PurposePurposeTo understand Commander’s

Intent & Guidance and their importance in crisis action planning

Commander’s Intent & Guidance

ReferencesReferencesUS Joint Publication 3-0, Doctrine For Joint Operations

US JP 5-0, Doctrine For Planning Joint Operations

US JP 5-00.2, JTF Planning Guidance and Procedures

Multinational Planning Multinational Planning Augmentation TeamAugmentation Team

Commander’s Intent

The commander’s intent describes the desired

end state. It is a concise expression of the

purpose of the operation, not a summary of the

concept of operations.

Commander’s Intent

Concept of OperationsConcept of Operations

Commander’s VisionCommander’s VisionAssess theater or area of operations Visualize path from current to future state

Commander’s IntentCommander’s IntentPurposeUnifying FocusForce as a wholeIdentify end state

When is the Intent Published?

JTF Commanders initially provide

their intent to the staff with the restated

mission and planning guidance

The JTF Commander refines intent as the

staff considers staff estimates and completes

the Commander’s Estimate

Elements of Commander’s Intent Desired end state Purpose of the operation How operations (the joint force as a whole) will

progress towards the end state It may include how the posture of units at that

end state facilitates transition It may also include commander’s assessment

of the enemy commander’s Intent, or the threat It may contain an assessment of where and

how the commander will accept risk

Intent is Not a Summary of the Concept of the Operations

“YOU I PROPOSE TO MOVE AGAINST JOHNSTON’S ARMY, TO BREAK IT UP AND TO GET INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE ENEMY’S COUNTRY AS FAR AS YOU CAN, INFLICTING ALL THE DAMAGE YOU CAN AGAINST THEIR WAR RESOURCES.”

Commander’s Intent

Recent Commander’s Intent

UNMIH INTENT: “The purpose of this mission is to maintain a secure and stable environment which allows

the government of Haiti to maintain functional governance, gradually transferring responsibility for the secure and stable environment to the government of Haiti. The end state is defined as the secure and stable environment that allows social and economic development, free election, and peaceful transition of responsibility to the government of Haiti.”

Recent Commander’s Intent (cont.)

USFORHAITI INTENT: “The purpose of the operation is to divest Zone V of all operations in support of the government of Haiti. We will accomplish this purpose through progressively transferring all support operations to the government of Haiti, setting time limits on continued support to encourage timely transfers. Maintain only enough presence to detect an impending loss of security or stability in sufficient time to counteract it. At the end of the operation the government of Haiti assumes all responsibility for maintaining the secure and stable environment. Zone V forces are postured to facilitate and cover the withdrawal of UN forces and protect key installations.”

Task Force BAYANIHAN Commander’s Mission Statement

Assist the Disaster Response Task Groups (DRTGs) in Visayas and Mindanao in the conduct of large scale humanitarian assistance and disaster response in regions 6,7,10 and 13, in order to save lives, protect property and minimize damage.

TF BAYANIHAN COMMANDER’S INTENT

My intent is to support the Armed Forces of

the Philippines in HA/DR operations in the

affected areas of the Central Philippines.

We will conduct HA/DR combined

operations and rehabilitation efforts. In

other words, we will provide all available

assistance to alleviate human suffering and

restore normalcy.

Commander’s Guidance The degree of guidance depends upon

– Time available

– Staff level of proficiency

– Flexibility

– Commander’s comfort zone

General enough to allow ideas, initiative, and consideration of potentially important alternatives

Provides the “start point” for course of action development

Time plan Commander’s intent Risk assessment Limitations on the command Specific adversary COAs, or threats, to be

considered Intelligence preparation of the battlespace/area of

operation considerations Key or decisive terrain Commander’s Critical Information Requirements Concept of operations Effects desired on the adversary force/threats

Commander’s Guidance Topics

EW usage Priorities Reserve capabilities CSS instructions C2 arrangements Type of orders to be issued Type of rehearsal to conduct

– Election monitoring– Crowd control/rioting

Commander’s Guidance Topics(cont.)

Guidance Is Dynamic

After Mission Analysis staff briefings are complete and the Commander approves the restated mission, he provides initial planning guidance to the staff

Guidance may change or be modified later if assumptions or facts change

Summary

Commander’s Intent:

– Begins with the commander’s vision of the operation

– Should include: desired end state; purpose of the operation; how operations will progress towards end state

– Is not static; is refined as the situation evolves

Guidance :

– Is given initially, and throughout the planning process

– Is essential for timely and effective course of action development

– Should focus on essential tasks

Summary-continued

Commanders intent and guidance work in

tandem to facilitate planning and execution

of an operation

JP 3-0JP 3-0