DMX 07 Discussion Guide: Gunfight on Route Ennis
By Major Josh Burchfield
Editor’s Note: This is a follow up to our last Decision Making Exercise (DMX 07). The author wrote this discussion guide to drive conversation about the scenario, it is published here so that you can do the same with your Marines!
Instructor Notes
This TDG is designed to prime tactical level unit leaders for disaggregated operations against conventional enemy formations. The emphasis should be on how well the briefer’s plan balances mission accomplishment, survivability, and the capabilities of modern technology. The enemy situation should cause the audience to recognize that a conventional position defense, or multiple defensive positions, with Marines massed above squad level, will cross the enemy’s targeting threshold and be obliterated by indirect fire long before they have the opportunity to engage their own weapons. This requires a different task organization than we’re used to, tailored to the mission. Seek to focus on SOMs that achieve disruption criteria without becoming decisively engaged. Leaders should tailor their task organization to the task, and maximize their capabilities against the enemy’s vulnerabilities.
Discussion questions:
Show of hands (all eyes closed): who massed their company in a linear defense with traditional engagement area, etc? Who split into successive platoon positions collapsing into a company position? Who disaggregated to the squad level? Pick one briefer from each group, and then use the following to guide the discussion:
Based on the specific task, how did/didn’t this plan meet higher’s intent? (defense in depth, disrupt IOT deny seizure of objectives)
How well did the briefer account for the enemy’s targeting threshold to create a SOM that accomplished the mission as well as the survivability of the company?
Given the enemy’s targeting threshold and numerical superiority, what would be more effective: massed surprise fires in a traditional engagement area, or multiple small engagements via hit and run type ambushes? Direct fire engagement or sUAS/Observation Posts calling for fire on exposed troops/vehicles?
What target precedence did you give and how did that help you achieve the disruption of enemy forces required to accomplish your mission?
Where/when would it be appropriate to mass on the enemy formation? How would you do it? What would you do after? (It is important to realize that if your plan does require mass at a critical point, it needs to be rapid and deliberately mitigate the enemy’s targeting ability. You need to have a plan to disaggregate again before your forces can be targeted or maneuvered on).
How well did your concept of C2 facilitate disaggregated, decentralized execution while maintaining centralized control? What specific assets would you need to accomplish this in compartmentalized terrain given the distances between units?
What is the definition of maneuver warfare? How does it involve avoiding surfaces and exploiting gaps? What surfaces did the enemy possess? (heavy artillery, numbers, and sUAS to detect formations larger than a squad; EMS radar). What gaps? How well did you employ your resources/craft a SOM to exploit those gaps?
Show of hands from the group: when you were told to put pens down, how many people’s initial SOM sought to accomplish the mission through a traditional defense and engagement area? What does this tell us about how well/poorly we train for maneuver warfare at the tactical level in the defense?
Major Josh Burchfield is currently the Inspector Instructor for Lima Company, 3/23. He can be reached at joshua.burchfield@usmc.mil.