Application of Operational Design at the Tactical Level of War: Implications and Recommendations

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Application of Operational Design at the Tactical Level of War: Implications and Recommendations

C. T. Altavilla

Operational Art and Operational Design must be understood and applied at both the operational and tactical levels of war during counterinsurgency operations. While doctrine prescribes the tactical commander must understand operational art, it also retains its application within the purview of the operational level commander. Additionally, while current and evolving counterinsurgency doctrine reinforce the need for a specific view of operational design when applied specifically to a counterinsurgency campaign, it still retains that campaign planning and design exist at the operational level and above. This paper will assert the need for tactical level commanders' sound application of operational design when planning for protracted counterinsurgency operations within the context of a higher strategic and operational campaign plan. While doctrine states that there is only one campaign plan, current operations clearly show the need for tactical commanders to think with a campaign plan mindset when approaching their tactical planning. In conclusion, it will provide 'a way' for tactical commanders to think about and apply the elements of operational design to better focus their efforts upon assumption of an area of responsibility within a COIN environment.