C400 Study Guide

1. The operational Concept of the Unified Land Operations (ULO)

1a. What is the definition of the Army’s Operational Concept?
 Unified land operations is the Army’s warfighting doctrine, and it is the
Army’s operational concept and contribution to unified action.
 Unified land operations is the simultaneous execution of offense, defense,
stability, and defense support of civil authorities across multiple domains
to shape operational environments, prevent conflict, prevail in large-scale
ground combat, and consolidate gains as part of unified action.

1b. What are the Army Strategic Roles?

shape operational environments, prevent conflict, prevail in large-scale ground
combat, and consolidate gains

1c. Why does the Commander develop an operational approach and what is its
purpose?
 operational approach enables commanders to begin visualizing and
describing possible combinations of actions to reach the desired end state,
given the tensions identified in the operational environment
 operational approach to attain the end state
 operational approach- A broad description of the mission, operational
concepts, tasks, and actions required to accomplish the mission. (JP 5-0)
 The operational approach provides a framework that relates tactical tasks
to the desired end state. It provides a unifying purpose and focus to all
operations.
1d. What are the four components of the operational framework and how are they used?

 Cognitive tool that commanders and staffs use to visualize and describe
the application of combat power, in time, space, purpose, and resources,
as they develop the concept of operations
o The operational framework has four components –
 First, commanders are assigned an area of operations for the conduct of
operations.
 Second, commanders can designate deep, close, support, and
consolidation areas to describe the physical arrangement of forces in time
and space.*
 Third, within these areas, commanders conduct decisive, shaping, and
sustaining operations to articulate the operation in terms of purpose.
 Finally, commanders designate the main and supporting efforts to
designate the shifting prioritization of resources
1e. What are the Elements of Decisive Action?
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2. The Operations Process

2a. What are the major C2 activities (incorrectly called steps or phases) of the Ops
Process?

 major command and control activities performed during operations –

planning, preparing, executing, and continuously assessing
2b. What activities occur during each major C2 activity?
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2c. What activities do Commanders use to drive the operations process?

2d. What is RDSP and when do we use it?

• Rapid Decision-making and Synchronization Process (RDSP)
 A single COA; often directed
 Based on existing order
 Seeks timely and effective solution; not necessarily optimal
 Often issued verbally
 RDSP is a battle drill most likely executed by the current operations
integration cell (COIC)
• Used during execution
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2e. What are the primary differences in the Army planning methodologies?
There are five types of planning methodologies in Army doctrine. The appropriate
methodology is based upon the scope of the problem, their familiarity with it, the
time available, and the availability of a staff.
• Army Design Methodology is a formalized conceptual planning process. ADM is
generally used at higher levels where problems are more complex and access to
SMEs are more available.
• MDMP is a detailed planning process that results in the production of an
executable order. Note – ADM does not.
• Troop Leading Procedures – This is for company level units and below that do not
have the availability of a staff. The results of TLP is also an executable order.
• RDSP is a decision-making and planning technique that commanders and staffs
commonly use during execution when available planning time is limited; based on
an existing order and the commander’s priorities as expressed in the order.
• Army Problem Solving - Where the previous methodologies are designed for
planning operations, Army problem solving is a methodology available for leaders
in identifying and solving a variety of problems.
2f. How can the mission variables be used to understand a tactical problem?
• Tactical problems are identified through analysis of mission variables as part of
MDMP.
• The METT-TC factors interact with each other to form different components of the
tactical problem. As a result of this interaction, the tactical problem may in fact be
a complex problem with multiple components. Your capabilities to influence the
tactical problem become apparent first through an initial analysis of the METT-TC
factors and, subsequently, become more refined during a detailed mission
analysis.
What are the key integrating processes and how are they used throughout the
operations process?
• IPB, continuous process of analyzing the threat and other aspects of the OE. IPB
identifies gaps in current intelligence, which feeds PIR and information collection
efforts to confirm or deny an adversary’s COA.
information collection, helps the commander understand and visualize the
operation by identifying gaps in information and aligning reconnaissance,
surveillance, security, and intelligence assets to collect information on those
gaps.
targeting, selecting and prioritizing targets and matching the appropriate
response IOT achieve the desired effect.
risk management, Continuous process of identifying, assessing, and controlling/
mitigating risk
knowledge management. the process of enabling knowledge flow to enhance
shared understanding, learning and decision-making
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Running estimates are the functional source to feed each of these integrating
processes. synchronize specific functions.
• Integrating processes are continuous and enable the commander’s activities of
UVDDLA (Understand, Visualize, Describe, Direct, Lead and Assess)
How are staff running estimates used to advise the commander?
• assist commanders with understanding situations, assessing progress, and
making decisions.
• Principle knowledge tool for commanders and staffs.
 Facts
 Assumptions
 Friendly force status
 Enemy activities and capabilities
 Civil considerations
 Conclusions and recommendations
3. Reconnaissance and Security doctrinal concepts.
What are the three types of Guard missions and how should their corresponding forces
be organized?
• Guard – protects the main body by fighting to gain time while preventing enemy
ground observation of and direct fire against the main body. Units conducting a
guard cannot operate independently because they rely upon fires and other
support assets of the main body.
• advance, flank, and rear guard.
• advance guard for a stationary BCT deploys forward and defends the main body.
Once the unit makes contact, they continue to defend or delay within the area of
operations consistent with the BCT commander’s intent. 6-68. An advance guard
for a moving force is offensive in nature, finding and defeating enemy units along
the axis of advance. Units conducting an advance guard provide for the
uninterrupted movement of the protected force
• flank guard protects an exposed flank of the main body. In performing this
mission, the flank guard operates beyond the assigned zone or sector of the
protected force
• rear guard protects the exposed rear of the main body. Rear guards are
appropriate when conducting offensive tasks, when the protected force breaks
contact with flanking forces, or during a retrograde. The rear guard deploys and
defends for moving and stationary main bodies. The critical tasks described for a
stationary flank guard apply. The rear guard for a moving force displaces to
successive battle positions along phase lines in depth as the main body moves.
The nature of enemy contact determines the scheme of maneuver for
displacement
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Compare and Contrast Reconnaissance and Security Operations

Reconnaissance

• Mission undertaken to –
 Obtain, by visual observation or other detection methods, information about the activities and
resources of the enemy.
 Secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a
particular area.
• Relies primarily on the human dynamic vs. technical means.
• Performed before, during, and after other operations to provide information used in IPB process
and focuses the collection effort.
• Used by the commander in order to formulate, confirm, or modify his COA.

Security
• Operations undertaken to –
 Provide early and accurate warning of enemy operations.
 Provide the force being protected with time and maneuver space within which to react to
the enemy.
 Develop the situation to allow the commander to effectively use the protected force.
• May be conducted to the front, flanks, or rear of the friendly force.
• All forces, regardless of whether they are maneuver, functional / multifunctional support,
or sustainment, are responsible for their own local security.
• The ultimate goal – protect the force from surprise and reduce the unknowns in any
situation.
What actions could a Cavalry Squadron perform in Reconnaissance and Security
Operations?
Squadron Conduct combined arms, air-ground reconnaissance and security tasks
as needed to meet information requirements. Conduct area, zone, route
reconnaissance, reconnaissance in force, or reconnaissance as part of a security
task. In difficult terrain, conduct area, zone, and route reconnaissance or
reconnaissance in force by fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft.
NOT A COVER
What are the elements of commander’s reconnaissance and/or security planning
guidance?
Reconnaissance Guidance
• Focus: Threat, infrastructure, terrain and weather effects and/or society (linked to
information requirements).
• Tempo: level of detail (rapid or deliberate) and level of covertness (stealthy or
forceful) required.
• Engagement/Disengagement: what to fight (size and type), engagement criteria,
actions on contact, bypass criteria, recon handover criteria, passage of lines,
priority of fires, FSCMs, weapons control status.
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• Displacement Criteria: time, event, or enemy based triggers to withdrawal or

reposition.
• Security Guidance
• Focus: What the organization is protecting and why.
• Tempo: Articulating tempo establishes time req’ts for OPs (short duration <12
hours or long >12 hours), length of UAS rotation, required log and comms
support; depth of screen.
• Engagement/Disengagement: same criteria as recon and…force/area to secure;
location/orientation of security area; smallest enemy element allowed to pass
• Displacement Criteria: time, event, or enemy-based
What are some planning considerations in security guidance?
• Depth, width, duration, and orientation of type of security operation.
• Coordination for passage of lines operations.
• Task organization additions: Fires given distance from main body, engineers for
mobility, countermobility and survivability, and reserve (not from cavalry
squadron).
• Aviation asset allocation in security area can extend early warning during a guard
or cover operation.
• Reserve allocation external of cavalry squadron can provide differential when
transitioning as enemy units become isolated in security area for exploitation.
• Graphic control measures that facilitate transitions when it comes to battle
handover (anticipated passage of line operations and disengagement criteria).
?

4. Offensive operations doctrinal concepts

Why do we conduct offensive operations?

What are the characteristics of the offense and how are they used?

Compare and contrast the types of offensive operations.

Compare and contrast the forms of maneuver.

What are some planning considerations in Offensive operations?

5. Defensive operations doctrinal concepts

Why do we conduct defensive operations?

What are the characteristics of the offense and how are they used?
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Compare and contrast the types of defensive operations.

Compare and contrast the variations of retrograde operations.

Compare and contrast the forms of the defense.

What are some planning considerations in Defensive operations?

6. Stability operations doctrinal concepts

What are some activities to consolidate gains?

Army operations to consolidate gains include activities to make enduring any temporary
operational success, to set the conditions for a transition of control to legitimate civil authorities,
and ultimately to transform military victory to political success.
The Consolidate Gains includes these tasks:
• Area Security
• Army Stability Tasks
• Minimum Essential Stability Tasks

 Activities may require these tasks:

 Establish area security throughout the entire corps AO.
 Conduct stability tasks necessary to create conditions for transition to legitimate
authority.
 Conduct security force assistance to build capability and capacity of foreign security
forces.
 Dissuade enemies and adversaries from reinitiating hostile or disruptive operations.
 Coordinate and influence the assumption of responsibility by host-nation or other
authorities.
 Synchronize psychological actions to favorably influence civilian attitudes.

What are the Army Stability Operations Tasks?

(6) Stability Operations Tasks
• Establish civil security.
• Establish civil control.
• Restore essential services.
• Support to governance.
• Support to economic and infrastructure development.
• Conduct security cooperation

Compare and contrast the two approaches to unity of effort.

• Whole-of-Government Approach
 Guides the development, integration, and coordination of all instruments of national
power and integrates the collaborative efforts of the departments and agencies of the
USG to achieve unity of effort toward shared goals.
 Enables achieving the balance of resources, capabilities, and activities that reinforce
progress made by one of the instruments of national power while enabling success
among the others.
• Comprehensive Approach
 An approach that integrates the cooperative efforts of the departments and agencies of
the USG, and to the extent possible, intergovernmental and nongovernmental
organizations, multinational partners, and private sector entities to achieve unity of effort
toward a shared goal.
 A comprehensive approach builds from the cooperative spirit of unity of effort.
 Successful operations involve actors participating at their own discretion or present in the
operational area but not acting as a member of a multinational coalition.
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 Integration and collaboration often elude the diverse array of actors, and may vary
significantly given the degree of overlap between each actor’s priorities and goals.

Who might the Army support in the absence of legitimate governance?

In extreme cases, where civil government is completely dysfunctional or absent altogether,
international law requires military forces to provide the basic civil administration functions of the
host-nation government under the auspices of a transitional military authority.

What is a fragile state?

• A fragile state is a country that suffers from institutional weaknesses serious enough to threaten
the stability of the central government.
• Crisis – those states where the central government does not exert effective control
over its own territory or is unable or unwilling to assure the provision of vital
services to significant parts of its territory, where legitimacy of the government is
weak or nonexistent, and where violent conflict is a reality or a great risk.
• Vulnerable – Those states unable or unwilling to adequately assure the provision
of security and basic services to significant portions of their populations and
where the legitimacy of the government is in question.

7. Defense support of civil authorities (DSCA) doctrinal concepts

What are the purposes of DSCA?

Purposes
• Save lives.
• Restore essential services.
• Maintain or restore law and order.
• Protect infrastructure and property.
• Support maintenance or restoration of local government.
• Shape the environment for intergovernmental success.

What is role of the Stafford and Posse Comitatus Acts when committing federal forces?

The Stafford Act sets the guidelines for reimbursements from federal funds to federal agencies
and states.
• how federal military forces are assigned to DSCA missions.
• Authorizes the President to issue major disaster declarations - authorizes federal agencies
to provide assistance to states overwhelmed by disasters

Posse Comitatus Act Prohibits use of federal troops for law enforcement:
 Air Force and Army identified.
 Navy and Marine Corps included by DoD Policy.
 Active role unlawful under 18 USC 1385:
 Use of federal military troops to “execute the laws.”
 Active role: arrest; seizure of evidence; search of a person; search of a building;
investigation of crime; interviewing witnesses; pursuit of an escaped civilian
prisoner; search of an area for a suspect; etc.
 Passive involvement not unlawful under 18USC 1385:
 Federal military troops indirectly aiding civilian law enforcement.
 Passive activities: preparation of contingency plans; advise civilian law
enforcement; train local law enforcement; maintain material and equipment;
provide reconnaissance flights; etc.
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What organizational structures can a state use in an emergency?

What are the principles of a tiered response?

The principle of tiered response means that the lowest level of government always maintains its
authority and initiates requests for help.
 A primary (or lead) civilian agency establishes the priority of effort for military
forces.
 At the federal level, typically Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
 At the state level, the state emergency management agency (names vary by state).

How would you define state's rules for the use of force (RUF) and federal rules for the use of force
(SRUF)?
 State's rules for the use of force (RUF) and federal standing rules for the use of
force (SRUF).
 State authorities establish RUF consistent with state laws.
 RUF and SRUF are the equivalent of rules of engagement (ROE), except that they
apply in domestic situations.

8. The Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP)

Understand the key inputs, sub-steps, and key outputs of each step of MDMP.

How does the staff develop a doctrinally correct course of action?

What is the purpose of wargaming, what are the methods, and how are they used?

How and when are critical events used in MDMP?

What may a commander decide to do following a COA Decision Brief?

9. Opposing Force Tactics

How does the OPFOR organize the tactical battlefield and what major activities occur in each zone?

Compare and contrast the OPFOR types of attacks and defense.

10. Doctrinal Terms and Symbols

Correctly identify common tactical mission, tactical enabling, special purpose, and retrograde task
symbols.

11. Scenario Products

Access the Exam through the C400 Apply US Army Doctrine folder.

Download the "C400 Final Exam Scenario" to review before initiating the exam. This PDF consolidates all
required scenario products into one file.