COIN

Question 1

infiltration and subversion

Answer 1

used to gain intelligence and degrade the effectiveness of host nation government organizations

Question 2

identify the type of insurgent approach being utilized given a scenario

Answer 2

Conspiration - usually involves a few leaders and a militant cadre seizing control of government structures or exploiting a revolutionary situation

Military - seize power by applying military force

Urban - small independent cells difficult to counter require no popular support

Protracted popular war - prolonged violent struggle by groups for security, recognition, acceptance, access to political institutions, and economic participation

Question 3

denial and deception

Answer 3

consist of the measures taken by the threat to block, prevent, or impair US intelligence collection

Question 4

demonstrations

Answer 4

can be used to incite violence responses by counterinsurgents and also to display the popularity of the insurgent cause

Question 5

Chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons

Answer 5

The potential for mass distraction and the fear most people have for those weapons make them attractive to groups wishing to attract international attention

Question 6

bombing and high explosives

Answer 6

because of the various detonation techniques available may be a low risk to the perpetrator

Question 7

arson

Answer 7

less dramatic than most tactics has the advantage of lower risk to the perpetrator

Question 8

assassination

Answer 8

killing of prominent persons and symbolic personnel

Question 9

ambushes

Answer 9

guerrilla style attacks to kill or intimidate counterinsurgents

Question 10

describe the three types of violent actions employed by insurgents

Answer 10

Terrorist - attacks used to instill terror

Guerrilla - avoid decisive confrontations unless they know how they can win

Conventional - used to win the insurgency develops extensive popular support and sustainment capabilities

Question 11

List the five elements of an insurgency

Answer 11

mass 
base 
auxiliaries 
cadre 
combatants 
core

Question 12

Match the three phases of Mao Zedong’s theory of protracted war with its definition

Answer 12

1. Strategic Defensive - when the government has a stronger correlation of forces and insurgents must concentrate on survival and building support
2. Strategic Stalemate - when force correlations approach equilibrium and guerrilla warfare becomes the most important activity
3. Strategic Counteroffensive - when insurgents have superior strength and military forces moved to conventional operations to destroy the government military capability

Question 13

Match the historic principle of counterinsurgency with the explanation

Answer 13

legitimacy is the main objective - develop effective governance
unity of effort is essential - Unity effort every echelon of coin
political factors are primary - war 80% political action 20%
coins must understand the environment - COIN ops depend on understanding the society & culture
Intel drives ops - without Intel, COINs won’t know what to do
security under rule of law - No secure environment = no permanent reforms
COINs prepare long term commitment - COIN ops always demand considerable expenditures of time and resources

Question 14

provide an explanation of each vulnerabilities of an insurgency

Answer 14

insurgents need for secrecy - intent to use violence = covert approach
inconsistencies in the mobilization message - May go to any extreme to attract followers
need to establish a base of operations - actions to exploit and eliminate base locations
reliance on external support - and experience difficulties finding a base of operations
need to obtain financial resources - all insurgencies require funding to some extent
internal divisions - counterinsurgents remain alert for signs of divisions in an internal movement
need to maintain momentum - controlling the pace of operations is vital to the success of any insurgency
informants within an insurgency - it’s demoralizing to insurgents realizing that people inside their movement are providing information to government agencies

Question 15

identify the meaning of “cause” as it relates to an insurgency

Answer 15

A principle or movement militantly defended or supported

Question 16

define each of the five means to mobilize an insurgency

Answer 16

persuasion–in times of turmoil, political, social, security and economic benefits can often entice people to support a side
coercion– A government that can’t support it’s people forfeits the right to rule
reaction to abuses – a government that exceeds accepted local norms and abuses its people or is tyrannical generates resistance to its rule
foreign support – can’t provide expertise and money need for a conflict
Apolitical motivations – insurgencies attract criminals and mercenaries

Question 17

hijacking and skyjacking

Answer 17

sometimes insurgents simply hijacking as a means of escape. However are normally executed to produce a spectacular hostage situation.

Question 18

hoaxes

Answer 18

any credible insurgent or terrorist group can employ a hoax with considerable success.

Question 19

hostage taking

Answer 19

An overt seizure of one or more people to gain publicity or other concessions in return for releasing the hostage

Question 20

indirect fire

Answer 20

used to harass counterinsurgents or cause them to commit forces that can be attacked by secondary ambushes.

Question 21

kidnapping

Answer 21

usually a covert seizure of one or more persons to obtain specific results

Question 22

propaganda

Answer 22

insurgents may disseminate propaganda using any form of media, including face-to-face talks in an attempt to push their message to the populace.

Question 23

raids and attacks on facilities

Answer 23

demonstrate the host nation government’s inability to secure critical facilities or national symbols

Question 24

sabotage

Answer 24

used to demonstrate how vulnerable of the society of host nation government is to terrorist action

Question 25

seizure

Answer 25

involves a building or object of value in the eyes of the audience

Question 26

define a target area of interest

Answer 26

Point, line, or area that if interdicted with fire will cause the threat to adopt a different course of action

Question 27

describe how IPB supports the four functions of the targeting methodology

Answer 27

provides the commander was a picture of the adversary, threat model and operational environment. Through this, the commander identifies what threat capabilities adversary may possess.

Question 28

describe the four functions of targeting methodology

Answer 28

decide – clear picture of priorities applicable to talking.
detect – design to execute target acquisition in the decide phase.
deliver - executes the target it’s a guidance and supports the commanders battle plan.
assess – answers if the commanders requirements have been met, if not, detect and deliver continue.

Question 29

explain the two categories of targeting

Answer 29

deliberate targeting – prosecutes planned target

dynamic target – prosecutes targets of opportunity

Question 30

characteristics of a target

Answer 30

physical
functional
cognitive
environmental
time

Question 31

definition of a target

Answer 31

and entity or object considered for possible engagement or action.

Question 32

define high-value individual

Answer 32

A person of interest to must be identified, surveilled, tract and influence through the use of information are fires.

Question 33

List an example of each element of ASCOPE

Answer 33

areas – government centers 
structures – bridges 
capabilities – technology 
organizations – church groups 
people – behavioral patterns 
events – civil disturbances

Question 34

select the definition of each aspect of ASCOPE

Answer 34

Areas – key civilian areas I localities or aspects of the terrain within and AO that often are not militarily significant.

Structures – analyzing a structure involves determining how it’s location, functions, and capabilities can support the operation.

Capabilities – commanders and staffs analyze capabilities from different levels.

Organizations – nonmilitary groups or institutions in the AO.

People – non-military personnel encountered by military forces.

Events – routine, cyclical, planned, or spontaneous activities is significantly affect organizations, people, and military operations.