The eight steps of what in the US Army are called Troop Leading Procedures (TLPs) outline a process that leaders use to prepare their units for combat operations. Yet these steps are not limited to use in combat and could basically be applied to anything involving collective action, or even individual action. One might use these TLPs to prepare a group for simply going out on a camping trip, or alternatively, for escaping an adversary and reaching a safe place should the need arise. As an Army officer candidate attending university, we used these steps to plan formal military balls (catering, DJ, photographer, etc.) and later, when on leave from deployments and backpacking around the world, I would use these steps to plan my own activities as a tourist. The potential applications are limitless.
This article will cover the main eight steps, while subsequent articles will take a closer look at different facets thereof, namely step three (making a tentative plan), terrain analysis and the format used to relay the plan to others, which in military lingo is called an Operation Order (OPORD). For now, however, the main eight steps are:
1. Receive the Mission
2. Issue a Warning Order (WARNO)
3. Make a Tentative Plan
4. Start Necessary Movement
5. Reconnoiter
6. Complete the Plan
7. Issue the Complete Order
8. Supervise
The US Marine Corps uses a similar set of procedures which are six in number and known as BAMCIS (Begin Planning, Arrange for Reconnaissance, Make Reconnaissance, Complete the Plan, Issue the Order, and Supervise). The present article, however, draws directly from the US Army’s Ranger Handbook (TC 3-21.76) and FM 7-8 Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad (now FM 3-21.8).
Whatever the “mission” or planned action at hand, this process ensures that subordinates or group members are kept informed of the intended action, that thorough planning is conducted, that the group makes timely movement toward the objective, that assumptions are confirmed or denied and the plan is updated accordingly, that all group members understand the mission and key tasks to be performed in the execution thereof, and that they are adequately prepared, proficient and equipped to do so.
If used to escape hostile adversaries, the planning and preparations described in this article should only be carried out after the group has removed itself from any immediate danger, is in an interim safe place and is maintaining 360-degree security.
These steps should not be taken as a rigid, immutable structure. After the second step of issuing the WARNO, the last six steps may or may not be performed in a step-by-step sequence, since some steps may be performed concurrently or in a different order.
1 – Recognize the Need for Action
In the US Army’s TLPs, this step is called “Receive the mission.” For our purposes, however, it is realizing that a certain action needs to be taken, such as moving to a safe haven.
2 – Issue a Warning Order (WARNO)
Once such a realization has been made, members of the group should be notified of the upcoming action or “mission” as soon as possible so that they can begin to make any necessary preparations for themselves and those under their care (e.g., their children or younger siblings). This “WARNO,” so to speak, should contain the action to be performed, a basic concept of how it will be accomplished, including a timeline, and any other information necessary for them to start such preparations.
3 – Make a Tentative Plan
Planning and preparation take time, for leaders as well as for subordinates. Thus, as a rule of thumb, a leader should use only one-third of the available time to plan and issue orders, leaving the remainder of the time for his/her subordinates. Of course, the situation may not allow much extra time for preparation, so this general rule should not hinder making sufficient and deliberate planning.
This is called a “tentative plan” because without actual reconnaissance to confirm or deny one’s assumptions and second-hand information, it cannot yet be considered complete. There are several steps and considerations in making such a plan, so for simplicity and ease of digestion, these will be considered in a separate article.
4 – Begin Necessary Movement
It may be possible and preferable to begin movement toward the objective while the leader is still conducting planning. Indeed, such movement can take place at any point during these TLPs.
5 – Reconnoiter
The leader and/or a dedicated reconnaissance element may be deployed to collect information to fill gaps in knowledge as well as to confirm or deny assumptions and second-hand information.
6 – Complete the Plan
The information collected during reconnaissance can necessitate a change in the plan or can affirm its validity as is. Hence, this step involves incorporating information gained from reconnaissance to finalize the plan.
7 – Issue the Complete Plan
Issue the updated plan, complete with any changes resulting from information gained during reconnaissance, orally to subordinates while following the five-paragraph Operations Order (OPORD) format (also covered in a separate article). This may be done while referencing a map, sand table, terrain model or sketch, or it may also be done while referencing and within sight of the objective.
8 – Supervise
The final step involves the leader(s) supervising the group’s preparations for accomplishing the mission by conducting (a) rehearsals and (b) inspections.
8a – Rehearsals
Rehearsals are performed to:
-Practice essential tasks
-Identify weaknesses or gaps in the plan
-Coordinate/synchronize the actions of group members
-Better familiarize group members with the plan
Subordinate leaders and members of the group can begin rehearsing key tasks (like actions on the objective and crossing danger areas and obstacles) as soon as the WARNO is received and before the plan is completed and issued. Whenever possible, rehearsals should be carried out on terrain and in weather/light conditions that are similar to that in which the action is to be carried out.
Rehearsals are also best conducted with all members of the group present and taking part. Nevertheless, they may be performed with some members absent, such as for maintaining security or if it may frighten or overwhelm young children. A rehearsal may even include only adults or key leaders. To ensure understanding, after the complete plan is issued, key leaders should sequentially “backbrief” the plan to the leader, particularly the actions to be performed by their respective elements. That is, they talk through the plan just briefed by the patrol leader and their parts therein.
The main rehearsal formats include:
-Map rehearsal
-Sand table, terrain model, sketch rehearsal (using items like stones, sticks, pinecones or plastic toy soldiers to represent group members or elements)
-Rock drills (which are like using a sand table, etc., but the group members actually move themselves, rather than representative objects)
-Force on force (in which some group members role-play as the adversary)
8b – Inspections
Multiple checks or inspections should be performed. At a minimum, the first inspections should be carried out by individual group members and subordinate leaders as soon as the WARNO is given and a final inspection should be made by the patrol leader before the action is undertaken. Points to be inspected, like ensuring that items are present (“dummy-corded” if possible) and functional, include:
-Clothing (especially in inclement weather)
-Camouflage (ensuring that bright or reflective surfaces are covered or subdued)
-Noise discipline (have patrol members jump up and down to identify rattling or jingling items to be secured and silenced)
-Communications equipment
-Food and water
-Medical equipment
-Flashlights
-Navigational equipment (like GPS, maps and compass)
-Special equipment
-Ensuring that deficiencies noted from earlier inspections have been corrected
-After the completed plan has been given, quizzing group members on their knowledge of the plan, especially concerning their roles therein