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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMOPERATIONSTo overcome differences in doctrine, training, orequipment, leaders may assign selected functions tothe forces of a smaller group of allied or coalition partners.For example, the combined commander mayassign home defense or police forces missions such asrear area security. The commander may also entrustone member of the combined force with air defense,coastal defense, or some special operation, based onthat force’s special capabilities. In fact, some coalitionpartners might not provide army, air force, or navalforces at all, but contribute through alternativemeans such as the political power provided by theirmembership in the coalition.Tactical cooperation requires more precision sinceit deals with immediate combat actions. Among thedisparities that adjacent and supporting commandersmust reconcile are dissimilar TACON measures, differencesin tactical methods and operating procedures,differences in using other service capabilities such asCAS, varying organizations and capabilities of units,and differences in equipment.Liaison, equipment exchanges, and training canoffset some of these problems. Combining staffs, ratherthan just exchanging liaison parties, is another option.The commander of a combined force plans and conductsoperations in ways that exploit complementarystrengths and minimize coordination problems. Whenthe combined force commander assigns one nation’sforces to another nation for an extended period, theseforces should establish habitual relationships betweenunits in order to help foster cohesion and understanding.Detailed planning with emphasis on rehearsalsand careful wargaming should precede operations inwhich units are working together for the first time.Back-briefs become especially important for understanding.Tactical plans should address unit recognition,people and equipment, fire control measures, airsupport arrangements, communications, signals, liaison,and movement control. The commander’s intentand the concept of the operation should also receivespecial attention to avoid confusion that might occurbecause of differences in doctrine and terminology.FIRESThe focus of fire support at the operational andtactical levels is on the synchronization of the full rangeof fires provided by all friendly forces. The integrationof artillery, armed aircraft, nonline-of-sight fires,naval gunfire, close air support, interdiction, and electroniccountermeasures requires the development, fullunderstanding, and rigid adherence to a common setof fire control measures. In an alliance these measuresmay be routine. However, in a coalition ad hocprocedures may have to be developed. Commandersgive this early and continuous emphasis to ensuretimely, effective fires and to minimize fratricide.INTELLIGENCEThe collection, production, and dissemination ofintelligence are major challenges. Allied and coalitionpartners normally operate separate intelligencesystems in support of their own policy and militaryforces. These national systems may vary widely in sophisticationand focus. Most allies cannot approachthe range of US capabilities to collect and process intelligence.Nonetheless, each nation can contributehuman intelligence (HUMINT). Commanders of combinedunits should rapidly establish a system that takesadvantage of each nation’s contributions and providesall units an accurate intelligence picture.For operational and tactical purposes, commandersarrange for the rapid dissemination of military intelligenceand the use of available intelligence assetsby all partners. This arrangement usually requires theformation of a combined intelligence staff at theaterlevel. It also necessitates establishing an intelligencenetwork with dedicated communications and liaisonofficers to link various headquarters. Few nations willhave the technical means to link with US systems. Theprovision of the appropriate interfaces will be an earlyand major concern.LOGISTICSCombined logistics present a major challenge.Problems include differences in logistics doctrine,stockage levels, logistics mobility, interoperability, andinfrastructure and national resource limitations. Nonetheless,allied and coalition commanders have to coordinatethe use of facilities such as highways, raillines, ports, and airfields in such a way as to ensuremission accomplishment. The concept that logisticsis primarily a national responsibility cannot supplantdetailed logistics planning within a theater of operations.For these reasons, combined commanders shouldform a combined logistics staff section as early as possible.Movement control, operation of ports and airfields,theater logistical communications, and specific supplyfunctions are significant matters often coordinated5-4