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

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMFM 100-5essential for rapid transition to war and force-projectionoperations.In time of war or conflict, planners develop strategicend states tailored to the particular situation. Thecombatant commander modifies existing strategic andcontingency plans and alters portions of his theaterstrategy using crisis action procedures. The theaterstrategy is written in terms of military objectives, militaryconcepts, and resources (ends, ways, and means)and provides guidance for a broad range of activitiesthroughout the AOR, including provisions for both warand operations other than war.The theater commander and his staff conduct theater-strategicplanning by using the Joint OperationPlanning and Execution System (JOPES). The assignedplanning requirements are formulated into afamily of OPLANs to meet strategic and contingencyrequirements in the theater. The ASCC develops thesupporting plan as part of the family of plans. Thetheater commander’s OPLAN can be a theater campaignplan. All theater OPLANs achieve strategicgoals. The theater commander uses operational art inhis theater design to influence the strategic intent foundin both the theater strategy and campaign plan.THE USE OF FORCE IN SUPPORT OFSTRATEGIC POLICY OPTIONSWhen the nation commits its armed forces, itshould clearly understand the overall policy goal andhow the use of force helps achieve that goal. Determininghow war (or military operations) accomplishesthe national objectives is the critical first step in theoperational planning process. In order to describeclearly how the use of force contributes to the overallpolitical objectives, planners must consider what maybe necessary to end the conflict, as well as the likelyconsequences of warfare and the period of conflictactivities that follow.Commanders at all levels must have a commonunderstanding, prior to hostilities, of the conditionsthat constitute success. Decisions to stop military operationsand to transition from active combat topostconflict operations will necessarily require the inputand experience of both operational and tacticallevelcommanders. The situation brought about bysuccessful military operations should conform to thepolitical decision makers’ view of how victory in warbrings the country closer to its strategic goals. Therefore,military planners must understand the desiredmilitary end state to be achieved as part of the overallstrategy.STRATEGIC END STATE ANDSUPPORTING MILITARY CONDITIONSWhen the nation commits its armed forces, itshould clearly understand what military end state itwants to achieve. A military end state includes the requiredconditions that, when achieved, attain the strategicobjectives or pass the main effort to other instrumentsof national power to achieve the final strategicend state. That end state describes what the NCA wantsthe situation to be when operations conclude—bothmilitary operations, as well as those where the militaryis in support of other instruments of nationalpower.While the military end state conditions will normallyrepresent what the combatant commander wantshis campaign to achieve, he rarely concerns himselfwith only those conditions. Often, the combatant commanderis required to support the other instruments ofnational power that the NCA and coalition leadersdesignate. He must first understand the desired endstate, then plan the means to achieve it. Neglecting todo so could result in a military victory that fails toachieve strategic objectives.Determining the end state and ensuring that it accomplishesthe national objectives are the critical firststeps in the operational planning process. Failure tomake this determination will waste scarce resourcesand put the entire effort at risk.THE LEVELS OF WARThe levels of war help clarify activities by echelonswithin the theater across the full range of militaryoperations. The levels of war—strategic, operational,and tactical—provide a useful framework forordering activities within AORs. The levels of warhelp commanders visualize a logical flow of operations,allocate resources, and assign tasks. Each levelis defined by the outcome intended—not by the levelof command or the size of the unit.The Strategic LevelAt the strategic level of war a nation or group ofnations use national interests to determine their strategyto ensure an effective, responsive national powerprojectioncapability. Strategy involves the art andscience of employing armed forces with the other instrumentsof national power to secure strategic goals.The NCA and the CJCS translate strategy intomilitary6-1