ATP-3-09-24 The Field Artillery Brigade Download
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Chapter 3 3-2 ATP 3-09.24 30 March 2022 courses of action for accomplishing the mission. The FAB commander and staff consider the consequences and implications of each COA. Planning continues throughout an operation. At minimum, the FAB staff refines plans for branches and sequels throughout an operation. 3-6. Plans forecast but do not predict. A plan is a continuous, evolving framework of anticipated actions that guides subordinates through each phase of the operation. Any plan is a framework from which to adapt, not an exact blueprint. The measure of a good plan is not whether execution transpires as planned, but whether the plan facilitates effective action in the face of unforeseen events. Good plans foster initiative, account for uncertainty and friction, and mitigate risk. 3-7. Scope, complexity, and length of planning horizons differ between operational and tactical planning. FAB planners integrate FAB capabilities with those of other support brigades, and with other organizations participating in unified action. Comprehensive, continuous, and adaptive planning characterizes successful operations at both the operational and tactical levels. 3-8. The FAB begins planning no later than receipt of a mission from its higher or supported HQ. Planning must be conducted concurrently and the staff must collaborate with the higher HQs. The primary focus of planning is to provide FS that meets the requirements and priorities of the higher HQ commander and staff. The FAB's higher HQ must ensure that it allocates the resources the FAB needs to accomplish its missions. 3-9. To develop plans to accomplish the assigned mission, FAB commanders and staff follow the MDMP. The military decision-making process is an iterative planning methodology to understand the situation and mission, develop a courses of action, and produce an operation plan or order (ADP 5.0). Modifications 3-10. There are several reasons the FAB commander may modify the MDMP. The following paragraphs present a few of these reasons: Time-Constrained Environment. In a time-constrained environment, the staff might not be able to conduct a detailed MDMP, and might choose to abbreviate the process as described in FM 6-0. The abbreviated process still uses all seven steps of the MDMP, but the steps are done in a shortened and less detailed manner. Parallel Planning. A change in the situation, anticipation of an order from the higher command or critical information requirements, can lead the commander to require that planning begin based on apparent changes. This is referred to as parallel planning. It is accomplished by issuing warning orders to subordinate units at various stages of the MDMP. These warning orders give subordinate units the information they need to conduct mission analysis. Distributed Planning. Digital communications and information systems enable members of the same staff to execute the MDMP without being collocated. Distributed planning saves time and increases the accuracy of available information by allowing for the rapid transmission of voice and data information that staffs can use over a wide geographical area. Collaborative Planning. The real time interaction among commanders and staffs at two or more echelons developing plans for a particular operation. The main benefits of collaborative planning come as much from engaging meaningfully in the process as it does from the product itself. While the plan may convey the decision, participating in collaborative planning conveys the context of the decision, as well as an understanding of the available options and the relationships among forces. Fire Support Planning Guidelines 3-11. Fire support planning is the continuing process of analyzing, allocating, integrating, synchronizing, and scheduling fires to describe how the effects of fires are used to facilitate maneuver force actions (FM 3- 09). Use checklists to aid FS planning. 3-12. Due to time constraints, it may not be possible to accomplish all the actions listed in tables 3-1 through 3-4. These guidelines should serve as a road map for FAB personnel.