Do Stryker Brigade Combat Teams Need Forward Support ...

included the selection of the vessels to be loaded and
the decision by the 3d ACR on whether any of their
aircraft would be deployed by strategic air assets. Key
evaluation criteria included safety, feasibility, and
expediency.
The unit also incorporated composite risk management
into the wargame by including its approved risk
assessment and considering possible accident and reaction
contingencies. Safety is one of the key operational
considerations, so the unit’s safety officer was present
to provide feedback at each turn.
6
The 842d initiated a
deliberate planning process
for the deployment of the 3d
ACR in the summer of 2007
by visiting with regimental
and installation representatives
at Fort Hood. At that time,
the 842d received the mission
requirements and the
regiment’s deployment
timeline. Mission analysis
commenced immediately
with the consideration of
rail and truck requirements
and labor needs. The daily
operations meeting
provided a forum for the
staff to conduct mission
analysis and then develop and
discuss possible courses
of action (COAs).
The commander of the 842d provided the overall
direction for the wargame and served as its referee.
This wargame took the battalion through its planned
COA shift by shift. At each turn, representatives from
terminal operations, traffic management, safety, and
physical security stated their actions. As appropriate,
the commander of the 842d then proposed possible
reactions based on contingencies, such as weather.
The staff then offered counteractions.
To record the results of the wargame, the operations
officer produced a synchronization matrix on the
overhead projector and recorded the results of the wargame
turn by turn. At the end of the wargame, the commander
determined that the chosen COA was feasible
and approved it. The operations officer then produced
a matrix order and concept of support containing the
completed plan and published it for all relevant parties.
MDMP Advantages
The MDMP, particularly the wargaming phase,
was an effective tool for the 842d because it allowed
the unit to better execute branch and sequel plans.
Often, during the course of the wargame, staff members
noted that tentative plans had been developed to
deal with various contingencies. Then, at the end of
the wargame, unit personnel were able to finally say,
“yes, let’s do this if that happens.” The wargame was
also useful because it allowed terminal operations
and traffic management personnel to work together
and walked everyone through the entire operation.
It enabled the unit to forecast and anticipate friction
points and properly allocate resources.
Since planning support operations does not take
place in a vacuum, the MDMP was ideal because it
incorporated Coast Guard, Port Authority, and other
non-Governmental agencies into the process. Feedback
from Department of the Army civilian employees
was almost universally positive, and nearly all looked
forward to the opportunity to participate in the planning
process.
The MDMP enabled the 842d to formulate the best
possible COA for deploying the 3d ACR safely and
successfully. The battalion plans to continue applying
MDMP principles in all operations as it holds fast to
being “First in Warfighter Support” throughout the
Gulf Coast region. ALOG
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c o M M a n D e r o f t h e 842D tranSportation battaLion
at be a u M o n t, texaS. he h o L D S a bacheLor’S D e G r e e
f r o M t h e univerSity o f tenneSSee a n D a MaSter’S
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a G r a D u a t e o f t h e QuarterMaSter officer baSic
co u r S e, t h e or D n a n c e officer aD v a n c e D co u r S e,
t h e ar M y co M M a n D a n D GeneraL Staff coLLeGe,
a n D t h e Jo i n t fo r c e S Staff coLLeGe.
Ma J o r ry o n f. aD a M S iS a S t u D e n t at t h e ar M y
co M M a n D a n D GeneraL Staff coLLeGe. he w a S t h e
o p e r a t i o n S officer f o r t h e 842D tranSportation
battaLion w h e n h e co-w r o t e t h i S articLe. he h o L D S
a bacheLor’S D e G r e e in M a n a G e M e n t f r o M caSe weStern
reServe univerSity a n D a D o c t o r o f JuriSpru-
D e n c e D e G r e e f r o M t h e univerSity o f ho u S t o n Law
center. he iS a G r a D u a t e o f t h e co M b i n eD LoGiSticS
captainS career co u r S e.
JULY–AUGUST 2008