2ND COMBINED ARMS BATTALION

8TH INFANTRY REGIMENT

OFFICER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

TACTICAL TASK AND PURPOSE

OPERATIONAL TERMS AND GRAPHICS
AND OTHER USEFUL STUFF

PRESENTED BY
1LT CASH A. FREEMAN
COMMANDER, B CO, 2-8 IN
 Instructional Lead-In
Doctrine provides a military organization with a common philosophy, a
common language, a common purpose, and a unity of effort.

General George H. Decker, address at Fort Leavenworth, 16 Dec 1960

The tactical mission tasks describe the results or effects the

commander wants to achieve. A mission statement contains the
who, what, when, where, and why associated with a specific operation.
The what and why of a mission statement are not the same thing
and both are needed. The what is an effect that is normally
measurable. The why of a mission statement provides the
mission's purpose or reason. These tasks have specific military
definitions that are different from those found in a dictionary. In some
cases, the discussion includes more than just a definition; it includes
results or effects in relation to the enemy, terrain, or friendly forces not
associated with any specific type or form of an operation. Tasks that
identify a friendly action rarely provide sufficient clarity for a mission
statement.
 References

• FM 1-02 Operational Terms and Graphics

• FM 3.0 Operations
• FM 3.90 Tactics
• FM 5-0 Army Planning and Orders
Production
• FM 6-0 Mission Command: Command
and Control of Army Forces
 Tactical Mission Tasks
Types and Forms of Operations
 Tactical Mission Tasks
Actions By Friendly Forces
Assault Follow and Assume
Attack-by-Fire Follow and Support
Breach Link-Up
Bypass Occupy
Clear Reconstitution
CSR Reduce
Consolidation and Reorganize Secure
Control Seize
Counter-Reconnaissance Support-by-Fire
Disengagement Suppress
Exfiltrate
 Basis of Tactical Tasks
Enemy Terrain Friendly
Ambush Interdict Clear Breach
ABF Neutralize Control Disengage
Block Penetrate Occupy Displace
Bypass Recon Recon Exfiltrate
Breach Rupture Retain
Canalize SBF Secure
Contain Seize
Demonstrate
Destroy
Defeat
Disrupt
Exploit
Feint
Fix
Interdict
Tactical Mission Tasks
Terms and Graphics
Attack-by-Fire: Tactical mission task in which a commander uses direct fires, supported by
indirect fires, to engage an enemy without closing with him to destroy, suppress, fix, or
deceive him.

Breach: Tactical mission task in which the unit employs all available means to break through
or secure a passage through an enemy defense, obstacle, minefield, or fortification

Clear: Tactical mission task that requires the commander to remove all enemy forces and
eliminate organized resistance within an assigned area

Bypass: Tactical mission task in which the commander directs his unit to maneuver around an
obstacle, position, or enemy force to maintain the momentum of the operation while
deliberately avoiding combat with an enemy force.

Control: Tactical mission task that requires the commander to maintain physical influence over a
specified area to prevent its use by an enemy or to create conditions necessary for successful
friendly operations

Counter-Reconnaissance: Tactical mission task that encompasses all measures taken by a

commander to counter enemy reconnaissance and surveillance efforts. Counter-Reconnaissance
is not a distinct mission, but a component of all forms of security operations.
 Tactical Mission Tasks
Terms and Graphics
Disengage: Tactical mission task where a commander has his unit break contact with the enemy to
allow the conduct of another mission or to avoid decisive engagement.

Exfiltrate: Tactical mission task where a commander removes soldiers or units from areas under
enemy control by stealth, deception, surprise, or clandestine means.

Follow and Assume: Tactical mission Follow and Support: Tactical mission task
task in which a second committed force in which a committed force follows and
follows a force conducting an offensive supports a lead force conducting an
operation and is prepared to continue offensive operation.
the mission if the lead force is fixed,
attritted, or unable to continue.
Tactical Mission Tasks
Terms and Graphics
Occupy: Tactical mission task that involves moving a friendly force into an area so that it
can control that area. Both the force's movement to and occupation of the area occur
without enemy opposition.

Reduce: Tactical mission task that involves the destruction of an encircled or bypassed
enemy force.

 
Retain: Tactical mission task in which the commander ensures that a terrain feature
controlled by a friendly force remains free of enemy occupation or use.

                        
Secure: Tactical mission task that involves preventing a unit, facility, or geographical
location from being damaged or destroyed as a result of enemy action.
     

Seize: Tactical mission task that involves taking possession of a designated area by using
overwhelming force.

Support-by-Fire: Tactical mission task in which a maneuver force moves to a position

where it can engage the enemy by direct fire in support of another maneuvering force.
 Tactical Mission Tasks
Effects on Enemy Forces

Block Fix
Canalize Interdict
Contain Isolate
Defeat Neutralize
Destroy Penetrate
Disrupt Turn
Tactical Mission Task
Terms and Graphics
Block: Tactical mission task that denies the enemy access to an area or prevents his advance
in a direction or along an avenue of approach.

Canalize: Tactical mission task in which the commander restricts enemy movement to a

 
narrow zone by exploiting terrain coupled with the use of obstacles, fires, or friendly
maneuver.

                        
Contain: Tactical mission task that requires the commander to stop, hold, or surround enemy
forces or to cause them to center their activity on a given front and prevent them from
withdrawing any part of their forces for use elsewhere.
     
Defeat: Tactical mission task that occurs when an enemy force has temporarily or
permanently lost the physical means or the will to fight. The defeated force's commander
is unwilling or unable to pursue his adopted course of action, thereby yielding to the
friendly commander's will and can no longer interfere to a significant degree with the
actions of friendly forces. Defeat can result from the use of force or the threat of its use.

Destroy: Tactical mission task that physically renders an enemy force combat-ineffective until
it is reconstituted. Alternatively, to destroy a combat system is to damage it so badly that it
cannot perform any function or be restored to a usable condition without being entirely rebuilt.
Tactical Mission Tasks
Terms and Graphics
Disrupt: Tactical mission task in which a commander integrates direct and indirect fires,
terrain, and obstacles to upset an enemy's formation or tempo, interrupt his timetable, or cause
his forces to commit prematurely or attack in a piecemeal fashion.

Fix: Tactical mission task where a commander prevents the enemy from moving any part of
his force from a specific location for a specific period.

Interdict: Tactical mission task where the commander prevents, disrupts, or delays the
enemy's use of an area or route.

Isolate: Tactical mission task that requires a unit to seal off-both physically and
psychologically-an enemy from his sources of support, deny him freedom of movement,
and prevent him from having contact with other enemy forces.

Neutralize: Tactical mission task that results in rendering enemy personnel or materiel incapable
of interfering with a particular operation.
Tactical Mission Tasks
Terms and Graphics
Suppress: Tactical mission task that results in the temporary degradation of the performance
of a force or weapon system below the level needed to accomplish its mission.

Turn: Tactical mission task that involves forcing an enemy element from one avenue of
approach or movement corridor to another.
 Tactical Mission
Purpose
Divert Cause
Enable Protect
Deceive Allow
Deny Create
Prevent Influence
Open Support
Envelop Surprise
 Types and Forms
of Army Operations
Movement To Contact Retrograde Operations Relief in Place
- Search and Attack - Delay River Crossing
Attack - Withdrawal Troop Actions
- Ambush - Retirement
- Demonstration Reconnaissance Operations
- Feint - Zone
- Raid - Area
- Spoiling Attack - Route
Exploitation - Recon in Force
Pursuit - Security
Forms of Offensive Maneuver - Screen
- Turning Movement - Guard
- Frontal Attack - Cover
- Penetration - Point
- Infiltration Security Operations
- Envelopment Information Operations
Area Defense Breaching Operations
Mobile Defense Passage of Lines
 Task and Purpose Tree
Nesting Diagram
TASK: DESTROY

PURPOSE: PREVENT

TASK: DESTROY TASK: BREACH TASK: SBF TASK: FIX

PURPOSE: PREVENT PURPOSE: ALLOW PURPOSE: ALLOW PURPOSE: PREVENT

TASK: DESTROY TASK: SBF TASK: BREACH

PURPOSE: PREVENT PURPOSE: ALLOW PURPOSE: ALLOW

 7 Forms of Contact
• Visual
• Direct Fires
• Indirect Fires
• Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing Aircraft
• NBC
• EW
• Obstacles
 Vehicle Based
Weapons Capabilities
M1 Abrams MBT M2 Bradley IFV
Main Gun: AP: 3,500 M AP: 2,000 M +
HE: 3,000 M HE: 3,000 M
* 30 Degrees
100 meters

TOW: N/A 3,750 meters

Coaxial MG: 900 meters 900 meters

M2 .50 cal: (A)1830 N/A

(P)1100 & 700
 Organic Small Arms
Weapons Capabilities
Weapon Caliber Max Effective Point (M) Max Effective Area (M) Remarks
M9 9 mm 50 M 50 M Carrying Position

M16A4 5.56 mm 550 M 800 M

M4 5.56 mm 500 M 600 M

M203 40 mm 160 M 350 M Collateral Damage

M2 12.76 mm 700 (G)/1100 (V) 1830 M 2550 M Suppression

M240B 7.62 mm800 M 1100 M 1800 M Suppression

M249 5.56 mm600 M 800 M 1000 M Suppression

MK19 40 mm 1500 M 2212 M Restrictive

M14 7.62 mm460 M N/A Accuracy/Unreliable

Javelin HEAT 2000 M N/A 65 M minimum