OS-504 -- US Army

LESSON OBJECTIVES

504.1 Comprehend the capabilities and limitations of US military forces [I.1(a)].

504.11 Describe the roles and missions of the US Army.

Title 10, U.S. Code "... organized, trained, and equipped for prompt and sustained combat incident to operations on land" specifically to (1) defeat enemy land forces and (2) seize, occupy, and defend land areas

By public law and Department of Defense directive, the role of the Army is to conduct prompt and sustained operations on land. Within the Army, that role is traditionally reformulated to the phrase "to fight and win the nation's wars."

The Army is the nation's force for conducting prompt and sustained land combat, which has been its role throughout our history. Combined with air and naval forces, the Army provides the nation with the ability to employ its military might in support of national policy. The Army's unique contribution to the joint team, however, is its ability to dominate the land, including populations and other resources. While all forms of military force derive their power from the capability to inflict violence, it is the conduct of sustained land operations, which forms the core of the nation's ability to implement a desired policy.

The following strategic roles reflect the realities of the new national military strategy--decreased overseas presence and the resulting requirement for a versatile army capable of force projection.

Army Strategic Roles

• Maintain combat-ready ground forces-armored, light, and special operations forces-for crisis response and other immediate requirements worldwide.
• Provide forward presence in areas of vital interest to the US using:
  • Units permanently based abroad
  • Periodic deployments of units from CONUS
• Provide support to civil authorities by participating in disaster relief, emergency assistance, and the interdiction of illicit drugs.

Provide support to allied and friendly nations through peacekeeping, nation-building assistance, security assistance, and army-to-army initiatives.

504.12 Describe the principles of war, US Army operational tenets, and METT-T in support of US Army doctrine.

First, a remainder of what doctrine is: Fundamental principles by which the military forces or elements thereof, guide their actions. It's definitive enough to guide specific operations, but Adaptable enough to address diverse & varied situations worldwide. It's authoritative, but requires judgment in application. Doctrine describes how army forces think about applying the basic principles of war. It permeates the entire organizational structure of the army, sets the direction for modernization and the standards for leadership development and soldier training. We train the way we intend to fight--doctrine is constantly in use...at all levels. METT-T and doctrine work together in determining what forces are required to accomplish a mission.

The enduring principles of war are: Objective, Offensive, Mass, Economy of Force, Maneuver, Unity of Command, Security, Surprise, and Simplicity. They provide guidance for the conduct of war--bedrock of army doctrine.

Army operational tenets are: Initiative, Agility, Depth, Synchronization, and Versatility. They are the characteristics of successful operations.

1. Initiative: setting or changing the terms of battle by action / creation of a fluid situation in which enemy loses control of events
2. Agility: the ability of a force to act faster than the enemy / repeated concentration of friendly strength against enemy weakness
3. Depth: the extension of operations in time, space, resources and purpose / sustain momentum in the attack & elasticity in the defense
4. Synchronization: arrangement of activities in time & space to mass at the decisive point / gain overwhelming combat power at decisive time & place
5. Versatility: ability of units to meet diverse mission requirements / can conduct different ops, either sequentially or simultaneously, with the same degree of success

Both the principles of war and the operational tenets provide a doctrinal checklist for use during planning. They should be used near the beginning and at the end of any planning session to do a common sense check of the plan. If a principle is violated--so be it...but the decision should be conscious, not something done by default.

METT-T simply encompasses critical planning considerations:

• Mission: specified & implied tasks / what is higher Cdr.'s intent? / what is higher Cdr.'s concept of operations?
• Enemy: Objectives / avenues of approach / main effort / relative combat power / phasing, intermediate objectives, culminating points / centers of gravity: tactical...operational...strategic / speed and timing / fire support / sustainment
• Terrain and Weather: maneuver space & trafficability / natural & manmade obstacles / routes of advance / open Vs restrictive terrain / surface conditions / visibility & terrain masking / equipment & weapons effects
• Troops: types of forces--ar, mx, abn, aaslt / fire support--fa, attack helo, ada, cas / sustainment / defensive terrain...lateral & rearward / obstacles / counterattack
• Time: D+1...D+15...D+30...D+45...etc / time for enemy to reach CFA / time for U.S. forces to prepare defense / time to build sustainment

504.13 Describe the organization of the US Army Corps.

Corps are the largest tactical units in the U.S. Army, the instruments by which higher echelons of command conduct maneuver at the operational level. They are tailored for the theater and the mission for which they are deployed. Once tailored, they contain all the organic combat, combat support, and combat service support capabilities required sustaining operations. Corps may be assigned divisions of any type required by the theater/mission. They possess support commands and are assigned combat/combat support units based on their needs for a specific operation. Corps are the link between the operational and tactical levels of war. They plan/conduct major operations and battles. They synchronize tactical activities. While corps normally fight as part of a larger land force (e.g., an army), they may also be employed in a contingency operation as the land component of a joint force.

Corps normally have 2 to 5 divisions. Armored cavalry regiments, field artillery brigades, engineer brigades, air defense artillery brigades, and aviation brigades are the nondivisional units commonly available within the corps structure to weight its main effort and to perform special combat functions. Separate infantry/armor brigades may also be assigned to corps. Signal, military intelligence, military police, civil affairs, and chemical brigades are the usual combat support (CS) organizations present in a corps. A psychological operations battalion may also be present. The combat service support (CSS) organizations are the personnel group, the finance group, and the corps support command. METT-T drives what units are deployed to support Corps operations and where they emplace. A corps can have 50,000 to 150,000 soldiers.

504.14 Describe the five different types of US Army Divisions, their organization, and their capabilities and limitations.

Three of the five types of divisions are "LIGHT." Operational missions for these light maneuver forces include:

Light Infantry Division

10,813 SOLDIERS
1,650 VEHICLES
44 TOW---162 DRAGON/JAVELIN
54 105mm HOW(T)---8 155mm HOW(T)
41 AH58D---PLUS 43 OTHER HELO's

• Closes with the enemy, by fire and maneuver, to destroy or capture him, and repels his assaults by fire, close combat and counterattack.
• Trained to fight across the full range of military operations--however, in mid to high intensity operations, may require augmentation.
• Have nine infantry battalions.
• Smallest & "lightest"--39 vehicles, all 1 1/2 ton or less, in a battalion.

Airborne Division

13,149 SOLDIERS
2,573 VEHICLES
54 SHERIDAN
188 TOW---162 DRAGON/JAVELIN
54 105mm HOW(T)
49 AH-58D---PLUS 56 OTHER HELO's

Only one in the force structure.

Similar to a light infantry division--but a chemical company has been added to assist in decontamination. Its common equipment is also longer range (e.g., it has satellite capability).

XVIII Corps has the Sheridan, which is in a unit that is normally chopped to the Airborne Division. The Sheridan is a lightly armored vehicle that can be air dropped. This division also has parachute riggers and pathfinders.

About 75% of the division's vehicles are 1 1/2 tons (e.g., HMMWV).

Air Assault Division

15,739 SOLDIERS
3,350 VEHICLES
180 TOW---162 JAVELIN
54 105mm HOWITZER (T)
72 AH64 & 32 AH58D--plus 229 other helos

• Only one in the force structure.
• Principle difference from normal light division is the size and capability of the combat aviation brigade. There are two battalions of UH-60's (90) available for air assault operations, three attack helicopter battalions and a CH-47 medium lift battalion to position its artillery and support dispersed combat operations.
• TOW systems are mounted on HMMWVs
• About 60% of the vehicles are light (smaller than 2 1/2 tons).

Two of the five types of divisions are "HEAVY." Operational missions for these heavy maneuver forces include:

Armored division (more Tanks than Bradleys)

17,538 SOLDIERS
5,908 VEHICLES
317 TANKS---282 BRADLEYS
72 155 SP HOWITZERS---18 MLRS
24 AH-64 & 16 AH58D---PLUS
63 other helos

• An armored division has 6 tank battalions and 4 mechanized infantry battalions.
• The division artillery consists of 3 battalions of 155mm self-propelled howitzers, 1-3 batteries of 9 MLRS each from the corps FA brigade, and a target acquisition battery of 5 RADARs.
• The aviation bde has 2 battalions of Apache helicopters.
• The DISCOM is organized with 3 forward support bns--one for each bde.
• In mounted warfare, the tank is the primary offensive weapon. Its firepower, protection from enemy fire, and speed create the shock effect necessary to disrupt/defeat the enemy.

Mechanized Infantry Division(more Bradleys than Tanks)

17,776 SOLDIERS
5,335 VEHICLES
259 TANKS
331 BRADLEYS---60 TOW
72 155 SP HOWITZERS
18 MLRS
24 AH64/16 AH58D
PLUS 63 other helos

• Mechanized infantry divisions have 5 tank battalions and 5 mech infantry battalions. They are also called "heavy" divisions.
• Mechanized infantry has the same mobility as armor forces, but less firepower and protection. Armor and mech infantry train and fight together as a team--a task force--to defeat enemy armored forces. Mech infantry units accompany tank units in mounted assault.
• Mech infantry units integrate fast, protected mobility; lethal, vehicle-mounted, fire support systems; and dismounted infantry skills into an effective fighting system to enhance the striking power of armor forces.
• Can conduct limited airmobile operations to seize critical objectives.
• Note that mech divs have more soldiers and fewer tanks than armored div's. Again, the number of MLRS available in the division is a function of how many 9 fire unit batteries are chopped to them from the corps FA brigade.

504.2 Comprehend the relationship between Service Doctrine and joint doctrine [I.2(d)].

504.21 Describe the term "battlefield framework."

A battlefield framework helps commanders relate their forces to one another and to the enemy in time, space, resources, and purpose. This battlefield framework establishes an area of geographical and operational responsibility for the commander and provides a way to visualize how he will employ his forces against the enemy. To understand this framework is to understand the relationship between the area of operations, battle space, and battlefield organization (operations in depth). Proper relationships allow for simultaneous operations and massing of effects against the enemy.

• Area of Operations: Geographical area assigned by a warfighting CINC. Includes airspace above and authority to conduct military operations within.
• Battlespace: A physical volume of space defined by the maximum capability to acquire and dominate the enemy. It assists commanders in visualizing how to fight and win. Requires lateral, joint, and combined interaction for success.

The Battlespace

• Battlefield organization (operations in depth): Commanders visualize their battle space to set the relationship of friendly forces to one another and to the enemy in time, space, resources, and purpose. Once commanders decide the purpose and relationship of battlefield activities, they determine how to arrange them within the breadth, depth, and space of the battlefield to meet the considerations of METT-T. This, in turn, helps them relate their activities to those of the enemy over time.
• Three closely related sets of activities characterize operations within an AO-deep, close, and rear operations. Army commanders fight deep, close, and rear actions simultaneously in a manner that appears to the enemy as one continuous operation against him. They seek to attack the enemy simultaneously throughout the depth of the battlefield and mass both effects and forces when and where necessary to accomplish the mission.
• Deep operations: Deep operations are those directed against enemy forces and functions beyond the close battle. They defeat the enemy or deny his objectives and set the stage for close operations. Joint synchronization of assets is essential for success.
• Close operations: Forces in immediate contact with the enemy, in the offense or defense, are fighting close operations. Fought at the tactical level of war. Commanders plan when it is to occur and it's synchronized with the deep battle.
• Rear operations: Rear operations assist in providing freedom of action and continuity of operations, logistics, and battle command. Their primary purposes are to sustain the current close and deep fights and to posture the force for future operations.
  

504.22 Describe the meaning of "tailored force packaging" and "force projection" and how they apply to US Army operations.

Tailored force packaging refers to the Army's ability to tailor combat units as required for the mission by simply selecting desired components of heavy, light, airborne, and air assault units and placing them under a single division, corps, etc. to create a custom made combat force. For example, the Army "threw together" a force comprised of corps C2, mechanized infantry, armor, aviation, air assault, Patriot, MLRS, and ATACMS for Operation Desert Storm.

Force projection is the demonstrated ability to rapidly alert, mobilize, deploy, and operate anywhere in the world. It is a key element of power projection-the ability of the nation to apply all or some of the elements of national power to act in crises, to contribute to deterrence, and to enhance regional stability. Force projection is inherently joint in nature. The Army participates in force projection in both war and operations other than war.

To ensure a rapid response capability, yet retain the flexibility to contend with situations requiring a larger military response, the Army designates units as forward presence, crisis response, initial reinforcement, follow-on reinforcement, and reconstitution.

504.23 Describe the current doctrine used by the US Army in support of the National Security and National Military Strategies and objectives.

• The Army's current doctrine is called "Full Dimensional Operations" and was adopted in 1993. It emphasizes Force Projection, Joint/Combined Opns, and MOOTW. The context of the situation along with the New World Order is considered simultaneously with the restraints of a downsized force and budget constraints.
• Doctrinal trends have migrated toward balanced defensive and offensive operations vice purely defensive or offensive operations, deep battle vice linear battle, and simultaneous operations vice set-piece battle.
• Fundamental to the Army's doctrine is an appreciation of the levels of war-tactical, operational, and strategic-that define the entire range of military operations and the links between tactical actions and strategic objectives.
  

The following strategic concepts are fundamental to Army doctrine:

• The Army must be capable of full-dimensional operations. This means employing all means available to accomplish any given mission decisively and at the least cost across the full range of possible operations in war and in operations other than war.
• The Army must train to fight as part of a joint, combined, United Nations, or interagency force. Combatant commanders seek the power inherent in joint operations by synchronizing the complementary war-fighting capabilities of all the services and supporting commands into a unified effort.
• Army forces must be deployable. Commanders tailor force packages to accommodate land-combat requirements of theater commanders in a variety of strategic contingency plans.
• The Army must be expansible. The Army generates forces to respond rapidly to crises with a mix of trained and ready, Active and Reserve component forces representing the Total Army.
• The Army must be capable of achieving decisive victory. The Army must maintain the capability to put overwhelming combat power on the battlefield to defeat all enemies through a total force effort. It produces forces of the highest quality, able to deploy rapidly, to fight, to sustain themselves, and to win quickly with minimum casualties. That is decisive victory.
  

HUAH!

READINGS

AU 8, The Army into the Twenty-First Century, Feb 96 (os504r1.doc)

Army Operations Toolbook (army.tbk)

Force XXI Toolbook (forcexxi.tbk)

PowerPoint presentation (army1.ppt, army2.ppt, and army3.ppt)

READING RATIONALE

AU 8 and the PowerPoint presentation establish the baseline of knowledge for Army Operations. They include the strategic and theater view of the Army, roles, missions, and doctrine of the Army, and the fundamentals of Army Operations, organizational structure of the Army, force projection, Operations other than War, and Army Special Operations. The Army Operations toolbook is a self-paced reading that presents an explanation of the tactical units and equipment of the Army. The toolbook includes exercises that will test your knowledge of Army forces, deployment, and operations planning. Lastly, the FORCE XXI toolbook summarizes the future structure and capabilities of the Army in the 21st century.

LESSON OUTLINE

Thesis: US Army forces provide the National Command Authority and Theater Commanders with unique capabilities for rapid and prolonged response to a wide variety of crises. Full understanding of the roles, missions, capabilities and limitations, doctrine, and strategies of the US Army is essential to the joint staff operational and campaign planners in responding to regional crises that arise around the world.

Main Point I: Wars are fought for strategic purposes. US Army doctrine addresses the strategic context of the application of force.

Main Point II: Review and discuss the roles, missions, organizations, capabilities and limitations, strategies, and doctrine used by the US Army to support the National Security Strategy, National Military Strategy, and theater commanders.