Tactics 101 105 – The Bradley Infantry Company
Tactics 101 looks at the Bradley infantry company, its organization and key personnel
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Articles by Rick Baillergeon and John Sutherland
Tactics 101 104 – Bradley Platoon Defense
After examining Bradley platoon attack tactics last month, this month Tactics 101 explores the Bradley platoon on defense, from the view of the platoon leader.
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Tactics 101 103 – Bradley Platoon Attack
This month’s Tactics 101 focuses on a Bradley Platoon Leader and how he will plan and prepare for an offensive operation and lead his Soldiers in the attack.
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Tactics 101 102 – Mechanized Infantry Platoon: Tactical Maneuver of the Mounted Element
Tactics 101 102 focuses on maneuvering the mounted element of the platoon (the Bradleys) – the formations, the maneuver techniques, and the challenges a mechanized platoon may face.
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Tactics 101 101 – The Mechanized Infantry Platoon
The popular Tactics 101 monthly series begins a discussion of mechanized infantry, starting with the Mechanized Infantry Platoon and using the US Army and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle as a model.
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Tactics 101 100 – 100 Articles (and counting!)
The authors of the Tactics 101 series select points they consider critical for battlefield success, drawn from their first 99 monthly articles.
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Tactics 101 099 – Light Fighters
This month Tactics 101 focuses on a light infantry battalion during a training rotation at the National Training Center (Fort Irwin, Cal.), to put some meat on the bone in terms of how to employ light infantry.
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Tactics 101 098 – The Light Infantry Rifle Company: Organization & Maneuver
Having examined the light infantry platoon in earlier articles, Tactics 101 begins a series on the light infantry company, a highly versatile and highly lethal force.
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Tactics 101 097 – The Light Infantry in Defense
The 97th installment of “Tactics 101” looks at light infantry defense, using historical examples from the American Civil War, the Korean War, and other military conflicts.
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Tactics 101 096 – The Light Infantry Platoon Attack
This month’s Tactics 101 examines how a light infantry platoon attack should be executed and covers the “3 F’s” of the attack – Find, Fix and Finish.
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Tactics 101-095: The Light Infantry Platoon – Challenges to Maneuver
Tactics 101 continues its series on the Light Infantry Platoon by examining challenges to maneuvering effectively, from terrain to enemy contact.
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Tactics 101 094 – The Light Infantry Platoon Maneuver Techniques
Tactics 101 094 focuses on maneuver techniques available at the squad and platoon level, but these techniques are applicable at all levels.
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Tactics 101 093 – The Infantry Platoon
Tactics 101 begins a monthly miniseries that will dissect the capabilities and tactics of small units. The first in the series, Tactics 101 093, focuses on the light infantry.
Read MoreTactics 101 092 – Integrating Special and Conventional Forces
Where is the middle ground in which special and conventional military forces can work in concert? The Tactics 101 series explores that question, using historical examples.
Read MoreTactics 101 091 – The OODA Loop, Pt. 2
OODA LOOP Speed Up/Slow Down  “In order to win, we should operate at a faster tempo or rhythm than our adversaries—or, better yet, get inside adversary’s Observation-Orientation-Decision-Action time cycle or loop.† COL John Boyd USAF (Retired)  LAST MONTH In our last article, we began our look into the OODA Loop. Within the article, we blended a study of The Battle of Gaugamela in the discussion. The areas we addressed included: 1) A concise study of The Battle of Gaugamela. 2) The origin of the OODA Loop. 3) The genius of John Boyd. 4) Analysis of the actions of OODA Loop – Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. 5) The OODA Loop in practice at The Battle of Gaugamela. 6) Some final thoughts on The Battle of Gaugamela. 7) Lessons learned from Alexander. As we stated last month, we do not consider ourselves the ultimate experts on the “Boyd Cycleâ€. However, we are keenly aware of the benefits of a having a good understanding of the OODA Loop. Hopefully, this...
Read MoreTactics 101 090 – The OODA Loop
Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series from Armchair General, looks at the OODA Loop (observe, orient, decide, act).
Read MoreTactics 101 089: The Ambush, Part 2 – Plan, Prep, Execute
Tactics 101 continues its examination of the use and prevention of ambushes, with a look at the specifics on how to plan, prep, and execute an ambush.
Read MoreTactics 101 088: The Ambush, Part 1 – Fundamentals
Tactics 101 begins a two-part series on the tactics of the ambush; part one covers such fundamentals as types of ambushes and critical actions of the ambush.
Read MoreTactics 101 087: The Operational Art of War, Part 2 – What?
Tactics 101 returns to the Operational Art of War in the second part of a special series. This installment examines the instruments of national power, the levels of war, and the elements of the operational art.
Read MoreTactics 101 086 – Operational Art of War, Part 1: Why?
The acclaimed monthly series Tactics 101 begins an examination of the operational art of war with “Part 1 – Why?” Defines the operational art and explores its evolution.
Read MoreTactics 101 085
The 85th entry in the monthly “Tactics 101” series examines the principles of war, their evolution and their relevance today.
Read MoreTactics 101 084 – Principles of War
The latest installment of the continuing series Tactics 101 examines the principles of war – what they are and how they evolved.
Read MoreTactics 101 083 – Targeting
Perhaps no area of military doctrine is tinkered with more than the targeting process. The latest installment of “Tactics 101” puts a bulls-eye on the subject, including such information as how targeting has changed since the War on Terror began.
Read MoreTactics 101 082 – Infiltraton in History and Practice
This installment of the continuing monthly series “Tactics 101” looks at the history and doctrine of military infiltration maneuvers.
Read MoreTactics 101 081 – The Assembly Area
This month’s Tactics 101 looks at all aspects of the assembly area: selection, actions of the quartering party, maneuvering from the release point to the assembly area, occupying the assembly area, and maneuvering out of the assembly area.
Read MoreTactics 101 080 – The Tactical Road March
This month, “Tactics 101” looks at the tactical road march, the 80th installment in this series. You cannot take shortcuts in planning and preparation for tactical road marches, and units must be trained on the what-ifs that can occur.
Read MoreTactics 101 079 – Adaptation in War
Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series, looks at adaptation in war, including historic examples, tried-and-true adaptations, and, not least, recognizing success or failure.
Read MoreTactics 101 078 – Lightning Strike: The Combat Raid
‘The Combat Raid’ is the topic of Tactics 101 078. This installment in the monthly series discusses the planning, preparation, and execution of a raid and looks at some of history’s most famous raids.
Read MoreTactics 101 077 – The Cover
The monthly series ‘Tactics 101’ concludes its discussion of security operations by examining the third principle security mission – the covering force.
Read MoreTactics 101 076 – The ‘Guard’ Mission in Security Ops
This month Tactics 101 examines the role of a guard force – critical tasks, organization, types of missions and more.
Read MoreTactics 101 075 – The Screen in Security Operations
The 75th installment in the continuing monthly series Tactics 101 focuses on the first of the ‘Big 3’ in security operations – the screen.
Read MoreTactics 101 074 – Security Operations
The latest installment of Tactics 101 dissects security operations: types, fundamentals, and things you must consider.
Read MoreTactics 101 073: Light-Heavy Operations
Light-Heavy Operations, in which a smaller unit of mechanized vehicles augments a larger light infantry unit, is the subject of this month’s Tactics 101, a continuing series from Armchair General.
Read MoreTactics 101 072 – Heavy-Light Operations
Tactics 101, the continuing Armchair General series, assesses Heavy-Light Operations,the integration of heavy and light forces on the battlefield.
Read MoreTactics 101 071 – Reconnaissance and Surveillance Planning
This month Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series from Armchair General, looks at the three key elements of reconnaissance and surveillance planning.
Read MoreTactics 101 070 – Reconnaisance, Part 1: the Foundations
The 70th installment of Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series from Armchair General, looks at the basics of reconnaissance, the first in a series of recon articles.
Read MoreTactics 101 069 – Noncombatant Evacuation Operations
An overview of Noncombatant Evacuation Operations, or NEO, is covered in this installment of Tactics 101, a continuing monthly series on Armchair General.
Read MoreTactics 101 068 – Task Organization
Armchair General’s continuing monthly series Tactics 101 examines task organization, one of the most important actions during the planning process.
Read MoreTactics 101 067 – Decisions and the Decision Support Template
Timely decisions are critical on the battlefield. This month’s installment of Tactics 101 explains how the Decision Support Template can help commanders make timely and anticipated decisions.
Read MoreTactics 101 066 – The Matrix Operations Order
This installment of Armchair General’s monthly series Tactics 101 focuses on the matrix form–style for writing an operations order.
Read MoreTactics 101-065: Rehearsals, Part 2
Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series, looks at part two of rehearsals for military actions.
Read MoreTactics 101 064 – Rehearsals
Rehearsals for combat missions can be a tremendous asset or a colossal waste of time and can cause more harm than good; Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series from Armchair General, examines the good, the bad and the ugly in rehearsals.
Read MoreTactics 101 063 – The Concept of Operations
Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series, looks at The Concept of Operation – how to write clear, concise orders that provide a snapshot of how a mission is to be executed.
Read MoreTactics 101 062 – Anatomy of the Operations Order, Part 2
The second part of Tactics 101’s articles on ‘The Anatomy of the Operations Order’ focuses on Execution, Sustainment, and Command and Signal.
Read MoreTactics 101 061 – Anatomy of the Operations Order
The anatomy of an Operations Order are dissected in Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series on ArmchairGeneral.com.
Read MoreTactics 101 060 – Operations Orders
The 60th entry in the monthly Tactics 101 series begins a new mini-series on the Operations Order (OPORD), starting with an overview on the Combat Orders and the OPORD.
Read MoreTactics 101 059: Smoke in the Defense
Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series on ArmchairGeneral.com, looks how a smart defender can use smoke to advantage on the battlefield.
Read MoreTactics 101 058 – Smoke in the Offense
This month’s installment of Tactics 101 addresses the ways a commander can utilize smoke in the offense, providing analysis on the ‘DOs’ and the DON’Ts of offensive smoke.
Read MoreTactics 101 057 – Smoke Operations
The use of smoke on the battlefield can have a huge positive effect on the ability to achieve victory, but it can be extremely detrimental if not utilized properly. The ongoing series Tactics 101 takes readers behind the smoke screen.
Read MoreTactics 101 056 – Military Deception Means and Techniques
Means and techniques of military deception are explored in this installment of the continuing monthly series ‘Tactics 101’ on ArmchairGeneral.com.
Read MoreTactics 101 055 – Military Deception
The first article in a mini-series about planning, preparing and executing military deception operations, presented by the continuing monthly series Tactics 101 on ArmchairGeneral.com.
Read MoreTactics 101 054 – The Ground Tactical Plan
“American parachutists — devils in baggy pants — are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can’t sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere…” – found in the diary of a German officer killed at Anzio LAST MONTH In our last article, we continued our mini-series on airborne operations with a focus on The Landing Plan. We keyed on several subjects tied to The Landing Plan. These included: 1) How to Select a Drop Zone, 2) The Different Types of Delivery Methods and Techniques that can be Utilized, 3) The Different Methods Available for Attacking the Objective and 4) How to Plan, Prepare and Execute Assembly Procedures. As we highlighted, it is The Landing Plan which links operations in the air to those on the ground. Consequently, there are many variables that can come into play and much to consider in developing the plan. THIS MONTH As we...
Read MoreTactics 101 053 – The Landing Plan
Tactics 101 continues its series on airborne operations with an in-depth look at developing a landing plan, including Selecting a Drop Zone, Delivery Methods and Techniques, Methods for Attacking the Objective and Assembly Procedures.
Read MoreTactics 101 052 – Air Movement Plan
Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series on ArmchairGeneral, looks at the air movement plan in the latest installment – how to get paratroopers from their departure airfield to their objective.
Read MoreTactics 101 051 – The Marshaling Plan
The monthly series Tactics 101 continues its look at airborne operations with an examination of how to develop a Marshaling Plan for activities from the first warning order until the first aircraft takes off with airborne troops.
Read MoreTactics 101 050 – Airborne Fundamentals
Four fundamentals in airborne operations are explored in the continuing monthly series Tactics 101 on ArmchairGeneral.com.
Read MoreTactics 101 049 – Intro to Airborne Operations
A new series of articles focusing on airborne operations begins in the May 2010 Tactics 101, a continuing monthly series on ArmchairGeneral.com
Read MoreTactics 101 048: Encirclement – Part Two
The continuing monthly series Tactics 101 looks at encirclement from the perspective of the encircled: is is better to defend in place or attempt a breakout?
Read MoreTactics 101 047: Encirclement – Part One
This month the continuing series Tactics 101 begins a two-part examination of the art and science of military encirclement.
Read MoreTactics 101 046: Relief in Place
The continuing monthly series Tactics 101 explores tactical enabling operations: relief in place tactics.
Read MoreTactics 101 045: The Passage of Lines
This month’s entry in the continuing Tactics 101 series begins a miniseries of articles on tactical enabling operations, actions that set the conditions for conducting a larger mission at a later time.
Read MoreTactics 101 044 – The Staging Plan
Concludes a five-part mini-series on air assault tactics by looking in-depth at the Staging Plan.
Read MoreTactics 101 043 – Air Assault: The Loading Plan
The Loading Plan is critical to the overall success of any Air Assault – packing the bird, packing it safely and packing it in an order that facilitates further operations. Tactics 101 continuing monthly series from Armchair General.
Read MoreTactics 101 042 – Air Movement Plan
Of the five air assault plans, the air movement plan is the one most tied to science, tight timing, and technical precision, designed to bring Soldiers and machines together at exactly the right time and place.
Read MoreTactics 101 041 – The Landing Plan
The monthly series Tactics 101 continues its exploration of air assault with a look at the three key elements of The Landing Plan: sequencing, timing, and location.
Read MoreTactics 101 040 – The Ground Tactical Plan in Air Assault
The continuing series Tactics 101 goes into detail on the key components of an air assault operation, beginning with the Ground Tactical Plan, in this month’s installment on ArmchairGeneral.com.
Read MoreTactics 101 039 – Air Assault: The Basics
The continuing series Tactics 101 examines air assault tactics – the helicopters, the terminology, and how an air assault should be executed.
Read MoreTactics 101 038 – Air Assault
Air assault operations! The authors of the continuing monthly series Tactics 100 on the Armchair General Website kick off a string of articles exploring mobile air assault – what it can do, what it can’t, and how to employ it.
Read MoreTactics 101 037 – Transitions
The continuing series Tactics 101, in its April 2009 installment, covers the critical concepts of transitioning between offensive and defensive postures.
Read MoreTactics 101 036 – The Delay
Armchair General’s Tactics 101 column continues this month with a look at The Delay.
Read MoreTactics 101 035 – The Withdrawal
In this month’s Tactics 101, the authors discuss retrograde operations in all their various forms, functions, and measures.
Read MoreTactics 101 034 – Utilizing Defense Assets
In this month’s Tactics 101, the authors examine how to best use all available assets in defense, including: Intelligence; Maneuver; Fire Support; Mobility/Counter-Mobility/Survivability; Air Defense; Combat Support; and Command and Control.
Read MoreTactics 101 033 – Obstacle Planning
In warfare, obstacle planning is part of an overall battlefield defense strategy. This installment in a continuing series, Tactics 101, provides guidance for effective obstacle planning.
Read MoreTactics 101 032 – Obstacle Emplacement
The different types of battlefield emplacements and how to use them is the focus of this installment of the continuing series Tactics 101 on Armchair General.
Read MoreTactics 101 031 – The Engagement Area
In this month’s Tactics 101, an Armchair General continuing series, the authors look at the crucial elements in planning for and preparing an engagement area, including use of obstacles, direct and indirect fire, and more.
Read MoreTactics 101: 030 – Planning the Defense
This installment in the continuing Tactics 101 series from Armchair General focuses on defensive planning and, specifically, the mental model a commander should pursue when he must defend a position.
Read MoreTactics 101: 029 – The Defense
The continuing series Tactics 101 begins an in-depth examination of defensive operations. The defense is all about preparation, massing effects, and making the enemy react to you.
Read MoreTactics 101:028 – Commander’s Guidance
Commander’s guidance is principally a tool utilized early in the planning of a mission. If used properly it assists a commander in focusing his staff on developing a flexible plan. This article explores how to use commander’s guidance effectively.
Read MoreTactics 101: 027. Commander’s Intent
How a commander communicates his intent to subordinates can make the difference between success and failure.
Read MoreTactics 101: 026. Cordon and Search Operations
Share your thoughts about Tactics 101’s lesson on cordon and search operations, a deadly game of hide and seek.
Read MoreTactics 101: 025. Urban Operations: Truisms and Nuggets
“The Thebans immediately closed up ranks to repel all attacks on them. Twice or thrice they beat back their assailants. But the Plataen men shouted and charged them, the women and slaves screamed and yelled from the houses and pelted them with stones and tiles; besides, it had been raining hard all night, and so at last their courage gave way and they turned and fled through the city. Most of the Theban fugitives were quite ignorant of the right way out, and this, with the mud and the darkness, and the fact that their pursuers knew their way about and could easily stop their escape, proved fatal to many.” – Thucydides’ description of Theban troops in the city of Plataea The urban warfare experience has been consistent through the years. The cities are famous: Stalingrad, Berlin, Aachen, Hue, Al Fallujah. Each consumed companies and battalions, some swallowed up divisions and corps, while the worst devoured while armies. The city is not the army’s friend. It’s best to avoid...
Read MoreTactics 101: 024 – The Attack of a Built Up Area
Before you begin the planning and preparation of attacking into an urban area, the first thing you must decide is; is it necessary?
Read MoreTactics 101: 023 – Defense of a Built Up Area
Bloodshed in street fighting is a common component of conventional and irregular war. Cities are where people live and trade. They are a visible display of wealth and power.
Read MoreTactics 101: 022 – Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield in Urban Operations Part 2
After defining the battlefield environment and describing the battlefield’s effects; it is now time to take this understanding and utilize it to analyze the enemy.
Read MoreTactics 101: 021 – Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield in Urban Operations
The terrain in the urban environment dramatically impacts both the way a defender defends and an attacker attacks. It provides ach side numerous opportunities to exploit.
Read MoreTactics 101: 020 – Urban Operations
Fighting in urban areas is a nasty business. Unfortunately, there seem to be fewer and fewer alternatives for now and into the near future.
Read MoreTactics 101: 019 – Attacking in the Blind – Movement to Contact
What happens when you’re ordered to attack, but you do not quite know where the enemy is or what he is up to?
Read MoreTactics 101: 018 – River Crossing Operations
The crossing of a river (unopposed and especially opposed) can truly be an emotional event for all those involved.
Read MoreTactics 101: 017 – Breaching Operations
A breaching operation is not an end in itself. It is merely an intermediate action that must be accomplished in order for you to achieve your ultimate objective and mission.
Read MoreTactics 101: 016 – The Deliberate Attack
In this article, we will address the following areas: a quick overview of the offense, a discussion on what is the deliberate attack, the phases of the deliberate attack and how the battlefield operating systems can assist the commander.
Read MoreTactics 101: 015 – The Basics of the Offense
Beginning this month, we will start a series of articles on the offense. This month we will key on some basics just so we are all talking the same language.
Read MoreTactics 101: 014. Decision-Making and the Power of CCIR
In this month’s article, we will focus on decision-making and in particular how we can make more timely and relevant decisions on the battlefield.
Read MoreTactics 101: 013. Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (Pt. 2)
This month we will focus our efforts on the final two steps of the process: Evaluating the Threat and Determine Threat Courses of Action.
Read MoreTactics 101: 012. Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (Pt. 1)
In this article we will focus on a few key concepts. First, we will define what IPB is. Second, we will discuss why IPB is so critical to success.
Read MoreTactics 101: 011. Talking the Talk
One reason the services may have trouble operating jointly is that they don’t speak the same language. For example, if you told Navy personnel to “secure a building” they would turn off the lights and lock the door.
Tactics 101: 010. Graphics
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the importance of a picture (with clear, implicit graphics) can not be understated.
Read MoreTactics 101: 009. The Reserve
In part eight of our series, we discuss the importance of a reserve to maintain flexibility on the battlefield.
Read MoreTactics 101: 008. A review of combat multipliers and other concepts
It’s time to sit back and cogitate what we have already learnt in our monthly series.
Read MoreTactics 101: 007. Combat Multipliers
Now that we are some six months into our series, it’s time for some homework, by the left, quick, write!
Read MoreTactics 101: 006. Main and Supporting Effort
Episode 5 of our monthly series takes us further into the minds of modern military strategists – ignore at your peril!
Read MoreTactics 101: 005. The Tactical Task
In the fourth of our series, we learn about task determination and assignment – defining some of the commonly used tasks you may assign to your units on the battlefield.
Read MoreTactics 101: 004. Purpose
Pay attention Cadets! Lesson number three in our series helps you to analyze the very purpose of your mission. Read this if you want to stay alive!
Read MoreTactics 101: 003. The Decisive Point
Continuing our series of classes – the decisive point provides you with a focus for the selection of objectives, the allocation of combat power, and the assignment of mission tasks and purposes.
Read MoreTactics 101: 002. The Importance of Mission Analysis in Planning
Day one of class; get your notebooks out! Our first lesson is neither glamorous nor exciting – but it is a very real necessity if you want to successfully conduct a tactical action and defeat your enemy.
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