FM 100-5 Operations - Survival Ebooks Military Manuals Survival ...

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMOPERATIONSStrong leaders and trained, dedicated soldiers arethe greatest combat multipliers. When opposing forcesare nearly equal, the moral qualities of soldiers andleaders—sense of duty, courage, loyalty, and discipline,combined with stamina and skill—provide the decisiveedge.Once the force is engaged, superior combat powerderives from the courage and competence of soldiers,the excellence of their training, the capability of theirequipment, the soundness of their combined arms doctrine,and, above all, the quality of their leadership.COMBAT FUNCTIONSA variety of functions help the commander buildand sustain combat power. Commanders integrate andcoordinate these functions to synchronize battle effectsin time, space, and purpose. The combat functionsare —- Intelligence.- Maneuver.- Fire support.- Air defense.- Mobility and survivability.- Logistics.- Battle command.To synchronize forces and effects on the battlefield,Army leaders examine large, complex operationsin terms of functional operating systems that exist ateach level of war. At the tactical level the battlefieldoperating systems (BOSs), for example, enable a comprehensiveexamination in a straightforward mannerthat facilitates the integration, coordination, preparation,and execution of successful combined-arms operations.The BOS has other applications at the operationaland strategic levels.IntelligenceIntelligence is fundamental to effective planning,security, and deception. Intelligence operations arethe organized efforts of a commander to gather andanalyze information on the environment of operationsand the enemy. Obtaining and synthesizing battlefieldinformation prior to beginning operations is a vital task.Assembling an accurate picture of the battlefield requirescentralized direction, simultaneous action at alllevels of command, and timely distribution of informationthroughout the command. Intelligence operationsmay employ any of the unit’s resources. Unitresources include units in contact with the enemy, cavalryunits, patrols, air defense sensors, military intelligence(MI) units, reconnaissance units, engineer topographicunits, field artillery radars, and attached liaisonofficers.In force-projection operations, intelligence operationsroutinely rely on higher levels of Army commandand significant joint intelligence capabilities forintelligence support. This is especially true prior todeployment and continues in theater if tactical unitsare offset from their anticipated battle area. Localpopulation and government agencies also add to theintelligence picture.In peacetime and in war, the MI effort uses signals,human, imagery, measurement, and signature collectionand production and counter-intelligence servicesto provide commanders at all levels with the informationthey need to apply their available forceswisely, efficiently, and effectively. The MI effort alsoprovides more specialized and detailed information tooperators and staffs across the full range of MI disciplinesto enable them to cooperatively fulfill thecommander’s intent.Intelligence provided to the commander to aid hisdecision making must be clear, brief, relevant, andtimely. Wartime, especially battlefield, support to thecommander must be anticipatory and precise. Theintelligence system should maximize and synchronizethe support offered to the commander while minimizingthe demands it makes on him.The commander drives the intelligence effort. Hemust ask the right questions and focus the intelligencework. He must know the enemy; the commander’spersonal involvement and knowledge have no substitutes.He helps his intelligence system work effectivelyby clearly stating his intent and decisively designatinghis priority intelligence requirements. Targetingguidance need not always identify specific targets,but it must boldly prioritize the types of targets to attack.Finally, the commander must understand thecapabilities and real limitations of the intelligence systemto exploit its full effectiveness without holdingunrealistic expectations.Joint Publications in the 2-0 series discuss intelligencesupport to joint operations. The 34-series FMsdiscuss Army doctrine for intelligence support.2-12