ATTP 5-0.1 Commander and Staff Officer Guide - Army Electronic ...

Chapter 3
Fires Cell
3-33. The fires cell coordinates activities and systems that provide collective and coordinated use of Army
indirect fires, joint fires, and cyber/electromagnetic activities through the targeting process. The fires cell
consists of elements of fire support, the Air Force (or air component), cyberspace operations, and the
electronic warfare staff section. The unit’s chief of fires (or fire support officer at brigade and below) leads
this cell.
Protection Cell
3-34. The protection cell coordinates the activities and systems that preserve the force through composite
risk management. This includes tasks associated with protecting personnel, physical assets, and
information. Elements of the following staff sections form this cell: air and missile defense; chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear; engineer; operations security; personnel recovery; force health
protection; explosive ordnance disposal; and provost marshal. Additionally, a safety officer is assigned at
theater army and with augmentation as required down to the brigade level. The protection cell coordinates
with the signal staff section in the mission command cell to further facilitate the information protection
task. The chief of protection leads this cell.
Sustainment Cell
3-35. The sustainment cell coordinates activities and systems that provide support and services to ensure
freedom of action, extend operational reach, and prolong endurance. It includes those tasks associated with
logistics, personnel services, Army health system support, and operational contract support. The following
staff sections form this cell: personnel, logistics, financial management, engineer, and surgeon. The chief of
sustainment (or logistics officer at brigade and below) leads this cell.
Mission Command Cell
3-36. The mission command cell is made up of the G-7 inform and influence activities section, the G-6
signal staff section, and the G-9 civil affairs operations staff section. The mission command cell is unique
since it is not responsible for all the tasks associated to the mission command warfighting functions. For
example, execution of the operations process primarily occurs in the plans, future operations, and current
operations integration cells. The mission command cell is also unique in that the staff sections that reside in
this cell report directly to the COS and not through a cell chief.
INTEGRATING CELLS
3-37. Whereas functional cells are organized by warfighting functions, integrating cells are organized by
planning horizon. They coordinate and synchronize forces and warfighting functions within a specified
planning horizon and include the plans, future operations, and current operations integration cells. A
planning horizon is a point in time commanders use to focus the organization’s planning efforts to shape
future events (FM 5-0). The three planning horizons are long, mid, and short (generally associated with the
plans cell, future operations cell, and current operations integration cell, respectively). Planning horizons
are situation-dependent; they can range from hours and days to weeks and months. As a rule, the higher the
echelon, the more distant the planning horizon with which it is concerned.
3-38. Not all echelons and types of units are resourced for all three integrating cells. Battalions, for
example, combine their planning and operations responsibilities in one integrating cell. The brigade combat
team has a small, dedicated plans cell but is not resourced for a future operations cell. Divisions and above
are resourced for all three integrating cells as shown in Figure 3-2.
Plans Cell
3-39. The plans cell is responsible for planning operations for the long-range planning horizons. It prepares
for operations beyond the scope of the current order by developing plans and orders, including branch plans
and sequels. The plans cell also oversees military deception planning.
3-6 ATTP 5-0.1 14 September 2011