BCO 01.03 - Command and Control RelationshipsBCO 01.04 - MAGTF Maneuver Command and Control

Question 1

What is Command Authority

Answer 1

• command is the authority that a military commander lawfully exercises over subordinates including authority to assign missions and accountability for their successful completion
• Although commanders may delegate authority to accomplish missions, they may not absolve themselves of the responsibility for the attainment of these missions.

Question 2

What is Organic?

Answer 2

“Organic” refers to those default command relationships directed by unit tables of organization

Question 3

What is Attached?

Answer 3

• “The placement of units or personnel in an organization where such placement is relatively temporary.”
• This means that the unit receiving the attached machine gun, etc. capability will exercise tactical command and control over them, but will employ them according to their intended mission

Question 4

What is Support?

Answer 4

1. The action of a force that aids, protects, complements, or sustains another force in accordance with a directive requiring such action.
2. A unit that helps another unit in battle.
3. An element of a command that assists, protects, or supplies other forces in combat.
   - “Support” and “Attached” are both command relationships that are temporary in nature and provides some type of aid.

Question 5

What is main HQ Echelon?

Answer 5

-providing the commander all resources necessary for sustained operations to include planning, executing, and assessing operations across all warfighting and staff functions

Question 6

What is a COC?

Answer 6

The key command and control center for overall tactical command and control of combat forces is the Combat Operations Center (COC).

Question 7

What is TAC?

Answer 7

The “forward” or “tactical” headquarters echelon is a subset of the headquarters that can detach from the main headquarters echelon and act as the forward/tactical command post, assuming command and control of operations including clearance of fires. The forward/tactical headquarters echelon conducts command and control of operations while the main is displacing.

Question 8

What is Passage of Command & Control?

Answer 8

Transfer the authorities to make various decisions between different locations, always in favor of the headquarters echelon most able to effectively command and control the fight as the situation may dictate.

Question 9

What is Rear Area Operations Center?

Answer 9

The rear area command and control facility exchanges significant amounts of information with the higher, adjacent, and subordinate headquarters involved in rear area operations.

Question 10

What is Alternate Headquarters?

Answer 10

At the battalion level and above, the senior artillery headquarters is designated as an alternate headquarters and assumes command of the GCE in the event that both the forward and main headquarters echelons are rendered non-mission capable.

Question 11

What is the mobile CP?

Answer 11

Mobile command posts provide means for commanders at all levels to keep pace with rapidly maneuvering elements.

Question 12

What is bounding?

Answer 12

Bounding is a term used to describe the leap-frogging of elements to allow simultaneous fire and maneuver.

Question 13

What is Alpha Command/Bravo Command (A CMD/B CMD) ?

Answer 13

It may also be appropriate for the unit to employ a two-TAC approach to command and control when sustained speed, tempo, and small footprint are critical to the commander’s scheme of maneuver or when planning for “continuity of operations” (COOP) in case of catastrophic destruction of one of the two command posts.

Question 14

What is the Battlespace?

Answer 14

• Battlespace is the environment, factors, and conditions that must be understood to successfully apply combat power, protect the force, or complete the mission.
• This includes the air, land, sea, space, and the included enemy and friendly forces, facilities, weather, terrain, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the information environment with operational areas and areas of interest.
• Battlespace can change in shape, size, and character over time, often defined by the reach of logistics or command and control.

Question 15

What is the AO?

Answer 15

• Area of Operations
• The AO is a common control measure, prescribed by physical boundaries, that is normally large enough to allow the GCE to both accomplish its mission and protect the force by employing its organic, assigned, and supporting systems to the limits of their capabilities

Question 16

What is Area of Influenece?

Answer 16

• The area of influence is the area that a GCE can affect through maneuver, fires, and other actions of the force.
• Its geographical size relates to the physical limits of organic systems (e.g., fire support, mobility, reconnaissance capabilities) and operational requirements identified within each of the warfighting functions.
• The area of influence reflects the extent of the force’s operational reach.
• The AOI contains friendly and enemy forces, capabilities, infrastructure, and terrain that concern the GCE.

Question 17

What is Spatial-Based Battlespace Framework?

Answer 17

• The battlespace framework depicts how commanders may organize the battlespace to relate their forces to one another in time, space, event, and purpose.

Question 18

What are Deep Operations?

Answer 18

-Commanders use deep operations to seize the initiative, shape actions, or prevent future close battles.

Question 19

What are Close Operations?

Answer 19

-These operations require speed and mobility to concentrate overwhelming combat power, which may be achieved through the employment of supporting arms, at the critical time and place.

Question 20

What are Rear Operations?

Answer 20

-All MAGTF elements conduct rear operations. The GCE may provide the MAGTF commander with capabilities in support of rear operations, including a tactical combat force, route clearance packages, or fire support

Question 21

What is Tactical Command?

Answer 21

• Commanders exert authority over subordinate organic and attached units through tactical command.
• Exercising command over subordinates is the most basic and simple element in an otherwise complex arrangement of command, control, and coordination-related exchanges of information.
• In any case where tactical tasks were passed down via the “chain of command,” basic tactical command was employed.

Question 22

What is Control through Feedback?

Answer 22

• Command decision making must be sensitive to changes in the situation.
• An effective command and control system provides the means to adapt to changing conditions
• Feedback makes command and control a dynamic, interactive process of cooperation.
• The commander is in constant expectation of feedback from subordinates which may be relevant to decision making.

Question 23

What are Commander’s Critical Information Requirements (CCIRs)

Answer 23

• The commander’s critical information requirements (CCIRs) are those information requirements identified by the commander as being significant to timely decision-making.
• The CCIRs identify information on friendly activities, enemy activities, and the environment. Commanders use CCIRs to help confirm their vision of the battlespace, assess desired effects, and determine how they will achieve a decision to accomplish their mission or to identify significant deviations from that vision.
• CCIRs identify the need for the commander to make a decision.
• The commander must continually review and update his/her CCIRs to reflect the changing situation.
• There are two categories of CCIRs—priority intelligence requirements and friendly force information requirements.

Question 24

What is a priority intelligence requirement (PIR) ?

Answer 24

-is an adversary- or environment-based intelligence requirement associated with a decision that will affect the success of the command’s mission.

Question 25

What is friendly force information requirement (FFIR) ?

Answer 25

-information the commander needs about friendly forces to make effective decisions.

Question 26

What is tactical C2?

Answer 26

“The exchange of information related to tactical command, and control through feedback, between a unit commander and a subordinate unit, whether organic or attached.”

Question 27

What is Direct Support?

Answer 27

A mission requiring a force to support another specific force and authorizing it to answer directly to the supported force’s request for assistance.

Question 28

What are Joint Force Relationships?

Answer 28

Examples of relationships:

• Administrative Control (ADCON)
• Operational Control (OPCON)
• Tactical Control (TACON)
• Combatant Command (COCOM)

Question 29

What is Administrative Control (ADCON)?

Answer 29

• Those command relationships as organized by unit tables of organization (T/O).
• MAGTF commanders will normally have ADCON over all organic, assigned, and attached Marine Corps Forces, but not forces from other services.
• This is essentially equivalent to the “organic” command relationship.
• This support includes personnel administration, FITREPs, pay, professional education, promotion opportunities, and sustainment particular to the capabilities of that unit.

Question 30

What is Operational Control (OPCON)?

Answer 30

• Is a joint doctrinal term used to describe a task organization relationship where the unit with OPCON has operational tasking authority over the other unit under its operational control.
• When exercising OPCON over a subordinate unit, a means for exerting command and control over them is required
• The parent unit retains administrative control, i.e. writing of FITREPs, pay, certain elements of logistics etc.
• Operational tasking authority is approximately the same as ‘attached’ tasking authority meaning that the unit under OPCON can be employed in accordance with its assigned mission only.

Question 31

What is Tactical Control (TACON)?

Answer 31

• is a joint doctrinal term used to describe the ability to assert limited control over a tactical asset for short duration for coordination purposes or the accomplishment of a single tactical task
• When exercising TACON over a subordinate unit, a means for exerting command and control over them is required.

Question 32

What is Combatant Command (COCOM)?

Answer 32

Where unified combatant commanders exercise OPCON over attached or task organized forces, they also exercise “combatant command” or “COCOM” over assigned forces.

Question 33

What is General Support?

Answer 33

• Support given to the supported force as a whole and not to any particular subdivision thereof.
• With general support, the supporting unit’s tasking and resources are all managed by its higher organic headquarters

Question 34

What are the common command and control realationshps?

Answer 34

• Organic
• Support
• Direct Support
• General Support

Question 35

What is a Liaison Officer?

Answer 35

-Therefore, to advise the supported commander in proper employment of the supporting unit’s capabilities, and to simplify communication of complex requirements or points of coordination, the supporting unit sends liaison officers (LNOs) to the supported unit.

Question 36

What is a supported Commander?

Answer 36

-The supported commander is the commander having primary responsibility for all aspects of a task assigned by higher authority. In

Question 37

What is the supporting Commander?

Answer 37

• The supporting commander is a commander who provides augmentation forces or other support to a supported commander or who develops a supporting plan.
• Supporting commanders are best positioned to manage constrained resources, like aircraft or reconnaissance teams