READY FOR TODAY – EVOLVING FOR TOMORROW
Figure 6. MN FFAHQ and FAB - Heavy Option
MN FFAHQ and MN FAB
Options in detail
As the ARRC strives to maintain a
headquarters that is light and agile
enough to survive in a modern, high
intensity warfighting environment, it is
undesirable to add more C2 elements
to the existing headquarters, such as
a FFAHQ of 170 to 271 personnel.
These additional numbers, if they were
to be added to the current ARRC main
headquarters, would run contrary to the
intent of the ARRC’s C2 working group
and specifically against the ‘Survive
to Command’ and ‘Survive to Control’
concepts. However, this does not take
away the need for a highly capable and
scalable MN FFAHQ and an associated
MN FAB.
A compromise must be found that allows
both concepts to co-exist. Innovative
solutions must be introduced that mitigate
the excessive number of personnel
required by a fully functional FFAHQ,
such as collaborative working practises
that allow the staff within the ARRC main
headquarters to complement the overall
output of the MN FFAHQ (i.e. production
of and contribution to the refinement
of the TEP). Doing so would reduce
the FFAHQ’s manning requirement.
Coupled with this is the requirement to
counter the negative effects associated
with
dislocation
by
guaranteeing
secure communications over sufficient
bandwidth to allow staff outputs to be
freely communicated and distributed
between the two headquarters. This
will require robust technical solutions in
order to counter attacks against such
communications systems.
The ARRC’s JFIB, in cooperation with the
1 (UK) Arty Bde’s 101st Regiment Royal
Artillery (101 RA), are developing a MN
FFAHQ and MN FAB model that can
meet the challenges the ARRC will face
during execution of any of its assigned
roles. The proposals listed below as
light, medium and heavy are bespoke to
the ARRC, but could be adopted by any
other Graduated Response Force (Land)
element. They have not been ratified and
remain purely conceptual, but are open
to frank discussions and refinements.
Additionally, they consider the ARRC’s
requirements and constraints, and
incorporate best practises and lessons
learned from working with framework
nation and US FAB options on the AF
and DF series of exercises over the last
two years.
MN FFAHQ – Light and
Medium Configurations
The light to medium configurations are
designed to meet the needs of the ARRC
in its role as a combined JTF and/or LCC
headquarters involved in joint operations
that are small to medium in scope,
and are of low to medium intensity. Its
scalable manning and organisation are
optimised to supplement the ARRC’s
JFIB existing structure. Should it maintain
higher manning levels, it would have the
ability to work more autonomously whilst
separated geographically from the ARRC
main headquarters.
The light configuration’s smaller size is
not self-sustaining and would therefore
require being consumed by the existing
headquarters. The resulting increase in
the size of the headquarters is not as
problematic in the types of low threat/
low intensity operations the FFAHQ
light would be expected to operate in.
The medium configuration, however,
should expect to be self-sufficient and
able to operate autonomously some
distance away from the headquarters.
This configuration may require additional
logistical
support
elements
and
protection, dependent on the situation
and threat. These configurations can be
augmented as required with the core of the
organisation being provided by a flexible
team of approximately five to 27 subject
matter experts supplied by the UK’s 101
RA, 1 (UK) Arty Bde, 26th Regiment
Royal Artillery and the National Reserve
Headquarters
Royal
Artillery. The number
of personnel and their
skill sets would be
dependent on the task
and S2S/ISTAR assets
assigned. As a guide,
these personnel would
be able to provide
specialist
advice,
assign mutually agreed
joint fires tasks to
component commands,
execute time sensitive
targets (TST), and
Plan-Refine-Execute
(PRE) S2S fires as
the LCC. Additionally, this team could
assign fires tasks to divisions and C2 a
number of battery and/or battalion-sized
units. These MN force elements require
an accompanying national LO party to
integrate into the MN FFAHQ structure to
ensure effective integration and optimal
use of capabilities they represent. This
principle applies whenever MN elements
are in play and assimilated into any of
the three configurations.
MN FFAHQ – Heavy
Configuration
This design concept, with additional
manning, transforms a moderately sized
MN FFAHQ into a heavier MN FFAHQ
with increased capability and lethality.
It is able to cope with the demands of
high intensity warfighting against a peer
adversary, but is heavily dependent
on additional resources from across
NATO and its partners in order to fulfil
this role (including staff manning and
C2 infrastructure). This configuration
supports the ARRC’s role as a corps
headquarters with up to five divisions
under command and its role as an LCC
headquarters with a number of corps
underneath it (Figure 7). In the ARRC’s
role as a LCC headquarters, the MN
FFAHQ effectively transitions to the role
of a MN TSFC light.
In the heavy configuration, the MN
FFAHQ’s roles and responsibilities, and
its interaction with the ARRC, is more
complex than that found in a US FAB or
US TSFC supporting an equivalent US
formation (Figure 5). For example, the
MN FFAHQ will be expected to refine
and execute target engagement plans
(TEPs) issued by the ARRC, as well as
plan and execute integrated CFs at the
level in which it is operating (corps/LCC).
Any TSTs, dynamic targets, combat
engagements or fires in support of any
other unplanned missions or tasks would
be the responsibility of the joint fires team
located within the ARRC’s OPSCEN.
ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS
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