Army Design Methodology: Operational Art in Combat Article The United States Army

Table Of Content

• The Army Design Methodology: Enhancing Decision-Making in a Complex World
• Army Design Methodology: Framing the Operational Environment
• Army Design Methodology: Operational Art in Combat
• Using the Army Design Methodology Process to Frame Problems
• Army Design Methodology: Operational Art in Combat
• The Army Design Methodology: Enhancing Decision-Making in a Complex World

As the United States continues to provide equipment and resources, the operational approach of Ukraine will aid in achieving its desired results. As they continue to refine their operational approach, it is critical to document the results for better planning in the future. However, leaders must question assumptions as a risk-mitigating measure to help avoid poorly stating a problem. If the planning team does not validate assumptions when framing the problem, false assumptions will eventually become a risk to the operation (Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2020). Returning to the example of protecting a supply route, questioning the assumption that an enemy force will attack the supply route will help the planning team determine the military force required for the security mission. Staff members on the planning team that questioned assumed obstacles would lead to properly framing the problem.

The Army Design Methodology: Enhancing Decision-Making in a Complex World

MAJ Raymond M. Longabaugh is currently serving as the Train Advise Assist Command-East G4 in Afghanistan. He previously served as a sustainment planner in the G5 of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Millsaps College, a master’s degree in public administration from North Carolina State University, and a master’s in military art and sciences from the U.S. During his career, MAJ Longabaugh served with the 101st Sustainment Brigade, the 82nd Airborne Division, the Defense Logistics Agency, and 3rd Army Headquarters. Master Sergeant Rodani Tan is a Senior Finance Manager who deployed multiple times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Army Design Methodology: Framing the Operational Environment

On the micro-scale, LTC Moore’s only concern at Ia Drang was the NVA escaping across the border. He did not appear to consider the future states of Cambodian citizens, potential civilians in the area, or other actors to aid in understanding the OE. LTC Moore’s only concern was getting to the end state of destroying his adversary (Builder et al., 1999).

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Army Design Methodology: Operational Art in Combat

Narrative construction uses words to give meaning to individuals, things, and events (DA, 2015). The purpose of a narrative is to tell a story and improve understanding of a visual model. For instance, creating a paragraph helps define a visual model to provoke thinking and learning, which helps reveal meaning in the facts presented for analysis. Narrative and visual modeling are essential in creating framing solutions to improve the activities involved in developing an operational approach.

Framing Solutions in Army Design Methodology

In the last ten years, the topic of design was a source of conflict between many military leaders who believed it was already inherent in the military decision-making process. Design, however, should be considered less as a process, and more as a way of thinking about complexity. While design doesn’t eliminate all error, it is a proven tool used by many disciplines to develop creative ways to approach complex situations that can enhance the detailed planning offered by the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP). This paper will first explain the key concepts of the Army Design Methodology (ADM) and how they relate to MDMP.

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According to the Department of the Army (2022b), unit leaders are responsible for creating professional development programs that enhance understanding of mission-critical tasks. Operational art relies on the knowledge, experience, and creativity of the commander and staff to understand the current state of the OE and how to integrate capabilities to achieve victory (Department of the Army, 2015). The American command employed operational art by identifying which resources would best achieve the end state.

He currently attends the Sergeants Major Course at the US Army Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Center of Excellence. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce major in Business Administration from the University of Santo Tomas. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management majoring in Organizational Leadership.

The Army Design Methodology: Enhancing Decision-Making in a Complex World

However, the ADM concept of operational art has a more considerable impact on the use of military force when combined with the concept of systems thinking. In 2008, the US Army published The U.S. Army Commander’s Appreciation and Campaign Design after leaders found that the Army frequently operates in highly complex environments. A lack of understanding side-effects and repercussions of their actions often reduced the effectiveness or exacerbated the issues at hand. To deal with this complexity, the Army had to adopt a new approach to solving ill-structured problems.

The data charts would serve as good visual modeling products and help the SGM formulate a narrative supporting the ADM process. Through data analysis, the Financial Management SGM can help train the staff on framing the problem using data analysis to identify obstacles. Using data analytics as a financial management example, visualizing the spending rate of an organization’s status of funds will determine if the commander’s end state is trending correctly. Framing the problem using ADM concepts, and tools and techniques is challenging, but the SGM is the right person to facilitate the ADM activity within an organization.

During a brainstorming session, questioning assumptions by the planning team further integrates ADM tools and techniques. As Soldiers assigned to the SGM-A learned during practical exercises, understanding framing the problem within the ADM process will lead to appropriate facilitation in organizations. T he current strategic operating environment in which US military forces operate has changed significantly in the past 20 years. The US military has shifted its strategy from a reactive, conventional-planning focus to one that encompasses a proactive, shaping strategy that focuses on a broad array of threats. Inherent within this shaping strategy is the requirement to set environmental conditions that directly or indirectly support US goals and objectives. To develop and execute a successful strategy, an in-depth understanding of the social make-up of the environment, to include the cultural, historical, religious, economic, and political aspects of that social framework, is necessary.

Second, it will discuss organizational characteristics essential for making ADM useful and explore them through historical and theoretical examples showing the unique value of ADM. According to DA (2015), critical thinking uses questioning, reflective judgment, and appreciation of differences that make each situation unique. In contrast, creative thinking creates innovative ideas that lead to new perspectives and approaches to a situation. An example of applying critical and creative thinking is when staff members analyze different solutions that best solve an identified problem. For instance, Ducich et al. (2016) described that the PATT initially thought of a progressive, linear approach to training. Upon further analysis, the team adopted a spiral development approach to achieve a better end state.

Collaboration and dialogue between CDRs and staff create an important learning environment in which members can think critically and creatively with a candid and open exchange of ideas. “Collaboration and dialogue help develop shared understanding between the CDR and staff and externally with other CDRs and unified action partners” (DA, 2015, p. 1-7). For instance, collaboration and dialogue usually happen in working group meetings where participants exchange opinions and encourage competition of ideas. Both enhance understanding, improve group thinking, and eventually produce a better solution to solve a problem. The knowledge developed in working groups produces a frame of reference for developing solutions that help build a visual model and narrative.

Within the ADM process, commanders and staff members apply the use of operational art to all significant activities, including framing problems. Operational art is the cognitive approach to developing strategies, campaigns, and operations which defines the purpose of military force at all levels of war (Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2022). Operational art also has elements that support the concept, such as identifying centers of gravity, establishing decisive points, and creating lines of operation and effort. Under contingency operations, leaders can leverage operational art to determine the required military force to provide security along a main supply route.