)
– Briefing (vocal) Get receipt acknowledgement!
– Combinations of the above
 Summary

YOUR TASK NOW - prepare :

•
Mission Timeline
•
Staff Planning Timeline
•
Modified Combined Obstacle Overlay
•
Weather Analysis
•
Enemy (Actors) Evaluation
(Disposition, Capabilities)
• Prepare and Deliver RoM Briefing
Next step: • Cdr’s Initial Planning Guidance
MISSION ANALYSIS... • WNGO #1 (IAW Cdr´s Guidance)