ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
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Chapter 2 2-8 ATP 4-90 June 18, 2020 logic, and professional knowledge to understand situations, develop options to solve problems, and reach decisions. This process helps commanders, staffs, and others think critically and creatively while planning. The MDMP results in an improved understanding of the situation and a plan or order that guides the force through preparation and execution. The rapid decision-making and synchronization process (RDSP) is a decision-making and synchronization technique that commanders and staffs commonly use during execution. Commanders and staffs develop this capability through training and practice. RDSP includes five steps. Units perform the first two steps in any order, including concurrently. Units preform the last three iteratively until commanders identify an acceptable course of action. The five steps of RDSP are— Compare the current situation to the order. Determine that a decision, and what type, is required. Develop a course of action. Refine and validate the course of action. Implement. BSBs supporting large-scale combat operations often lack the time to effectively execute the MDMP. RDSP provides a time compressed solution to commanders in a dynamic environment. While the MDMP seeks the optimal solution, RDSP seeks a timely and effective solution within the commander’s intent, mission, and concept of operations. Using RDSP lets leaders avoid the time-consuming requirements of developing decision criteria and comparing courses of action. Operational and mission variables continually change during execution. The change often invalidates or weakens courses of action and decision criteria before leaders can make a decision. Under RDSP, leaders combine their experience and intuition to obtain situational understanding. Based on this, they develop and refine workable courses of action. Operational Art Operational art is the use of personal skill, knowledge, experience, creativity, and judgment to understand the desired end state, the unit objective, mission and operational variables, and capability. With this, the commander can task organize and array subordinate companies in the most effective way to accomplish the mission. Through operational art, commanders and staffs combine the art of command and the science of control to develop plans and orders that describe how (ways) the force employs its capabilities (means) to achieve the desired end state (ends) while considering risk. Commanders use the elements of operational art to understand the OE and develop a concept of operations. These elements can be used selectively in any operation as required and not all apply at all levels of warfare. The elements of operational art are: End state. Conditions. Center of gravity. Decisive points. Lines of operation. Lines of effort. Tempo. Phasing. Transitions. Culmination. Operational reach. Basing. Risk. BSB planners synchronize and integrate sustainment with the other warfighting functions by determining what sustainment capability is required and where it must be located to achieve the desired end state. They also establish desired conditions including required quantities of supplies or operational readiness rate.