4-139. The targeting process comprises the four functions of decide, detect, deliver, and assess (D3A). Targeting is critically linked to the MDMP. The decide function derives critical information that develops from mission analysis through course of action approval. Both detect and assess functions are tied to the unit’s RSTA/ISR plan which is driven by IPB, the MDMP, and tactical site exploitation. Figure 4-7 shows the links between the targeting cycle and MDMP.
Figure 4-7. Targeting and MDMP.
4-140. The commander’s guidance drives the targeting process. Commanders issue targeting guidance during Decide. Actions during Detect may give commanders the intelligence needed to refine their guidance. Target identification may be difficult once a counterinsurgency operation begins. The focus during Deliver should be on decisive points that the commanders can engage. Immediately after delivering, units Assess the effect.
4-141. The unit S2 must understand that the targeting process depends on the effective and timely use of the intelligence cycle and on the exploitation of objectives and detainees. Target development against insurgents results from complete and accurate situation development during peacetime, contingency planning, and analysis of the operational environment during conflict. The IPB supports the target development process and provides the commander with the intelligence needed to select valid target nodes to engage.
D
ECIDE4-142. This function focuses and sets priorities for intelligence collection and both lethal and nonlethal plans. Intelligence and operations personnel, with the commander and other staff members, decide when a target is developed well enough to engage. Continuous staff integration and regular meetings of the intelligence cell and targeting board enable this function. Specifically, intelligence analysts need to identify individuals and groups to engage as potential counterinsurgency supporters, targets to isolate from the population, and targets to eliminate. During the decide activity, the targeting board produces a prioritized list of targets and a recommended course of action associated with each. Executing targeting decisions may require the operations section to issue fragmentary orders. Each of these orders is a task that should be nested within the higher headquarters’ plan and the commander’s intent. Targeting decisions may require changing the intelligence synchronization plan. The targeting working group participates in COA analysis and collaboratively develops the following decide function products:
High-Payoff Target List
4-143. An HPT list is a prioritized list of targets, by phase of the joint operation, whose loss to an enemy will contribute to the success of the mission (JP 3-60)
Intelligence Synchronization Plan
4-144. This is what the intelligence officer uses, with staff input, to synchronize the entire collection effort, to include all assets the commander controls, assets of lateral units, and higher echelon units, organizations, and intelligence reach to answer the commander’s critical information requirements (FM 2-0).
Target Selection Standards
4-145. Target selection standards establish criteria, including accuracy, that must be met before an attack. For targets to be attacked using lethal means. requirements might include a picture, address, 8-digit grid, and enough evidence to prosecute. For targets to be attacked by nonlethal means, requirements may include background information on an individual, meetings he may attend, and known associates.
Attack Guidance Matrix
4-146. The attack guidance matrix lists which targets or target sets approved by the commander to act on, how and when to act on them, and the desired effects.
Target Synchronization Matrix
4-147. The target synchronization matrix combines data from the high-payoff target list, intelligence synchronization plan, and the attack guidance matrix. It lists high-payoff targets by category and the agencies responsible for detecting them, attacking them, and assessing the effects of the attacks.
Targeting FRAGO
4-148. The targeting FRAGO tasks units to execute the lethal and nonlethal plans.
D
ETECT4-149. The detect function involves locating HPTs accurately enough to engage them. Targets are detected through the maximum use of all available assets. The S-2 must focus the intelligence acquisition efforts on the designated HPTs and PIR. Situation development information, through detection and tracking, will be accumulated as collection systems satisfy PIR and information requirements. Tracking is an essential element of the “detect” function of the targeting process. Tracking priorities are based on the commander’s concept of the operation and targeting priorities. Tracking is executed through the collection plan, since many critical targets move frequently.
4-150. Detection at the tactical level is achieved through a variety of means such as a HUMINT source, an anonymous tip, UAS, a combat patrol, SIGINT, DOMEX, rotary wing aircraft, USAF aircraft or military working dog teams. The best means of detecting a target during an insurgency is HUMINT,
though. As such, the detect activity requires a detailed understanding of social networks, insurgent networks, insurgent actions, and the community’s attitude toward the counterinsurgent forces.
4-151. For a target that must be engaged by nonlethal means, the detect function may require patrols to conduct reconnaissance of a leader’s home to determine if they are there, an assessment of a potential project, or attendance at a greeting to meet with a leader.
RSTA
ANDISRO
PERATIONS4-152. Reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance are activities that synchronize and integrate the planning and operation of sensors, assets, and processing; exploitation; and dissemination systems in direct support of current and future operations. This is an integrated intelligence and operations function (JP 2-01). RSTA/ISR provides relevant information about all aspects of the operational environment. RSTA/ISR helps commanders assess the degree to which information superiority is achieved. RSTA/ISR also directly supports information engagements by defining targets in detail and by helping assess the effectiveness of friendly and adversary information engagements.
4-153. Reconnaissance and surveillance operations help to confirm or deny insurgent COAs and estimates of guerrilla capabilities and combat effectiveness. Reconnaissance and surveillance also confirm or deny assumptions about the operational environment and threat made during planning.
4-154. Doctrine requires the staff to carefully focus RSTA/ISR on the CCIR (PIR and FFIR) and be able to quickly retask units and assets as the situation changes. This ensures that the enemy situation drives RSTA/ISR operations. The S-2 and S-3 play a critical role in this challenging task that is sometimes referred to as “fighting ISR.” Through RSTA/ISR, commanders and staffs continuously plan, task, and employ collection assets and forces. They collect, process, and disseminate timely and accurate information, combat information, and intelligence to satisfy the commander’s critical information requirements and other intelligence requirements.
4-155. RSTA/ISR synchronization analyzes information requirements and intelligence gaps; evaluates available assets both internal and external to the organization; determines gaps in the use of those assets; recommends RSTA/ISR assets controlled by the organization to collect on the CCIR; and submits requests for information for adjacent or higher collection support (FM 3-0). Collection tasks linked to decision points play a critical part in the operation. The reconnaissance and surveillance plan must ensure that information tied to decision points reaches the commander and staff in time to support the decision. The reconnaissance and surveillance plan also ties directly into the targeting process. Collection assets are identified, prioritized, and planned to detect certain targets during the “decide” and “detect” phases of the D3A process. The collector’s information, if it meets the established, criteria may trigger the deliver function. After delivery, the collectors, also identified in the “decide” phase, provide information to assess the attack. These may be the same collector or a different asset. If not, a different asset is tasked to do this. One tool to achieve this is a daily RSTA/ISR and operations synchronization meeting, which is discussed in the targeting section of this chapter. The RSTA/ISR synchronization plan is an output of this meeting, and coordinates and synchronizes the RSTA/ISR. (For more, see FM 2-0.)
D
ELIVER4-156. The deliver function of targeting begins in earnest with execution. The targeting process provides speed and efficiency in the delivery of lethal or nonlethal fires on targets in accordance with the Attack Guidance Matrix or the targeting FRAGO. Within the deliver function, the system or combination of systems selected during the “decide” phase is employed.
4-157. For a target that requires lethal means, units may eliminate the target using a joint direct attack munition (JDAM) from a USAF aircraft, an Excalibur round, a Joint Tactical Attack Cruise Missile System (JTACMS), or a sniper. However, many times it is more important to capture the target, so commanders will choose to execute a raid or a cordon and search. For a target that requires nonlethal means, a commander may choose to use an information engagement to convince a local leader, or to conduct a project to garner the population’s support through money or employment.
4-158. Target exploitation in the counterinsurgency environment is similar to that in law enforcement. An exploitation plan not only facilitates gathering evidence for future court cases, but also may lead to follow-on targets after successful exploitation. (See Chapter 6 for details on tactical site exploitation.)
A
SSESS4-159. At the tactical level, commanders use assessment to get a series of timely and accurate snapshots of their effect on the insurgent and the population. It provides commanders with an estimate of the insurgent’s combat effectiveness, capabilities, and intentions, as well as an accurate understanding of the people. This helps commanders determine when, or if, their targeting efforts have been accomplished. The “assess” phase relies heavily upon MOEs and MOPs.
4-160. Producing the assessment is primarily an intelligence responsibility, but requires coordination with operations, civil affairs, public affairs, information operations, and PSYOP to be effective. As part of the targeting process, assessment helps to determine if another engagement of the target is necessary.
TARGETING BATTLE RHYTHM
4-161. During COIN operations, brigades and battalions typically use a one or two week targeting battle rhythm. The target cycle drives the tactical unit’s daily and weekly operations. Figure 4-8 shows an example of a targeting cycle and battle rhythm.
Figure 4-8. Targeting battle rhythm.
4-162. Another important facet of the battle rhythm is the daily RSTA/ISR and operations synchronization meeting. Due to the air tasking order cycle, this traditionally synchronizes operations from 96 hours to 24 hours in the preparation to hand over to current operations. In counterinsurgencies, this meeting must synchronize all actions along the seven COIN LOEs. Especially critical is planning and requesting higher-level assets such as air force aircraft, jamming, UASs, ISR, and aviation ahead of the higher headquarters decision cycle. There are three outputs from this meeting—a 96-hour synchronization matrix, a 96-hour RSTA/ISR plan, and a daily FRAGO.
SUMMARY
Planning in COIN uses tactical design, either MDMP or TLP, and targeting to ensure units achieve their end state over time. Throughout the COIN planning process, tactical units employ the seven COIN lines of effort to ensure that they achieve unity of effort, prioritization in accomplishing tasks, control of the population, and an increase in the Host Nation government’s legitimacy.