Page 238 - MDSL Final

MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA
an objective, it is an essential task. Only essential tasks are included in
the proposed mission statement.

Determine Critical Factors, Friendly Centre of Gravity and Decisive
Points

The next step in the mission analysis process requires a progressive
analysis of three key components: critical factors, friendly COG and
Decisive Points (DPs). It is important to remember that each of these
elements is applicable at the various levels of war; strategic, operational
and tactical. It is also important for the commander to be cognizant of
the strategic and tactical aspects of the critical factors and COGs but
focus should be mainly on the level of war for which the command is
planning.

Determination of critical factors leads to finding the COGs, which in turn
leads to assessing DPs. This analysis shall be done for adversary and
friendly forces alike. The intelligence staff identifies adversary critical
strengths and weaknesses and the adversary COG(s) as part of the IPOE
process. A complete intelligence staff estimate should contain critical
factors, COGs and DPs for the adversary. In many cases the adversary
COG analysis will be complete before the mission analysis process
begins. If not, it must be completed before the same process is done for
friendly forces.

Although the intelligence section completes the adversary COG analysis
process, it should be the operations staff members, operational
planning team members and subordinate commanders who assist the
commander in identifying friendly critical factors and COGs.

Develop Proposed Updates to Commander’s Intent

A commander’s intent is broader than the mission statement. It is a
concise, free-form expression of the purpose of the force’s activities, the
desired results and how actions should progress toward that end. It is
a clear and succinct vision of how to conduct the action. It is essential
to focus on planning as it enables the commander to indirectly control
events during the execution of the operation.

218 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea