MCWP 3-16.1 Artillery Operations.pdf - Marine Corps Community ...

10-20 _________________________________________________________________________________________________ MCWP 3-16.1
Wargamed COA
criteria such as mission accomplishment, EFATs,
and battlespace functions. These ranks are totaled
and compared. This comparison gives the
commander the information that he needs to
make a sound decision. However, these rankings
may be more subjective than objective numbers
indicate. The commander and staff must examine
the matrix for sensitivity. For example, one
course of action may be determined to be the
“best,” however, it may not be supportable by
one of the battlespace functions (logistically,
communications, etc.). The commander must take
this into account and determine if additional
support is required or the COA must be adjusted
or thrown out. See figure 10-17.
Commander’s Decision
Inputs Process Outputs
List of critical events and decision points
Information on commander’s evaluation criteria
Advantages
Disadvantages
COA evaluation
COA comparison
The staff compiles the information from the
comparison matrices and then briefs the
commander. Upon selecting a COA, the
commander reviews the COA to determine if it
must be modified or combined with elements of
different COA to mitigate disadvantages. He
Commander’s decision
Prepare the concept of artillery support
Issue the warning order
Figure 10-15. Course of Action Comparison and Decision.
COA Comparison
reviews the mission statement and may refine his
commander’s guidance. He then issues any
additional guidance on priorities for CSS (particularly
for resources he needs to preserve his
freedom of action and to ensure continuous
service support).
Prepare Concept of Artillery Support
The staff prepares the framework for the orders
process. The concept of artillery support is a
general description of how the artillery will
support maneuver forces and a generic organization
for combat. The concept of artillery support
normally includes graphics and a narrative.
Issue the Warning Order
Concept of operations
Refined commander’s intent
High pay-off target list
Specified type of rehearsal
Specified type of order
COA 1 COA 2 COA 3
RISK—Least risk COUNTERFIRE—
Simplicity
FIRES—Essential artillery
tasks difficult to accomplish
C2—Difficult to control due
to mobile plan
MISSION/TASKS—Best means of
accomplishing essential artillery tasks
RISK—accepts most risk
Figure 10-16. Advantages and Disadvantages Matrix.
Once the concept of artillery support is complete,
the commander will issue a warning order to
allow his subordinate commanders to perform
concurrent planning.
Once a course of action is chosen and the concept
of artillery support is completed, the staff will