Signal Support to Theater Operations by Department of the Army - HTML preview

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Appendix A

Notional Deployment Scenario for Signal Support

Planned deployment scenarios establish the geographical and environmental conditions in which a system must be operated and sustained. Different operating environments impose different architectural characteristics on the overall design of that system. These characteristics directly affect the types of signal support required and the environmental conditions under which they must operate.

SECTION I FORCE PROJECTION

A-I. When diplomatic, economic, and informational instruments cannot achieve national objectives or protect national interests, US leadership may employ military forces to influence a deteriorating and potentially hostile situation, deter potential adversaries, demonstrate US resolve and capability, promote peace, or support other instruments of national power. The general goal of US military operations is to deter war; failing that, the military executes missions with the intent to return situations to a state of peace and conditions favorable to the United States. When the direct applications of military forces are inevitable, the goal is to win decisively, quickly, and with as few casualties as possible, often reacting with little notice. Such crisis response through power projection is one of the essential US strategic principles.

A-2. The scenario contained in this appendix entails the mobilization and projection of US and coalition forces into a friendly country to stage decisive operations against a hostile neighbor who poses a threat to other pro-Western countries in the region.

A-3. Force projection entails the mobilization, deployment, employment, sustaining and redeployment of military forces from CONUS or OCONUS bases. Effective power projection demonstrates US capability to carry out military operations anywhere in the world. Credible power projection rapidly deploys military forces to terminate conflicts quickly with terms favorable to the  United States  and its  allies.  Force projection  entails the deployment, employment, sustaining, and redeployment of military forces from CONUS or OCONUS bases.

A-4. Throughout all stages of force projection, a paramount need exists for communications and network support to convey information from  CONUS installations, supporting bases, and power projection platforms. Force-projection operations follow a general flow of activity, although the phases often overlap in space and time. Commanders and units prepare to deal with multiple activities simultaneously and out of sequence by remaining agile and being prepared to adjust as operational needs dictate. Information is pushed to the forward-most Warfighters through strategic gateways.

SECTION II CENTRAL ASIA SCENARIO - LIMITED INTERVENTION

OVERVIEW

A-5. Forces hostile to Western governments conduct a coup, supported by a third nation on a common border, overthrowing the legitimate progressive government and forming an antagonistic regime. The threat seeks to attain recognition of the current regime as the legitimate government while maintaining covert ties to the neighboring nation to the south in order to bolster military support. The coup regime seeks also to minimize Western influence, gain greater support of the local populace, and control oil and gas infrastructure. Unconventional and conventional forces conduct cross-border operations with the objective of destabilizing pro-Western neighbors and preparing for possible direct intervention against these other US friendly nations. Additionally, threat forces are implicated in several terrorist acts in neighboring countries directed specifically against economic interests and government officials.

A-6. The SecDef deploys a carrier group offshore of the friendly nation as a show of resolve and notifies the Geographical Combatant Command of national intent to prevent further adverse regional influence by the coup regime. The SecDef directs the GCC to prepare OPLANs to conduct contingency operations in the region against the coup regime. The GCC forms a JTF with the following objectives:

Isolate the threat center of gravity.

Defeat enemy forces.

Seize key economic regions to prevent exploitation, capture or destruction by threat forces.

Seize the capital region in order to destabilize the coup regime.

Reinstate the friendly government.

Stabilize the region.

Deter invasion or further intervention by bordering threat nation.

A-7. The JTF intent is to employ Army and other components to establish control quickly of key terrain in theater, defeat enemy forces, and transfer control of key facilities and population to legitimate government authorities. The actual force structure and deployment of theater signal and supported forces into a theater is determined on a case-by-case basis by METT-TC. The following notional sequence provides a basis for understanding the process of developing signal capability in a theater and its relationship to organizational structure. Army Forces are comprised of a mixture of infantry  BCTs with airborne and air assault capability, Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, and Heavy Brigade Combat Teams. Theater supporting forces are modular sustainment elements.

SECTION III - PLANNING PHASES

MOBILIZATION - DAILY OPERATIONS AND THE ROAD TO WAR

A-S. Significant actions performed before mobilization are-

Directed by the SecDef to conduct military operations, CCDRs conduct collaborative planning with joint and multinational forces to coordinate, refine, and modify strategies and OPLANS.

Combatant commands disseminate military objectives, intelligence, and resource guidance and determine the strategic end state to subordinate elements and ASCCs.

Orders issued to alert, mobilize, and deploy forces to the JOA.

Services conduct OPLAN analysis and virtual rehearsals.

A-9. Upon notification of the probability of