Brigades that come to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) will fight a brigade fight. Every unit, regardless of echelons or component, from the squad through the battalion, from infantry to military police to transportation to aviation, will leave better than they arrived after enduring the crucible training event here in Louisiana. However, small unit training can occur anywhere. The swamps and humid head of Fort Polk offer a unique opportunity. Through rational design and Observer Coach Trainer coaching, brigades can focus on their role in shaping deep, synchronizing maneuver, allocating resources, and setting conditions necessary for battalions to succeed in both the offense and defense. This book is an effort to reach units prior to their arrival in Louisiana by giving them realistic scenarios to think about while following the Cajun Brigade through the planning and execution of a defense.
As you read what we’ve provided take note of the guidance the brigade commander provides his staff focus on achieving the commander’s guidance through its planning sessions. Study how the staff primaries take an active role in their struggle to understand and apply that guidance. Empathize with them as they do it all under the duress and tyranny of time. throughout, we’ve attempted to give you an opportunity to take an active role. Enjoy! We’ll see you at leader professional training.
Special thanks to Major Benjamin Culver, Major Ian Fleischmann, Major Thomas Whitehead, Captain Brandan Forrester, and Captain Andrew Heath for the hard work, research, and patience on this project. They witness the struggles associated with the brigade fight every rotation. They weave their observations into the story you’re about to read.
All the way!
Col. David W. Gardner, Commander, Operations Group
Message from the Commanding General
This decision-making book underscores the importance of decisions. Sometimes its not just for the want of a nail that the battle was lost, but maybe that’s not far off the mark. The smallest, most innocuous decisions can have disproportionate impact on a brigade’s success. And who are the decision-makers? Spoiler alert…it’s not just the brigade commander. This book provides insight into how every decision maker, from fighting company commanders to tired staff officers, can make decisions informed by the commander’s intent that affect the brigade as a whole.
We hope you find both utility and professional enjoyment in reading this book. The decisions you will face throughout this work emanate from observations and trends our Observe Coach Trainers derive from rotations throughout the year. We hope units across the force use the material within as fodder for leader professional development discussions so the entire team, the entire brigade staff, can get on board.
I would like to recognize the Operations Group team for their great work on this project. They are in the trenches, wrestling with these challenges. Thank you!
All the way!
Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, CG, JRTC & Fort Polk
Click HERE to access Defense of the Cajun Bayou: Choose Your Course of Action
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