TacticsScience or Art?

“Neglected Sciences”

Fog

Friction

Initiative

TempoCenter of Gravity

Critical Vulnerability

Risk

Terrain Analysis

Intelligence Estimate

Essential Elements of Information

Assumptions

Other Intelligence Requirements

SMEAC

Key Terrain

Avenues of Approach

KOCOA

SALUTE

Critical Requirements

Critical Capabilities

Crisis Decisionmaking

Competing Interests

Management by Default

Silence is ConsentDecision Points

Trip WiresManagement By Exception

Mission Tasking

Commander’s Intent

Planning Guidance

Expressed Consent

C2

C3C4

C4I

Commanding TerrainEnvelopment

Pincer

Hammer and Anvil

Deliberate Plan

Contingency Plan

Hasty Plan

IntelRep

IntelSumEvent Horizon

Defilade

Enfilade

Maneuver

Mass

Economy of Force

Objective

Offense

Nine Principles of WarMobility

Flexibility

Boyd’s Cycle

OODA Loop

Orientation

Implied Tasks

Specified Tasks

Density

OBE

Info Fusion

IPB

Main Effort

Focus of EffortGeneral Support

Direct Support

ROE

MOOSEMUSSConstraints

Restraints

Satisficing

Crisis

Conflict

Heuristics

Implied Objective

Command & Control

EMON

SOP

End State

SWOT

Concept of Operation

Course of Action

Alert Order

Execute Order

Warning Order

Frag Order

Strategy

Tactics

Tactical Dilemma

Deceptive Diversion

Physiological Diversion

Combined Arms

Situation Awareness

2/3 Rule

Tightly Coupled

Loosely Coupled

Precedent Decisionmaking

Incremental Decisionmaking

Groupthink

Abilene Paradox

Intelligence Paradox

Devil’s Advocate

Asymmetric Strategy

Deconfliction

9

The most formidable warriors are students of their profession! General Al Gray

29th Commandant of the Marine Corps

Untutored courage is useless in the face of educated bulletsLt. General George S. Patton

United States Army

X = ?2 X = 4

8

• We justify our tactics with smoke, mirrors, myths and magic♦ The average law enforcement tactician would be

hard put to quote a single source, theory or doctrine to justify their decisions

• In the medical field, most law enforcement tacticians would be the functional equivalent of witch doctors

• There is tactical science that will support sound planning and decision making

Shaman, Wizards Myths & Magic

7

What if the Next Time. . .6

• Accountants study math, doctors and nurses study medicine, weather forecasters study meteorology

• Tactical science dates back to at least500 B.C.

• Besides books, many military manuals and “lessons learned” are free on the Internet

Tactical Science6

• Forces a command staff to:♦ Implicitly trust subordinates

(who may not be any more enlightened!)♦ Make decisions without being aware of supporting doctrine

(indigestion or stomach cancer?)

• Civil liability coupled with an inadequate defense (when no one is an expert, anyone can be!)

• Potential tactical fiascoes in Biblical proportions!(Ruby Ridge, Waco, M.O.V.E, and others less well-known)

Consequences of Ignorance4

ProblemTraining Experience Education

The “wisdom of the ages” is expressed as doctrine, concepts, theories, precepts, tenets,

adages, dictums, heuristics, axioms, principles, laws, and proverbs

Knowledge allows us to start, not at the beginning, but where the experts left off! ~Carl Lewin

There is Nothing More Practical Than a Good Theory

Solution

3

TrainingProvides skills

Instills confidence

Improves methods

Fosters expertise & proficiency

Teaches how to do thingsbetter

This is a Science Course!Education

Provides knowledge

Explains importance

Improves understanding

Fosters ingenuity & adaptability

Teaches whether we’re doing the right things

2

A Whitman’s Sampler of Tactical Science

1

Questions?