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Planning in the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha.

ADA292723

Publication Date	1995
Personal Author	Morrison, J. E.; Smith, D. H.; Sticha, P. J.; Brooks, J. E.
Page Count	46
Abstract	The objectives of this study were to identify individual and collective processes that characterize both effective and ineffective planning in the Special Forces (SF) Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) and to suggest training enhancements. During Phase I, interviews with SF experts indicated that ODA commanders and their staffs are deficient in skills and knowledges related to mission analysis and intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB). During Phase II, the authors reviewed archival data and observed ODA planning during a single rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). ODAs that were strong in mission analysis (a) generated more effective implied tasks resulting from analysis and relating to other mission elements; (b) recognized a wider variety of constraints and were more likely to include constraints directly related to the threat; and (c) were more likely to revise courses of action (COAs) or method of evaluation based on the results of their evaluation. ODAs that were weak in IPB (a) did not analyze the effects of weather and terrain on their mission, (b) did not develop an appropriate reconnaissance and surveillance (RS) data collection plan, (c) may produce lower quality IPB products, and (d) may determine enemy COAs less effectively.
Keywords	Army planning Special forces Intelligence Weather Preparation Training Operational readiness Battlefields Mission profiles Terrain Quality Missions Data acquisition Archives Rotation Reconnaissance Collecting methods
Source Agency	Army Non Paid ADAS
NTIS Subject Category	74 - Military Sciences
Corporate Authors	Human Resources Research Organization, Alexandria, VA.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept. Apr 93-Aug 94.
NTIS Issue Number	199521
Contract Number	MDA903-93-D-0004

Planning in the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha.

Planning in the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha.
ADA292723

Publication Date	1995
Personal Author	Morrison, J. E.; Smith, D. H.; Sticha, P. J.; Brooks, J. E.
Page Count	46
Abstract	The objectives of this study were to identify individual and collective processes that characterize both effective and ineffective planning in the Special Forces (SF) Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) and to suggest training enhancements. During Phase I, interviews with SF experts indicated that ODA commanders and their staffs are deficient in skills and knowledges related to mission analysis and intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB). During Phase II, the authors reviewed archival data and observed ODA planning during a single rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). ODAs that were strong in mission analysis (a) generated more effective implied tasks resulting from analysis and relating to other mission elements; (b) recognized a wider variety of constraints and were more likely to include constraints directly related to the threat; and (c) were more likely to revise courses of action (COAs) or method of evaluation based on the results of their evaluation. ODAs that were weak in IPB (a) did not analyze the effects of weather and terrain on their mission, (b) did not develop an appropriate reconnaissance and surveillance (RS) data collection plan, (c) may produce lower quality IPB products, and (d) may determine enemy COAs less effectively.
Keywords	Army planning Special forces Intelligence Weather Preparation Training Operational readiness Battlefields Mission profiles Terrain Quality Missions Data acquisition Archives Rotation Reconnaissance Collecting methods
Source Agency	Army Non Paid ADAS
NTIS Subject Category	74 - Military Sciences
Corporate Authors	Human Resources Research Organization, Alexandria, VA.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept. Apr 93-Aug 94.
NTIS Issue Number	199521
Contract Number	MDA903-93-D-0004