From: mcgp1!flak@nwnexus.wa.com
Subject: Re: Origin of Strategic Orders 
Organization: NCR Corporation - Law Department
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 18:43:39 GMT


From mcgp1!flak@nwnexus.wa.com

> As a related question, how are strategic and tactical
> plans derived from the strategic concepts of the
> supreme commander. If General Montgomery did give the
> order quoted above, it would not be physically possible
> for him to consider the supply and movement of the
> units which would carry out the order. How does a
> supreme commander create a system which can translate
> his necessarily conceptual orders into detailed 
> action plans?

What do you want? A free lunch? Boy! You've asked a BIG question.

The services run the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Va
for Majors and Lt. Cols (and Naval equivalents) to address this
very issue. The Staff attend the college for 10 months (at
least). These people are tasked with the planning of major
operations from budget through implementation.

In the scenario I was involved in (I was playing opposition
forces for the two week implementation exercise), the imperialist
war mongering sons of running infidel dogs American invaders were
tasked with encouraging us peace loving Algerians and Lybians to
leave Tunisia.

The staff had to consider how many carrier groups to use, what
type and how many squadrons of aircraft to use, etc. Detailed
planning was done *before* the staff started putting the force
together. They didn't say I want the 82 Airborne Division with
Division Artillery, Division Support, etc. They simply said, I'll
need an airborne division. What constitutes an airborne division
has already been worked out. Likewise, fighter squadrons also
come with maintenance, administrative support, and a certain
amount of spare parts. 

In other words, units come in big "prepackaged" blocks. Not only
is it known exactly what they will take with them to war, but how
many C-141's, C-130's, etc. it will take to get them there.

The staff does not have to get involved with small details, they
play with big blocks. Additionally, there is now a whole computer
system that will allow them to assemble forces more easily, and
compute when things and people should start arriving in country.
The computer knows how many meals it takes to feed an infantry
division, how much diesel an armored division uses in an attack,
defend or delay, how much JP-4 an F-15 squadron uses, etc.

Prior to 1979, we didn't have all this. It's only in the last 10
years that the DOD decided to automate its ability to go to war.

In addition to deciding what mix of forces to use, the staff
earns its pay by planning for sustainment. Like, do we have
enough ramp space for all the airplanes, Do we have enough
housing (or tenting as the case may be)? Have we arranged to
bring in follow-on food and fuel? Have we arranged for evacuation
of casualties, etc.

In some cases, where trouble is likely, contingency plans already
exist. They simply are taken off the shelf and used more or less
"as is" in a crisis, or they are modified if time permits.
----------
   It's of no comfort to me that it's not my end of the boat that's sinking.
       Dan Flak - McCaw Cellular Communications Inc., 5400 Carillon Point
  Kirkland, Wa 98033-7397, 206-828-8006, (usenet: flak%mcgp1.uucp@nwnexus.com)

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