Military Review English Edition November-December 2013 | Page 68

(DOD, EJ Hersom)

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kan., gather near their Bradley Fighting
Vehicles at the National Training in Fort Irwin, Calif., 20 February 2013.

not excessive or unnecessary interference
with a subordinate’s initiative. It is simply
the way combined arms operations work.19

Conclusion

In recent combat operations, many offensive missions have been hastily planned in reaction to an
enemy attack or sudden change in the operational
environment. When conducting hasty planning,
many leaders may “hand wave” the concept of
the operation paragraph, failing to realize that it is
where they need to spend the most effort. The quality of the concept of the operation paragraph and the
clarity with which it is communicated to subordinate leaders can mean the difference between success or failure in combat. To communicate a clear
concept of the operation, leaders must understand

doctrine and practice the art of mission command.
As we transition out of Afghanistan and focus
our attention on training and preparing for the next
fight, we must use this opportunity to train the
next generation of Army leaders to write proper
mission orders. The decisive action training environment will provide an excellent environment
in which to train this task to standard. An environment with uncertain conditions and a hybrid
threat in one of the combat training centers will
necessitate the use of clear commander’s intent
and concept of the operation, thereby enabling
effective mission command. Holder’s admonition of a clearly written concept of the operation
paragraph is as relevant today, if not more so, than
when he expressed it in Military Review over 20
years ago. MR

NOTES
1. Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 3-0, Unified Land Operations
(Washington, DC: Government Printing Office [GPO], May 2012), 1-1.
2. Ibid., 2-2.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid., 2-9.
5. Ibid.
6. ADRP 6-0, Mission Command (Washington DC: GPO, May 2012), 1-3.
7. ADRP 5-0, The Operations Process (Washington DC: GPO, May 2012), 2-14.
8. Ibid. 2-4.
9. Headquarters, Department of the Army, Maneuver Center of Excellence,
Blo ck A2: ABCT Offense Operations Order, Fort Benning, GA, Maneuver Captains
Career Course, 2013.
10. ADRP 5-0, 2-19.

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11. L.D. Holder, “Concept of the Operations: See Ops Overlay,” Military Review
(August 1990): 28.
12. H.R. McMaster, “Memorandum for Squadron and Troop Commanders,
Subject: Concept of the Operations” Headquarters, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment,
January 2005.
13. ADRP 5-0, 2-19.
14. ADRP 3-0, 1-9.
15. Ibid., Glossary-4.
16. Ibid., Glossary-6.
17. ADRP 5-0, 2-19.
18. Maneuver Center of Excellence, Block A2: ABCT Offense Operations Order.
19. Holder, 29.

November-December 2013

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