The USEASTCOM Joint Planning Group (JPG) recently completed course of action (COA) development for the Defense of Tunisia contingency plan (CONPLAN). As the JPG prepared the COAs, the commander’s initial intent served to anchor the different concepts towards achieving the same purpose. I support the JPG’s initial commander’s intent, as it provides a solid basis to continue planning. This paper continues by explaining how the JPG developed the initial commander’s intent, and then provides the rationale for supporting the key elements within the intent. Enclosure 1 to this paper provides the complete narrative of the initial commander’s intent.
The JPG derived the initial commander’s intent during planning initiation, heavily focused upon design. Resulting from an appreciation for the operational environment, the problem facing USEASTCOM, and strategic guidance, the JPG included the initial commander’s intent in the recommended commander’s initial guidance. The inclusion of the initial intent with the initial commander’s guidance recognizes that the commander’s intent establishes the impetus for the entire planning process, and is the focal point for operations within the CONPLAN. The impetus for planning led into mission analysis, and the JPG further refined the focus within …show more content…
Intent supports mission command and guides joint forces by an understanding of how their higher commander visualizes the operation and what the desired end state looks like. Subordinates are delegated the authority to make decisions “wherever possible”, which allows them to exercise initiative based on understanding the higher commander’s intent.” As Milan Vego described the purpose of intent, it provides a framework for subordinate commanders to exercise initiative when the original orders become obsolete due to fluid situations; acting decisively to accomplish the mission without further
The JPG derived the initial commander’s intent during planning initiation, heavily focused upon design. Resulting from an appreciation for the operational environment, the problem facing USEASTCOM, and strategic guidance, the JPG included the initial commander’s intent in the recommended commander’s initial guidance. The inclusion of the initial intent with the initial commander’s guidance recognizes that the commander’s intent establishes the impetus for the entire planning process, and is the focal point for operations within the CONPLAN. The impetus for planning led into mission analysis, and the JPG further refined the focus within …show more content…
Intent supports mission command and guides joint forces by an understanding of how their higher commander visualizes the operation and what the desired end state looks like. Subordinates are delegated the authority to make decisions “wherever possible”, which allows them to exercise initiative based on understanding the higher commander’s intent.” As Milan Vego described the purpose of intent, it provides a framework for subordinate commanders to exercise initiative when the original orders become obsolete due to fluid situations; acting decisively to accomplish the mission without further