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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMFM 100-5will be critical to the success of this phase of the operationbecause of extreme vulnerability.Even as the commander begins entry operations,his main focus shifts to building up his capabilities inpreparation for operations. Projection of the force andrapid buildup may include establishing forward operatingand logistics bases, closing the remainder of theforce, expanding the lodgment, linking up with otherforces, and preparing for future operations.Placement of the force on the ground must not onlyachieve initial mission success but also have forcesarrayed on the ground to maximize future employmentoptions. The commander works to acclimate and trainarriving soldiers. Whether or not units are in combat,the emphasis is on seizing the initiative early and controllingevents from this point in time forward. To doso, commanders at all levels generate as many optionsas possible by skillfully positioning maneuver andsupport assets, protecting the force, refining intelligenceassessments, and using fires appropriately. Sustainingthe tempo of operations is especially important.The success of operations may hinge on swiftresponse in peacetime or on the rapid generation ofcombat power in conflict to prevent losing the initiative.OPERATIONSIn operations involving combat, the JFC will atsome point decide to move against the enemy. Thispoint in time may be predetermined and stated in thecampaign plan, or it may be tied to specific enemyactions. In either case, the commander bases his decisionon sufficient information and a clear picture ofthe enemy. Occasionally, commitment might be requiredbefore such a picture is available. At this point,the ground commander might reposition forces to facilitatethe imminent start of combat.The arrangement of forces on the ground in relationto one another, the terrain, and the enemy shouldallow the maximum number of employment options.Sometimes such positioning will be at a significantoffset from the actual operational area, thus continuingthe reliance tactical commanders must place ontheater and national intelligence assets. In order toparalyze the enemy and rapidly gain the initiative forfriendly forces, commanders normally seek to engageenemy forces simultaneously throughout the depth andspace of the operational arena.As he begins operations, the ground commanderassembles sufficient, sustained combat power towin the decisive battles. He allocates enough combatpower to supporting efforts to ensure overall victory.Force agility, initiative, and synchronized operationsin depth characterize the rapid generation ofcombat power for ground operations. The ground commandermay have initially dispersed his maneuverforces out of range of most enemy direct-fire and indirect-firesystems. In order to conduct decisive action,he maneuvers them to gain the best positionaladvantage over the enemy. This maneuver eventuallyresults in close combat with enemy forces.Reconnaissance and force protection remain crucialto the joint and ground commanders’ plans as theyengage the enemy in combat operations. Actions tocounter the enemy’s reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance,and target acquisition efforts help maintainthe conditions created earlier for decisive operations.Deception operations continue to mislead the enemycommander as to the timing, intent, and location offriendly forces, as well as to the objectives of the operation.Commanders conduct their operations againstthe backdrop of a sound logistics concept integratedwith their concept of combat operations. Conduct ofcombat operations within the theater is described indetail in later chapters. Commanders also seek decisiveresults in operations other than war, although theapproach may be quite different than for obtainingsuccessful results in war.WAR TERMINATION ANDPOSTCONFLICT OPERATIONSSuccessful combat operations are designed to bringan end to the war. When a cessation of hostilities or atruce is called, deployed forces transition to a periodof postconflict operations. This transition can occureven if residual combat operations are still underwayin parts of the theater of operations. Anticipation andappropriate planning during earlier stages will smooththe transition during this critical period immediatelyafter the fighting stops.The postconflict operations stage focuses on restoringorder and minimizing confusion following theoperation, reestablishing the host nation infrastructure,preparing forces for redeployment, and continuingpresence to allow other elements of national power toachieve the overall strategic aims. Postconflict operationsmake demands at every level of command. Company-and even squad-sized units may be called uponto conduct emergency humanitarian assistance andpopulation control, especially in remote areas. At3-11