Operational Design Schematic

(for the “Dominate” Phase)

 Principal Elements of Operational Planning:

 Strategic and Operational Guidance – intermediate and long-terms goals; normally contains:
 Aims – definition of victory [Desired End State - both political and military conditions after military strategic objectives are
achieved]
 Resources – forces, time, space available
 Restraints – prohibitions/restrictions (i.e., can’t do’s—based upon geography, weapons, methods, ROE, etc.)
 Constraints – obligate certain actions (i.e., must do’s—based upon C2, political considerations, intermediate/ancillary aims, etc.)

 Commander’s Estimate of the Situation – which results in a decision that consists of an Operational Idea and Commander’s Intent,
both of which are used to build a plan

 Design for a Major Operation

 Ultimate Operational Objective – normally, a major operation as part of a campaign is aimed at accomplishing one of the
campaign’s operational objectives

 Intermediate Operational Objectives – after ultimate objective is determined, regressively plan to determine series of intermediate
objectives

 Balancing Operational Factors vs. the Objective – any serious disconnect between ultimate/intermediate objectives and
corresponding space-time-force will endanger success of the major operation itself

 Identification of Enemy’s Critical Factors

 Critical strengths – foremost of which is center of gravity (COG) – “ . . . the source of power that provides freedom of action,
physical strength, or will to fight.” COGs are always tied to specific objectives; adversary’s can physically endanger one’s own
COG; predominantly physical at operational/tactical levels; transitory in nature and can shift over time
 Critical weaknesses – some of which are critical vulnerabilities (i.e., those open to our attack). These vulnerabilities are selected
for determining our sector of main effort/decisive points
 Critical Capabilities – means considered crucial enablers for adversary’s COG to function (e.g., operational functions)
 Critical Requirements – essential conditions, resources, and means for a critical capability to be fully operational
 Critical Vulnerabilities – those aspects/components of adversary’s critical capabilities (or components thereof) vulnerable to
attack

 Operational Direction/Axis – a broad swath of space extending from a base of operations to the assigned operational objective
(tactical, operational, strategic)—the general thrust and direction of one’s attack

 Position/Lines of Operation – initial geostrategic position determines whether planned major operation will be conducted from
interior or exterior lines of operation; potential LOOs should be evaluated to maximize advantages and minimize disadvantages

 Major Phases of Combat Employment – natural subdivisions or shifts in emphasis – each with own intermediate goal
 May be simultaneous or sequential
 Each phase should have its own intent and objectives
 Should be event-oriented, rather than time-oriented
 Each phase lays groundwork for next, but should be linked
 Commander must ensure forces arrive at assigned time
 Reasons of change of phase: opponent reacts as anticipated; objectives met; additional forces/assets become available;
change in command relationships required; sector of main effort changes; political considerations change emphasis

 Operational Sustainment – balancing consumption against logistical effort for subsequent actions, lengthening LOCs, and forward
staging to maintain desired operational tempo
 Goal is to extend operational reach—distance and duration across which military power can be concentrated/employed
decisively
 Commander wants to ensure forces are sufficiently sustained to achieve operational/strategic objectives before opponent can
regain initiative/balance
 Identification of critical logistics constraints is crucial

 Operational Idea (Scheme) Main Elements – broad vision of what commander intends to do and how he/she intends to do it.
Following elements are implicitly part of operational scheme:

 Selected Principles of War – any operational idea should consider application of selected principles of war

 Method of Defeating Enemy’s COG – don’t attack enemy weakness unless it contributes to degradation/elimination of
opponent’s COG (via critical vulnerabilities); properly select decisive points and achieve economy of effort (i.e., keep main
effort on primary objective)
  Sector of Main Effort /Point of main attack (defense) – where main part of forces (bulk of firepower and reserves) are
employed to attack the primary objective; success hinges on rate of concentration and requires flexibility, maneuver, secrecy,
and security, as well as sequencing and control of movement

 Point of Main Attack (Thrust) – decisive point offering indirect attack on COG; where enemy’s forces are weakest/least dense;
obtain local superiority

 Operational Maneuver – seeks to concentrate own forces at enemy’s operational depth against enemy’s critical vulnerabilities in
order to achieve positional advantage

 Operational Fires – attacks at enemy’s operational depth – prior/during major operation/campaign; must be coordinated; must
aim to drastically affect the outcome of major operation/campaign; and are often outside of the area of operations
 To restrict enemy freedom of movement and  To isolate area/theater of operations
shape the battlespace, usually prior to the  To prevent arrival of reinforcements
major operation (opponent’s)
 To facilitate maneuver  Destroy/neutralize enemy reserves/facilities
 To prevent/disrupt enemy operational  Deceive enemy as to sector of main
maneuver effort/point of attack

 Strategic/Operational Deception – seeks to manipulate enemy’s perceptions and expectations, so enemy reacts operationally
 Requires accurate knowledge of enemy decision-making responsibilities

 Operational Sequencing – sequential arrangement of events to achieve most likely elimination of enemy’s COG
 Seeks to enhance own strength and accentuate enemy’s weaknesses
 Requires determination of phases (major shifts in emphasis, e.g., buildup, rehearsals, embarkation, assault, buildup,
breakout), branches (contingency options, i.e., what ifs) and sequels (subsequent actions, i.e., what next?)
 Seeks optimum operational tempo and agility (ability to shift from action to another in relation to opponent)
 Factors of consideration in deciding optimal sequence:
 Physical environment  Planned according to objectives
 Command structure/relationships and/or tasks
 Possible enemy reinforcements  Operational logistics/sustainment
 Public opinion

 Operational Synchronization – arrangement of military actions in time, space, and purpose to produce maximum relative combat
power (air, land, and sea) at decisive time and place; arrangement of theater organization [operational functions] – C2, operational
maneuver, operational intelligence, operational fires, operational protection, and operational logistics

 Protection of Friendly Center of Gravity – actions to preserve effectiveness and survivability of one’s sources of power

 Anticipating Culmination Point – sensing own culminating point; requires clear and precise knowledge of relative combat power

 Operational Pause – to regenerate combat power and prevent culmination (to avoid conceding initiative, activity by other friendly
forces is intensified—only a portion of forces pause)
 Requires “sense” of own culminating point and own/enemy combat power
 Necessitates regeneration of combat power faster than enemy (acting faster than enemy is operational agility, which
depends on speed of decision cycle; agility can be enhanced through maneuver or feint)
 Can be used to shift forces/assets to another sector of effort

 Branches & Sequels – planning for both is a continual process

 Branches – built-in options that foster operational agility
 Sequels – subsequent actions based on outcome of actions/operations (win, lose, draw)
 Each new sequel starts a new phase of a campaign/major operation
 Both accelerate decision cycle, provide flexibility, and anticipate courses of action

 Regeneration of Combat Potential – generated by phasing and operational pauses; function of three effects—firepower,
maneuver, and leadership

 Operational Reserve – an emergency reserve of forces/assets designated to support a specific major operation/campaign
 Principal means of influencing outcome of major operations/campaigns beyond initial clash of forces
 Can counter unforeseen events and exploit emerging opportunities
 Their employment should lead to accomplishment of some operational/strategic aim
 Must be of sufficient size, mobility, and capability to decisively affect outcome
 Once committed, provisions should be made for its reconstitution
 Can be created from: allocated/assigned forces, redeploying forces from one part of theater to another, changing/abandoning
some positions, reducing forces assigned to operational protection, and/or by reducing forces assigned for operational fires

G:\Operational Design Schematic (Dominate Phase), 7 April 2008