Enabling Mission Command through Cavalry Squadron Operations

Summer 2017 Enabling Mission Command through Cavalry Squadron Operations by MAJ R. Perry White Cavalry squadrons shape the brigade combat team (BCT) fight. They conduct reconnaissance and security (R&S) to enable adjacent units to seize, retain and exploit the initiative. Effective em ployment of cavalry squadrons, how ever, is a highly complex endeavor. To overcome this, commanders must le verage mission command and facilitate shared understanding that enables rapid initiative through clear intent and orders. GEN David G. Perkins, former com mander of U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and now commander of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, addressed the students of the Maneu ver Captain’s Career Course in April 2014 to discuss mission command and leader development. In his opening comments, GEN Perkins said, “When you are in charge of an organization, it is not about what you do but what you are for.”1 In the Army, we conduct uni fied land operations (ULO), which de scribes how we seize, retain and ex ploit the initiative to gain and maintain a position of relative advantage through simultaneous offensive, de fensive and stability operations to pre vent or deter conflict, prevail in war and create the conditions for favorable conflict resolution (from Army Doctri nal Publication (ADP) 3-0). As we discuss mission command and how it pertains to cavalry squadrons, it is important to understand “what we are for.” What are we for? Summarized from Field Manual 3-98, R&S operations are essential to effec tively execute ULO. BCTs conduct R&S operations to develop the situation and to identify, create and preserve options to seize and exploit the initia tive. R&S tasks allow BCTs to achieve positions of relative advantage by con firming or denying initial assumptions of the tactical and operational situa tion. They reduce uncertainty by allow ing the commander to describe, direct, lead and assess operations to make de cisions. Cavalry squadrons, along with other brigade information-collection (IC) assets, provide a continuous flow of information that make contact (vi sual; obstacles; direct; indirect; air craft; chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear; non-hostile and electron ic warfare) with enemy elements under favorable conditions. They identify op portunities, prevent surprises and en able brigades to make timely decisions while providing reaction time and ma neuver space to set conditions for fu ture operations. Further, employment of reconnais sance assets reduces uncertainty, es pecially when used for reconnaissance push and pulls. A reconnaissance push occurs when commanders have a rela tively thorough understanding of the operational environment. In these cas es, commanders “push” reconnais sance assets into specific portions of their areas of operation to confirm, deny and validate planning assump tions. A reconnaissance pull occurs when commanders are uncertain of the composition and disposition of en emy forces in their areas of operation, information about terrain is vague and time is limited. In these cases, recon naissance assets work over a broad area to develop the enemy situation. As they gain an understanding of ene my weaknesses, they then “pull” the main body to positions of tactical ad vantage. What is mission command? It is the exercise of authority and direc tion by the commander using mission orders to enable disciplined initiative within the commander’s intent, em powering leaders in conducting ULO. Mission command guides command ers. To do this, they must leverage its six principles:

• Build cohesive teams through trust. Mutual trust is shared confidence among commanders, subordinates and partners. Effective commanders build cohesive teams in an environment of mutual trust. Trust flows both ways: leaders to subordinates and subordinates to Figure 1. A scout competing in the May 2017 Gainey Cup “Best Scout Squad” competition low-crawls through undergrowth at Fort Benning, GA. The bienni al Gainey Cup’s competitors are challenged with events centered on essential R&S tactics, techniques and procedures. The Gainey Cup is a good test of re connaissance “push” and “pull” tasks. (Photo by Markeith Horace, Maneuver Center of Excellence Public Affairs Office photographer)

Summer 2017 commanders.

• Create shared understanding. Shared understanding and purpose form the basis for unity of effort and trust (trust implies expectations that are shared). Commanders and staffs actively build and maintain shared understanding within the force and with unified-action partners by continual collaboration throughout the operations process.

• Provide clear commander’s intent. The commander’s intent is a clear and concise expression of the purpose of the operation and the desired military endstate that supports mission command, provides focus to the staff and helps subordinate and supporting commanders act to achieve the commander’s desired results without further orders, even when the operation does not unfold as planned (Joint Publication 3-0).

• Exercise disciplined initiative. Disciplined initiative is action when these conditions apply: 1) absence of orders; 2) existing orders no longer fit the situation; or 3) unforeseen opportunities or threats arise.

• Use mission orders. Mission orders are used to assign tasks, allocate resources and issue broad guidance.

• Accept prudent risks. Commanders accept prudent risk when making decisions because uncertainty exists in all military operations. Prudent risk is a deliberate exposure to potential injury or loss when the commander judges the outcome in terms of mission accomplishment as worth the cost (ADP 6-0). Opportunities come with risks. The willingness to accept prudent risk is often the key to exposing enemy weaknesses. Supporting brigade commander How does the cavalry squadron sup port the brigade commander in mis sion command? The cavalry squadron is the brigade commander’s primary asset to develop the situation and pro vide timely information that will refine subsequent courses of action (CoAs) for the brigade’s decisive operation. Figure 2. Then-SPC Ty Carter conducts reconnaissance from the highest point of Outpost Fritsche in Afghanistan, where he was assigned in late Spring/early Summer 2009 with Blue Platoon, Bravo “Black Knight” Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th BCT, 4th Infantry Division. Cavalry units assess progress through continuous reconnaissance to help modify existing and/or developing plans to allocate BCT assets based on changing tactical situations. Unfortunate ly, risks in cavalry employment’s basic principles were underestimated when Carter and his fellow Soldiers rotated in Summer 2009 to Combat Outpost Keating, which sat on low ground in the valley below and was nearly overrun Oct. 3,

2009. (Carter’s actions during that battle resulted in his being awarded the Medal of Honor.) (Photo courtesy of retired 1SG Jonathan Hill)

Summer 2017 The cavalry squadron improves situa tional understanding for the com mander by providing a better under stand of the tactical, human and polit ical dynamics within an area of opera tion. Cavalry squadrons help visualize oper ations in the context of mission vari ables to facilitate decisive operations in time and space with a greater de gree of detail, accuracy and fidelity. Cavalry squadrons direct the execution of decisive operations with additional flexibility, adaptability, synchronization and integration that moves the BCT to concentrate strengths against enemy weakness. Finally, cavalry squadrons assess prog ress through continuous reconnais sance to help modify existing and/or developing plans to allocate BCT assets based on changing tactical situations. Mission command in R&S tasks How does the brigade and cavalry squadron use mission command in conducting R&S tasks? Mission com mand enables commanders and staffs to counter the inherent uncertainty of military operations. Squadron com manders conduct R&S to protect the force and to seize, retain and exploit the initiative. The commander sets reconnaissance priorities early since squadrons will precede main-body movement and op erate with less time available for troopleading procedures (TLP). After a bri gade receives its initial warning order (warnord) from higher headquarters and publishes Warnord 1, the cavalry squadron has already begun its TLPs. Unlike most battalions, however, the cavalry squadron is operating on a highly accelerated timeline and initi ates movement prior to other battal ions. Therefore, brigade and squadron staffs must work closely during mission analysis to conduct parallel planning. More importantly, the relationship and direct dialogue between the brigade and squadron commander is para mount for successful CoA development and to allocate IC assets and other en ablers (artillery, aviation) appropriate ly. Collaboration and dialogue between brigade and squadron is essential in developing shared understanding. Af ter brigade commanders have an un derstanding of the problem, they can visualize an endstate for the cavalry squadron; describe time, space, re sources (initial), purpose and action; and direct the squadron through use of mission orders (Warnord 2, Annex L). Cavalry squadrons are unique in con ducting R&S. They conduct parallel planning with the brigade, operating within broad guidance to conduct mis sions in front of, on the rear of and on the BCT’s flanks. Commander’s intent How does the commander’s intent fa cilitate mission command? The com mander’s intent articulates the reason for an operation. It explains the ex panded – or, in other words, broader – purpose of an operation and allows subordinates to understand what is ex pected of them to accomplish a mis sion. The commander’s intent becomes the basis on which staffs and subordi nate leaders develop plans and trans form them into action. During the planning process, squadron commanders issue planning guidance before, during and after dialogue with the brigade commander’s staff. This is usually in the form of a directed CoA with planning guidance for each warf ighting function. Commanders are able to direct a CoA because of their ability to understand the problem, visualize the endstate and describe it to their staff and subordinate commanders. Though staffs may understand the final array of forces on the battlefield, they must refine the CoA, conduct CoA anal ysis and synchronize assets. Guidance important Why is R&S guidance important? Squadron commanders issue R&S guid ance to allow subordinate command ers to operate with disciplined initia tive. R&S guidance provides focus, op erational details and guidelines for en gagement, disengagement and dis placement of the organization. The commander develops this guidance based on the brigade’s mission, time line and intent. Together, R&S guid ance, along with the commander’s in tent, work to satisfy information re quirements and identify opportunities to seize, retain and exploit the initia tive. Though similar, reconnaissance guid ance is different from security guid ance. Generally speaking, reconnais sance guidance is geared toward offen sive operations, while security guid ance is used during defensive opera tions. R&S guidance both help develop the situation to ensure an organization can accomplish its objective. Security guidance requires more details to ad equately perform the cavalry squad ron’s security mission. What are cavalry squadrons for? Why are they important to the BCT? They conduct R&S to enable brigades to de feat and destroy the enemy. Their op erations help commanders seize, retain and exploit the initiative. Central to this is the effective execution of mis sion command. Collaborative, parallel planning facilitates shared understand ing to enable disciplined initiative that culminates in battlefield success for the BCT. MAJ Perry White is the cavalry-squad ron operations observer/coach/trainer on Cobra Team, Operations Group, Na tional Training Center, Fort Irwin, CA. Previous assignments include cavalry-squadron operations officer, 6th Squad ron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry BCT (IBCT), 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA; battalion executive offi cer, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regi ment, 2nd IBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart; inspector general, 3rd In fantry Division, Fort Stewart; com mander, Troop B, 5th Squadron, 7th Cav alry Regiment, 1st Armored BCT, 3rd In fantry Division, Fort Stewart; and assis tant professor of military science, Ship pensburg University, Shippensburg, PA. His military education includes Com mand and General Staff College, Cav alry Leader’s Course, Inspector General Course, Armor Maneuver Captain’s Ca reer Course, Armor Basic Officer Lead er’s Course and Airborne School. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in aerospace management from Middle Tennessee State University and a mas ter’s of science degree in organization al development and leadership from Shippensburg University. His awards include two Bronze Star Medals and two Meritorious Service Medals.

Summer 2017 Acronym Quick-Scan R&S – reconnaissance and security TLP – troop-leading procedures ULO – unified land operations Warnord – warning order Notes 1 Address April 14, 2014; retrieved March 14, 2017, from https://vimeo. com/91292851. ADP – Army doctrinal publication BCT – brigade combat team CoA – course of action IBCT – infantry brigade combat team IC – information collection New Gunnery App A new mobile application, Gunnery-Timer and Calculator, is now avail able to aid gunnery. The app times task engagements and calculates en gagement and base scores during crew gunnery on stabilized and un stabilized platforms. The Gunnery-Timer and Calculator app features three functional tools: timer, point calculator and engage ment-modifier calculator. The gunnery timer allows you to time engagements during crew gun nery for DA Form 8265. The point calculator allows you to cal culate points acquired from up to four targets during crew-gunnery engage ments and verify the total points and the engagement score on DA Form 8265. The engagement-modifier calculator allows you to calculate and update en gagement and modifier points for the modifier fields on DA Form 8265. The app was created in partnership be tween U.S. Army Research Institute’s Fort Hood Research Unit and the Train ing and Doctrine Command Capability Manager Mobile-Learning, Fort Eustis, VA, with support from the Maneu ver Center of Excellence and U.S. Army Armor School, and significant input from noncommissioned offi cers and officers at Fort Hood. The Gunnery-Timer and Calculator app for Android is available at https://play.google.com/store/ apps/details?id=mil.army.gtac. The Gunnery-Timer and Calculator app for iOS is available at https:// itunes.apple.com/us/app/gunnery- t i m e r - a n d - c a l c u l a t o r / id1213841158?ls=1&mt=8.