Operational Operational WarfareWarfare

Joint Forces Staff CollegeJoint Forces Staff CollegeNational Defense UniversityNational Defense University

1. Understand the relationships between 1. Understand the relationships between the levels of warthe levels of war

2. Explain key terms of operational art2. Explain key terms of operational art

3. Understand the relationship between operational 3. Understand the relationship between operational art and the theater campaignart and the theater campaign

4. Review concepts via historical analysis4. Review concepts via historical analysis

Learning Objectives

OperationalOperational

Strategic

Tactical

Joint Force Joint Force CommandersCommanders

National Policy/Elements of

National Power

Joint andJoint andMultinational Multinational OperationsOperations

Unit Operationsand Tactics

President(CJCS)

Unified Commanders

DivisionsBrigades

Battalions

BattleGroups/

Task Groups

WingsSquadrons

MAGTFs

Theater StrategyTheater Strategy

OPLANs/OPORDs

National Military StrategyNational Military Strategy

Commanders

TTPTTP

Levels Of WarLevels Of War

MassObjectiveOffensiveSimplicityEconomy of Force

ManeuverUnity of CommandSecuritySurprise

Principles of Joint OperationsPrinciples of Joint Operations

RestraintPerseveranceLegitimacy

Operational Art and DesignOperational Art and Design

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. of a hundred battles. Sun TzuSun Tzu

Systems Perspective of Systems Perspective of the Operational Environmentthe Operational Environment

Operational Design

Operational design primarily is an intellectual process based on the creative vision, experience, intuition, and judgment of commanders and planners. The result of this process should be a framework for the joint operation that conceptually links ends, ways, and means across the levels of war.

JP 5-0JP 5-0

Operational art is the application of creative imagination by commanders and staffs--supported by their skill, knowledge, and experience--to design strategies, campaigns, and major operations and organize and employ military forces. It translates the JFC’s strategy into operational design, and ultimately into tactical action, by integrating ends, ways,

and means across the levels of war.

JP 5-0JP 5-0

Operational ArtOperational Art

Plan Initiation Elements

• Termination– Listed first because planning cannot occur without a

clear understanding of the desired end state and the conditions that must exist to end military operations

• End State and Objectives– A point in time and/or circumstance beyond which the

President does not require the military instrument of national power to achieve remaining objectives

• Effects– Connects strategic and operational objectives to

tactical tasks through identifying desired and undesired effects within the operational environment

Center of Gravity

“The source of power that provides moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act.”

JP 5-0JP 5-0

“The hub of all power and movement, on which everything depends. That is the point against which all our energies should be directed.”

ClausewitzClausewitz

Center of Gravity

A systems prospective assists identification of adversary COGsA systems prospective assists identification of adversary COGs

CHARACTERISTICS OF CENTERS O F GRAVITY

May Be Transitory in Nature

Heavily Dependent on Factors of Tim e and

Space

Can Shift Over Tim e or Between Phases

Contains Intangible Elem ents at Strategic

Level

Can Endanger One’s Own COGs

Source of Leverage

Predom inantly Physical at

Operational Level

CEN TE RO F

G RAV ITY(CO G ) Allows or Enhances

Freedom of Action

Located W here Mass Most Densely Concentrated

Closely Linked to the Derived (or Real)

Objective

Center of Gravity

• Critical Capability– An adversary means that is considered a

crucial enabler for a COG to function, and is essential to the accomplishment of the adversary’s assumed objective(s).

• Critical Requirement– An essential condition, resource, and means

for a critical capability to be fully operational.• Critical Vulnerability

– An aspect or component of the adversary’s critical requirements, which is deficient or vulnerable to direct or indirect attack that will create decisive or significant effects.

Decisive Points

A geographic place, specific key event, critical system, or function that, when acted upon, allows a commander to gain a marked advantage over an adversary or contributes materially to creating a desired effect, thus greatly influencing the outcome of an action.

Dec

isiv

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oin

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Dec

isiv

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t

Dec

isiv

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Pro

tect

ed C

OG

Pro

tect

ed C

OG

Although decisive points are not COGs, Although decisive points are not COGs, they are the keys to attacking or protecting them. they are the keys to attacking or protecting them.

Direct versus IndirectDirect versus Indirect

To the extent possible, JFCs attack enemy centers of gravity To the extent possible, JFCs attack enemy centers of gravity directly. Where direct attack means attacking into an opponent’s directly. Where direct attack means attacking into an opponent’s

strength, JFCs should seek an indirect approach.strength, JFCs should seek an indirect approach.

JOINT FORCES

DIRECT

DIRECT

INDIRECTINDIRECT

COMMAND & CONTROLCOMMAND & CONTROL

LINES OF COMMUNICATIONSLINES OF COMMUNICATIONS

DEFENSIVE CAPABILITYDEFENSIVE CAPABILITY

PRIMARY CENTER OF GRAVITYPRIMARY CENTER OF GRAVITY

Lines of OperationsLines of OperationsExample Lines of Operations

Objective

Physical Line: Control Key Areas

Logical Line: Restore/Establish Basic Services

Decisive Points

IntermediateBases

Operational

EntryPointsSecure

Air & SeaPorts

Operational

ForwardBases

Operational

Routes toKey Cities

Secure

Objective

Decisive Points

RoadsSupport BasicFood, Water,

Medical Needs/Distribution

Control Population

Centers

Population’s Basic Needs Met Without

ExternalSupport

Fuel & PowerAvailable for

BasicService

Basic Services & Facilities

InfrastructureAvailable

PersonnelAvailable &Trained toRun BasicServices

BasicServicesProvidedWithoutMilitarySupport

Time and Distance Elements

• Operational Reach– Distance and duration across which a unit can

successfully employ military capabilities– Linked to Culmination

• Simultaneity and Depth– Simultaneous application of military and non-military

power against the enemy‘s key capabilities and sources of strength

• Timing and Tempo– Conduct operations at a tempo and point in time that

best exploits friendly capabilities and inhibits the adversary

Operational Elements

• Forces and functions– Defeat adversary forces, functions, or a combination of both

• Leverage – Relative advantage in combat power across one or more domains

(air, land, sea, and space) and/or the information environment• Balance

– Appropriate mix of forces and capabilities – As well as the nature and timing of operations

• Anticipation– Avoid surprise by gaining and maintaining the initiative – Force the adversary to react rather than initiate

• Synergy– Combinations of forces and actions to achieve concentration – Achieve the assigned objective(s) in the shortest time possible

and with minimal casualties

Culmination

The point at which a force no longer has the capability to continue its form of operations • Offense

- The point at which continuing the attack is no longer possible and the force must consider reverting to a defensive posture or attempting an operational pause

• Defense

- The point at which counteroffensive action is no longer possible

Arranging Operations

JFCs must determine the best arrangement of major operations. This JFCs must determine the best arrangement of major operations. This arrangement will often be a combination of simultaneous and arrangement will often be a combination of simultaneous and

sequential operations to achieve the desired end state and conditions sequential operations to achieve the desired end state and conditions quickly at the least cost in personnel and other resources.quickly at the least cost in personnel and other resources.

Operational Plan Phases Operational Plan Phases versus Level of Military Effortversus Level of Military Effort

14

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OPLAN activation OPLAN termination

Global Shaping

Theater Shaping

DeterPhase I

Seize theInitiativePhase II

DominatePhase III

StabilizePhase IV

Enable CivilAuthorityPhase V

ShapePhase 0

ShapePhase 0

Shaping

Shaping Activities

Shaping

OPLANxxxx

OPLANxxxx

Phases

OPLAN – operation plan

Deterring Activities

Seizingthe Initiative

Activities

DominatingActivities

Stabilizing Activities

Enabling Civil

Authority

Activities

NOTIONAL OPERATION PLAN PHASES VersusLEVEL OF MILITARY EFFORT

The ProcessThe Process

Joint Operational ArtJoint Operational Art

Theater StrategyTheater Strategy

“The art and science of developing integrated strategic concepts and courses of action directed toward securing the objectives of national and alliance or coalition security policy and strategy by the use of force, threatened use of force, or operations not involving the use of force within a theater.”

Joint Pub 1-02

• Contains Unified Commander’s VisionContains Unified Commander’s Vision • Outlines Concept for Military Outlines Concept for Military

Operations Operations (within DIME!)(within DIME!)

• Gives Direction for Campaign PlanningGives Direction for Campaign Planning

• May use regional approachMay use regional approach

• Defines Theater EndstateDefines Theater Endstate

• Address Allied InterestsAddress Allied Interests

Elements of Theater Strategy

Strategic Estimate Considerations

• Coalition Warfare (doctrine, support structure, history)

• U.S. Interests• Informational Media• Political

Considerations• Economic

Considerations• Personalities• Cultural/Religious

Environment

(More Art

(More Art

than Science)

than Science)

• Geography and Climate

• War Termination Goals

• Center of Gravity• Rules of

Engagement• Lines of Operation• Culmination Points• Phasing• Strategic Forces• Enemy

A plan for a series of related military operations aimed at accomplishing a

strategic or operational objective within a given time and space.

JP 1-02JP 1-02

Campaign Plan

“Be audacious and cunning in your plans, firm and persevering in their execution.”

Clausewitz Principles Of War

Operational Operational WarfareWarfare

Joint Forces Staff CollegeJoint Forces Staff CollegeNational Defense UniversityNational Defense University