The main reason we conduct a defense is to set the conditions to transition to the offense. At the company level and below we must recognize the significance of properly preparing for defensive operations. Units planning against a near peer threat at the National Training Center (NTC) will focus on preparing for an attack or conducting the seven steps of EADEV in preparation for a defense, but rarely do units prepare simultaneously for both. Commanders must think through transitioning into defensive operations prior executing offensive operations.
At the company level, commanders must forecast requirements to transition to the defense even when preparing for offensive operations. Whether a unit is successful in seizing an objective or not a company will transition to a hasty or deliberate defense, by either design or necessity. They also must consider the support they will require to transition successfully.
The most difficult part of planning for a defense is identifying the best place to establish fighting positions. The reason it is difficult to determine where to defend is due to unit logistical status, terrain, enemy situation and class IV accessibility. Choosing a location to establish a defense is critical to maintaining combat power and setting conditions to continue offensive operations. The terrain must be defendable within the scope of what assets are on hand. Too often units fail to use the terrain effectively when establishing a hasty defense, to include when to conduct resupply operations. It is naive to think every mission will go according to plan. There are so many factors effecting a battle that a commander must be able to adjust to conditions rapidly.
Logistical Status
Lack of supplies will bring all operations to a halt. The commander must know at all times how much CL I, CL III (B and P), and CL V is on hand and available. Knowing the status of these classes of supply will determine when and where to establish a defense upon completion of an offensive operation for either resupply operations and/or how long they are able to defend when they transition. Commanders do not want to announce the location of their battle positions until necessary. Forecasting and managing classes of supply for a company will limit exposure, as commanders can plan to conduct resupply operations. Conducting resupply operations is risky in nature, but units use resupply as a time to prep for the next operations instead of considering it a current operation. Like the U.S. military, a near peer threat will attempt to disrupt supply operations.
Asset Availability
What engineer assets, if any, are available to the company? How soon can those assets react to the situation? Has the company worked with the engineer assets prior to allocating the assets? Those questions determine how the commander transition to a defense. The commander should build habitual working relationships with the engineer support element leadership to identify capabilities, to include crew experience, dig and/or build time, and how much they can accomplish to meet the maneuver commanders intent. Commanders should consider immediately employing engineers to establish fighting positions upon completion of offensive operations. Maneuver units must be prepared to help the engineers when the commander employs those assets. Too often at the National Training Center, maneuver units will focus on establishing their fighting positions and expect the engineers to handle the heavy load of emplacing obstacles. Unit leadership should incorporate ever Soldier into establishing the defense.
Enemy
A near peer threat will not give up ground willingly. The enemy will be offensive minded to achieve their objective. Commanders must think like the enemy and understand where they will likely attack. Our forces must be ready to transition to defensive operations at all times.
The ability to rapidly transition to defensive operations is vital to the success of all maneuver units; whether higher echelons task a unit to conduct a deliberate defense, a unit must transition to a hasty defense following offensive operations, or a unit transitions to the defense to conduct resupply operations. A commander must anticipate his or her unit’s requirements to make that transition and successfully defend against a near peer threat.
POC: Capt. Jeffrey J. Kraft, Scorpion 3T, Battalion Operations Trainer, at jeffery.j.kraft.mil@mail.mil.
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