Plans

Nothing succeeds in war

except in consequence of

awell-prepared

plan~Napoleon I (1769-1821)

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The Perfect Tactical Plan?

Why is the perfect tactical plan like a unicorn?

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Plans can be implemented:♦ On Order

♦ So called “preplans”♦ Usually deal with a class of incidents rather than

a specific situation

♦ By Time♦ Scheduled event or anticipated situation

♦ Contemporaneous♦ Developed to provide guidance to complex,

unfolding circumstances

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Three Types of Plans• Deliberate

♦ The preferred course of action

• Hasty♦ Used for spontaneous or unanticipated possibilities♦ Provides an organized response to surprise

• Contingency♦ Used to modify Deliberate or Hasty Plans♦ Often referred to as “Plan B”

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• Used for the conduct of all operations that can be anticipated and allow for detailed planning

• Serves as a base for all related operations

• May be considered the “Master Plan”

Deliberate Plans15

• Used when timeliness and quick response is paramount

• Provides an organized approach for an unplanned or unanticipated events

• Tailors response to immediate concerns

• As events continue to unfold, it functions as a sentry while continuing development of the deliberate plan

Hasty Plans14

Contingency Plans• Focuses thought on anticipated problems that

arise during the conduct of the operation

• Allows for operational deviation while maintaining continuity with the deliberate plan

• Guards against operations stopping due to confusion or a sudden change in the situation

• Usually applies only to concept or execution portions of the deliberate plan

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Component Parts of a Plan• Written plans should be required whenever

an operation:♦ Is Multi-disciplinary or Multi-jurisdictional in

nature♦ Extends through two or more operational

periods

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Component Parts of a Plan• Five Paragraphs or Components

♦ Tried and true method

♦ Will work from foot pursuits to major disasters and other tactical operations

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Component Parts of a Plan

• Situation

• Mission

• Execution

• Administrative and Logistics

• Command and Signal

SMEAC

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Situation

• Provides a brief summary of all that has occurred♦ Brief enough to be easily understood

but comprehensive enough to provide personnel with a situational awareness

• Includes any mitigating or aggravating factors or influences

SMEAC

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Mission• Most often overlooked because it is so

easily assumed

• Must precisely identify the objective to be accomplished

• There is always more than one objective in any operation♦ They often compete with one another♦ They tend to be time and resource

dependent

SMEAC

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• Describes how the mission is to be achieved

• Usually the longest and most complex portion of the plan

• Begins with a “concept of operations”♦ Explains commander’s intent for achieving a

satisfactory resolution

• Precisely describes how each assignment is to be achieved♦ Predominate activity should be designated as the

Focus of Effort♦ Main Effort identifies responsible individual or group

to accomplish it

Execution

SMEAC

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Administrative and Logistics

• Sometimes called the “beans, bandages and bullets” component (also called “Service and Support” by U.S. Army)

• Focuses on personnel and equipment issues

• Provides instructions for distributing and managing personnel and resources♦ The right person for the right job with the

right tools at the right place at the right time

SMEAC

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Command and Signal

• Identifies the critical command personnel and facilities♦ Command relationships are especially critical

in operations that are multi-jurisdictional or multi-disciplinary

• Identifies communication links between operational components and echelons of command

SMEAC

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Large Operations Run on Their Own Inertia!

How Do You Keep Things From Going

From Bad To Worse?

Control Measures(Decision Points & Trip Wires)

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• Decision Points♦ Identify an event, time or sequence at which

further guidance is necessary to proceed

• Trip Wires♦ Used to automatically implement a plan,

procedure, or series of actions

Control Measures(Decision Points & Trip Wires)

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• Rules of Engagement♦ Define or adapt policies to fit

the current situation♦ Commonly used for arrest

policy and procedures and/or use of force options

• Prevents lower echelons of command (or even a single individual) from committing the response to an unwanted course of action

Control Measures(Rules of Engagement)

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Questions?