Heavy-Light Forces: Determining the Optimum Force Based on Forms of Action,Functions and Tempo

摘要

This monograph identifies the different perspectives that heavy and light forceshave when they analyze the elements of mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops available and time (METT-T) during their estimate of the situation. Because the heavy and light perspective of METT-T differs, it is difficult for an integrating headquarters to efficiently and effectively identify all the factors of combat power that a heavy-light force can provide. A common criterion is proposed that enables the integrating staff to broaden their perspective by looking at the forms of action (attack and defend) developed by Carl von Clausewitz, the combat functions (reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, fix, create weakness and maneuver) used by General Edwin H. Burba, Jr. and the elements of tempo (mobility, rate of movement, responsiveness to change) proposed by Brigadier Richard E. Simpkin.... Light infantry, Forms of action, Attack, Armor, Combat functions, Defend, Mechanized, Tempo, METT-T.