ATP-5-0-2-1 Staff Reference Guide Volume 1 Download

Planning 07 December 2020 ATP 5-0.2-1 43 2-129. After attributing tasks and purposes, the COA team sequences separate effects together to ensure the DO is successful. To help with this, the COA team picks a form of maneuver (if one was not directed in the planning guidance) and determines if a requirement exists to phase the operation. A phase is a planning and execution tool used to divide an operation in duration or activity (ADP 3-0). A phase typically only occurs when there is a change in mission, task organization, priority of support, or rules of engagement. Evaluating the conditions required for a successful DO and planning backwards ensures the right conditions are in place for the DO. 2-130. Offensive tasks, defensive tasks, forms of maneuver, and forms of defense provide linkage on what order various actions should be processed for the DO to be successful. This knowledge enables the refining and placing of additional graphic control measures on the sketch. Placing graphic control measures can be done as soon as a need is identified. For example, an objective is immediately placed on the sketch to help orient the force once the DO's task and purpose is identified. Chapter 8 of ADP 1-02 includes additional information on control measures. Step 3.3. Array Forces 2-131. The next step is to array friendly forces. When arraying forces, planners first create a pool of all available units two levels below their echelon. Planners also may want to include key equipment or capabilities (for example ADA systems or bridging assets) in the pool. Planners array friendly forces for two reasons. First, this allows planners to see exactly how much combat power is available. Second, it helps planners remember to use all available units and capabilities in COA development. Table 2-11 shows substeps for array forces. Table 2-11. Substeps of Step 3.3, Array forces 2-132. With friendly forces identified, planners assign combat power against the DO. This is accomplished by taking the most appropriate movement and maneuver forces out of the pool and placing them on the sketch near the task and the threat forces they will engage. Once the forces required to accomplish a DO are assigned, perform the same process with each shaping effort in order of priority. Once complete, planners use excess forces in the pool to either improve the combat ratios of the DO and the various SOs or establish a reserve. Substeps of array forces Step 3.3, Array forces Refine combat power analysis for each action Allocate combat power at the decisive operation Work backwards and assign forces to other efforts Refine sequence, phase, ME, and SE as required Determine sustainment actions to support COA Add graphic control measures as required Technique. When placing forces in the availability pool, use an icon that has to be physically moved, such as a Post-It note. This technique is preferable to drawing icons in the pool, erasing them, and then placing them on a sketch. The first array of forces is never the final array, and corrections will need to be made on the sketch. Using an icon prevents erasing on the sketch multiple times. Once the array of forces is set, a planner can neatly transfer the final set to the sketch. Showing forces as an icon also ensures all units are used, and none are forgotten, because accidental erasure, or forgetting to add a unit to a sketch, can otherwise easily occur. Technique. A way to abbreviate decisive operation and shaping operation is DO and SO, respectively. To quickly designate a unit as the decisive operation, planners can write it next to the unit name (for example: 4-23 IN (DO)) in both the concept of operations and tasks to subordinate unit section of the COA statement and eventually the OPORD. Planners can do the same for shaping operations. Multiple shaping operations can be differentiated by their priority. For example, the second priority shaping operation is listed as SO2.