ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
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Mission Command 18 June 2020 2-15 The BSB commander assumes risk when establishing and employing multiple CPs. Personnel and equipment that comprise an early entry CP or tactical CP must be sourced internally and may impact the ability to operate the main CP. The FSCs may provide personnel in a maneuver battalion’s field trains CP and combat trains CP. For more information on field trains and combat trains CPs, see chapter 5. COMMAND POST OPERATIONS The XO is in charge of and supervises the staff in the main CP. As the key staff integrator, the XO frees the commander from routine details of staff operations and the management of the CP. The XO ensures efficient and effective CP operations. The XO duties include but are not limited to— Coordinating and directing the work of the staff. Establishing and monitoring the CP battle rhythm and nesting with higher and subordinate headquarters’ battle rhythms for effective planning support, decision making, and other critical functions. Formulating and disseminating staff policies. Ensuring effective liaison exchanges with higher, lower, and adjacent units and other organizations as required. Supervising the sustainment of the CP and activities of the headquarters and headquarters battalion or company. Supervising staff training for CP operations. Coordination with the SPO officer to ensure BSB staff and SPO staff are synchronized. Coordination with the SPO officer on BSB task organization. The XO establishes CP operations to perform 24-hour operations with multiple shifts. Each shift has an officer or senior non-commissioned officer who acts as the battle captain. The battle captain assists the commander by being the focal point in the CP for communications, coordination, and information management. The battle captain maintains awareness of the situation two echelons down at all times and the activities of adjacent units. The battle captain must have a working knowledge of all elements in the CP, understand the unit’s SOPs, and ensure that the CP staff uses them. The battle captain knows the current plan and task organization of the unit and understands the commander's intent. The battle captain maintains and continuously updates the common operating picture in the CP. The battle captain analyzes new information as it enters the CP and passes it to staff officers or the commander as appropriate. The battle captain leader understands the commander’s critical information requirements as well as the criteria and triggers for the commander's decision points. The battle captain understands both the BCT scheme of maneuver and how the warfighting functions integrate into operations. The battle captain assists the XO in synchronizing the CP staff and current operations. The BSB’s SOP complements the supported brigade’s SOP. Some areas addressed in an SOP are standard CP layout, battle drills, battle rhythm, communications, reporting procedures, report formats, and base layout templates (with and without the presence of FSCs and BCT units’ field trains command posts). Successful units follow and revise SOPs throughout training and mission execution. Effective CP operations require frequent training that includes establishing and practicing staff battle drills. The number and sophistication of BSB staff battle drills vary by organization. The battalion trains and practices battle drills in a variety of situations. The commander considers the size, location, and mobility requirements of the CP and then configures the CP based on unit standard operating procedures. Figure 2-1 on page 2-16 depicts an example BSB CP layout with multiple work areas and uses equipment authorized by MTOE or common table of allowances. This figure is merely an example; commanders may organize and collocate the CP staff cells in any fashion based on the commander’s desires and operational requirements. The commander may also add or remove equipment depending on mission variables. ATP 4-90