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April 13-15, 2007
Salida, Colorado
Anderson Ranch Fire — August, 1997
Investigation Report
Action Plan
Communicating Intent and Imparting Presence
Taskbook Opportunities
Salida Chamber of Commerce Visitor
Information
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Communicating Intent
and
Imparting Presence
Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence G Shattuck, U.S. Army
A Method for Conducting
Unit Intent Training
The context-based simulation used in the empirical research described
above provides a low-cost, high-return method for conducting unit intent
train-ing at the battalion or brigade level. The training can be conducted
as an event by itself or in conjunction with any training exercise
or actual deployment. The equipment required is minimal: a video camera,
a video cassette recorder and a television. The executive officer (XO)
can serve as the administrator. The only input required to initiate
the training is an OPORD (with annexes and overlays) from higher headquarters.
The training should be conducted in the following manner:
- Based on the OPORD issued by the higher headquarters, the commander
and his staff develop an OPORD and brief it to the subordinate commanders.
-
The subordinate commanders and their staffs develop OPORDs and
brief them back to the commander.
- The XO develops 3 to 5 SITREPs based on the unit and subordinate
OPORDs. It is critical that the SITREPs portray scenarios in which
the ability
to complete the mission has been blocked (or unexpected success
has been achieved) but the commander’s intent is still valid
and able to guide the decision making of the subordinate commanders.
-
The XO presents the SITREPs to the senior commander, one at a time.
Using his OPORD, maps and overlays, the commander reasons aloud about
what action he would expect from each of his subordinate commanders
based on each SITREP. This session is videotaped.
- The XO presents the SITREPs to each subordinate commander. Using
their OPORD, maps and overlays, they reason aloud about what actions
they would
take and why. This session is also videotaped.
-
The XO serves as a moderator as the commander and each subordinate
commander come together to review the videotape of their responses
to the SITREPs.
The XO helps identify differences in the reasoning of the commander
and his subordinate commanders. He must go deeper than determining whether
the actions recommended by the commander and a subordinate match. The
XO must identify discrepancies in understanding and implementation of
doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures; predispositions with respect
to uncertainty; excessive reliance on written orders; and evidence of
imbalance with respect to flexibility and synchronization.
Given a healthy command climate, this training method will dramatically
improve the ability of a commander and his subordinates to formulate,
communicate, interpret and implement intent. But our concept of intent
is only part of what the Germans had in mind when they developed Auftragstaktik.
As stated earlier, US doctrine on intent does not include concepts of
social norms, expectations, trust or intimate personal knowledge of subordinates.
To incorporate these elements a commander must impart his presence to
his subordinate commanders.
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