Operational Art and Design Flashcards
Operational art
Operational art is the cognitive approach by commanders and staffs—supported by their skill, knowledge, experience, creativity, and judgment—to develop strategies, campaigns, and operations to organize and employ military forces by integrating ends, ways, and means (JP 3-0). For Army forces, operational art is the pursuit of strategic objectives, in whole or in part, through the arrangement of tactical actions in time, space, and purpose. This approach enables commanders and staffs to use skill, knowledge, experience, and judgment to overcome the ambiguity and intricacies of a complex, ever changing, and uncertain operational environment to better understand the problem or problems at hand. Operational art applies to all aspects of operations and integrates ends, ways, and means, while accounting for risk. Operational art is applicable at all levels of war, not just to the operational level of war.
The Elements of Operational Art
In applying operational art, commanders and their staffs use intellectual tools to help them understand an operational environment as well as visualize and describe their approach for conducting the operation.
Collectively, this set of tools is known as the elements of operational art. These tools help commanders understand, visualize, and describe the integration and synchronization of the elements of combat power as well as their commander’s intent and guidance. Commanders selectively use these tools in any operation. However, the tools’ broadest application applies to long-term operations.
The Elements of Operational Art: Part 2
*Common to elements of operational design
▪ Termination ▪ Military end state ▪ Objectives ▪ Effects ▪ Center of gravity ▪ Decisive point ▪ Lines of operation and lines of effort ▪ Direct and indirect approach ▪ Anticipation ▪ Operational reach ▪ Culmination ▪ Arranging operations ▪ Forces and functions ▪ End state and conditions ▪ Center of gravity* ▪ Decisive points* ▪ Lines of operation and lines of effort* ▪ Operational reach* ▪ Basing ▪ Tempo ▪ Phasing and transitions ▪ Culmination* ▪ Risk
a) End state and conditions:
The end state is a set of desired future conditions the commander wants to exist when an operation ends.
b) Centers of gravity:
A center of gravity is the source of power that provides moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act (JP 5-0).
c) Decisive points:
A decisive point is a geographic place, specific key event, critical factor, or function that, when acted upon, allows commanders to gain a marked advantage over an adversary or contribute materially to achieving success (JP 5-0).
d) Lines of operations and lines of effort:
A line of operations is a line that defines the directional orientation of a force in time and space in relation to the enemy and that links the force with its base of operations and objectives.
A force operates on interior lines when its operations diverge from a central point. A force operates on exterior lines when its operations converge on the enemy.
A line of effort is a line that links multiple tasks using the logic of purpose rather than geographical reference to focus efforts toward establishing operational and strategic conditions.
The difference between lines of operations and lines of effort is that lines of operations are oriented on physical linkages while lines of effort are oriented on logical linkages.
e) Operational reach:
Operational reach is the distance and duration across which a joint force can successfully employ military capabilities (JP 3-0).
f) Basing:
Army basing overseas typically falls into two general categories: permanent (bases or installations) and nonpermanent (base camps). A base is a locality from which operations are projected or supported (JP 4-0).
g) Tempo:
Tempo is the relative speed and rhythm of military operations over time with respect to the enemy.
First, they formulate operations that stress the complementary and reinforcing effects of simultaneous and sequential operations.
Second, commanders avoid unnecessary engagements. This practice includes bypassing resistance at times and places commanders do not consider decisive.
Third, through mission command they enable subordinates to exercise initiative and act independently.
Controlling tempo requires both audacity and patience. Audacity initiates the actions needed to develop a situation; patience allows a situation to develop until the force can strike at the most crucial time and place.
h) Phasing and transitions:
A phase is a planning and execution tool used to divide an operation in duration or activity. A change in phase usually involves a change of mission, task organization, or rules of engagement
Each phase should strive to:
• Focus effort.
• Concentrate combat power in time and space at a decisive point.
• Accomplish its objectives deliberately and logically.
i) Culmination:
The culminating point is that point in time and space at which a force no longer possesses the capability to continue its current form of operations.
Two conditions can result in culmination:
• units being too dispersed to achieve wide area security.
• units lacking required resources to achieve the end state.
j) Risk:
Risk, uncertainty, and chance are inherent in all military operations. When commanders accept risk, they create opportunities to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative and achieve decisive results.
