ATP-5-0-2-1 Staff Reference Guide Volume 1 Download
Page 67 of 440
Planning 07 December 2020 ATP 5-0.2-1 51 Step 4.1. Issue Guidance 2-161. Whoever is in charge of COA analysis, whether it is a COS, XO, or a lead planner, must provide specific initial guidance to the staff so they can gather proper tools. The most important guidance a leader develops is a time estimate for COA analysis. Time is a limited resource and constrains planning processes. If only 3 hours are available for COA analysis, war gaming three different COAs, each with multiple turns, is ineffective. A leader first determines what technique-key leader discussion, war game, or computer simulation-to use for COA analysis. If the leader wants to war game, the leader first needs to figure out how many turns (action-reaction-counteraction) the staff can run. A reasonable planning factor for a moderately trained staff is 30-45 minutes for describing an initial set (starting point in time and space), 30- 45 minutes for the first turn, and 30 minutes for each additional turn. As staff experience grows, these times can decrease or even increase, depending on the complexity of each turn. Before COA analysis begins, the staff needs a clearly delineated schedule to know where to focus their efforts. A leader decides if the technique chosen is accomplishing the goal of COA analysis in the allocated time. 2-162. With the time constraint understood, the leader can then issue the following guidance to the staff: Technique used to conduct COA analysis-full staff, key leaders only, war game (analog or digital), or simulation. Number of COAs to analyze. Objective of the analysis-whether to synchronize actions of the decisive point, DO, critical event, DP, phase of the operation, or the entire operation. Type of visual representation-whiteboard, map, CPOF, terrain model, or other. Staff members responsible for creating the visual representation. Method-box, belt, avenue-in-depth (see COA analysis methods beginning in paragraph 2-163). Recording technique-synchronization matrix or sketch note (see figure 2-10 on page 56 for an example synchronization matrix and table 2-18 on page 57 for an example sketch note). Units or capabilities that will be listed. Participant's roles and responsibilities. Initial set. COA and COA analysis-specific assumptions. If war gaming, the time period each turn covers. Anything else the staff needs to focus on, or prepare, for the analysis.