Five-Step Sequence

6-148. FM 3-90-1 discusses executing all four offensive tasks in a five-step sequence, listed below. This sequence is for discussion purposes only and is not the only way of conducting offensive tasks. Execution of offensive tasks tends to overlap each other during the conduct of offensive actions. Normally the first three of these steps are shaping operations or supporting efforts, while the maneuver step is the decisive operation or main effort. Follow through is normally a sequel or a branch to the plan based on the current situation. Refer to FM 3-90-1 for additional information on the following five-step sequence:

Step 1, Gain and Maintain Enemy Contact

6-149. The advance guard focuses on identifying the enemy's composition, strength, and dispositions. The forces provide the commander with combat information. The commander can then maneuver his units to positions of advantage to commit friendly forces under optimal conditions.

Step 2, Disrupt the Enemy

6-150. On contact, the advance guard maneuvers to disrupt or defeat the enemy to prevent him from conducting a spoiling attack or organizing a coherent defense. The advance guard commander gathers as much information as possible about the enemy's dispositions, composition, strengths, capabilities, and probable course(s) of action.

Step 3, Fix the Enemy

6-151. The advance guard prevents the enemy from maneuvering against the main body. If unable to defeat the enemy, the advance guard reports the enemy strength and disposition and establishes a base of fire for the subsequent attack by the main body.

Step 4, Maneuver

6-152. If the advance guard cannot defeat the enemy with a flank or frontal attack, the commander quickly maneuvers his main body to attack. The commander attempts to defeat the enemy while still maintaining the momentum of his advance. The main body commander resumes the movement to contact after a successful attack. The intent is to deliver an assault before the enemy can deploy or reinforce their engaged forces.

Step 5, Follow Through

6-153. The unit transitions back to a movement to contact and continue to advance if the enemy is defeated. The movement to contact terminates when the unit reaches its final objective or limit of advance; otherwise, it must transition to another offensive or defensive task.

S

A

6-154. Search and attack is a technique for conducting a movement to contact that shares many of the characteristics of an area security mission (FM 3-90-1). The BCT conducts a search and attack to destroy enemy forces, deny the enemy certain areas, protect the force, or collect information. Although the battalion is the echelon, that usually conducts a search and attack, the BCT assists its subordinate battalions by ensuring

the availability of indirect fires and other support. Refer to FM 3-21.20 or FM 3-90-1 for detailed information on conducting a search and attack.

C

S

6-155. Cordon and search is a technique of conducting a movement to contact that involves isolating a target area and searching suspected locations within that target area to capture or destroy possible enemy forces and contraband (FM 3-90-1). The BCT normally assigns a cordon and search mission to a battalion. The BCT supports the cordon and search by conducting shaping operations and providing additional resources to the unit conducting the cordon and search. A cordon and search may support site exploitation (see ATP 3-90.15). Refer to FM 3-21.20 or ATP 3.06.20 for detailed information on conducting a cordon and search.

ATTACK

6-156. An attack is an offensive task that destroys or defeats enemy forces, seizes and secures terrain, or both (ADRP 3-90). Although an attack may be a deliberate operation or a hasty operation, both synchronize all available warfighting functions to defeat the enemy. The main difference between a hasty and a deliberate operation is preparation and planning time.

6-157. The key difference between a movement to contact and an attack is the amount of information known about the enemy. Information enables the commander to have more control, to better synchronize the operation, and to employ combat power more effectively than in a movement to contact. The commander has the advantage of being extremely deliberate and refined in task organization, assignment of tactical mission tasks, and the scheme of maneuver.

6-158. The BCT executes subordinate forms of the attack to achieve different results. These subordinate forms of the attack have special purposes and include the ambush, counterattack, demonstration, feint, raid, and spoiling attack. The commander’s intent and the mission variables of METT-TC determine the specific attack form. The commander can conduct these forms of attack, except for a raid, as a hasty or a deliberate operation. Refer to FM 3-90-1 for additional information on each subordinate form of the attack.

O

F

6-159. The BCT commander determines the scheme of maneuver and task organizes the force to give each subordinate unit the combat power to accomplish its assigned missions. The commander normally organizes the force into a security force, a main body, and a reserve. The commander completes any changes in task organization early in the process to allow subordinate units to conduct rehearsals with their attached and supporting elements.

Security Forces

6-160. The BCT executes most attacks while in contact with the enemy which reduces the requirement for a separate forward security force. The commander commits security forces during an attack only if the attack is likely to uncover one or more flanks or the rear of the attacking force as it advances. The commander designates a flank or rear security force and assigns it a guard or screen mission depending on METT-TC.

Main Body

6-161. The BCT commander allocates forces based on the assigned tasks, the terrain, and the size of the enemy force that each avenue of approach can support (probable force ratio). The BCT attacks to destroy enemy forces or to seize key terrain. The scheme of maneuver identifies the decisive operation. During the course of the attack, the unit(s) executing the decisive operation may change based upon conditions or plans. 6-162. Maintaining mobility in an attack is critical. The assistant brigade engineer officer must plan and allocate mobility resources to the main body and security forces. The commander designates a breach, assault, and support force as the initial decisive operation if he anticipates or has identified the need to conduct a breach during the attack. The breaching fundamentals applied to ensure success when breaching against a

defending enemy are suppress, obscure, secure, reduce, and assault (described by the memory aid SOSRA). These obstacle reduction fundamentals always apply, but they may vary based on METT-TC. The commander isolates and secures the breach area, breaches the enemy’s defensive obstacles, seizes the point of penetration, and rapidly passes through follow-on forces to continue the attack. (Refer to ATTP 3-90.4 for additional information.)

6-163. The commander arranges forces in-depth and designates a reserve. The commander controls the field artillery battalion, long-range fire support systems, and any breaching assets to retain flexibility until he can identify the point of breach. The commander focuses all available resources to support achievement of the decisive operation.

6-164. The commander designates subordinate units to conduct shaping operations for the execution of the decisive operation. The commander allocates only the combat power needed to accomplish the missions since he cannot employ overwhelming combat power everywhere. Shaping operations disrupt enemy defensive preparations through aggressive combat patrolling, feints, limited-objective attacks, harassing indirect fires, and air strikes. The commander uses shaping operations to isolate the enemy and destroy the enemy’s ability to mutually support or reinforce his positions. (See figures 6-12 and 6-13, page 6-36.)

Figure 6-13. Organization of forces for the assault

Reserve

6-165. A reserve is that portion of a body of troops, which is withheld from action at the beginning of an engagement, in order to be available for a decisive movement (ADRP 3-90). The reserve is not a committed force, and is not used as a follow and support force or a follow and assume force. The commander uses the reserve to exploit success, to defeat enemy counterattacks, or to restore momentum to a stalled attack. 6-166. Once committed, the reserve’s actions normally become or reinforce the BCTs decisive operation. The commander makes every effort to reconstitute another reserve from units made available by the revised situation. Often a commander’s most difficult and important decision concerns the time, place, and conditions for committing the reserve.

6-167. In an attack, the commander prioritizes the positioning of the reserve to reinforce the success of the decisive operation, then to counter enemy counterattacks. The reserve must be able to move quickly to areas where it is needed in different contingencies. This is most likely to occur if the enemy has strong counterattack forces.

Sustainment

6-168. The BCT commander resources sustainment assets to support the attacking force. The BSB commander and BCT subordinate maneuver commanders organize sustainment assets to support the BCT’s concept of support. The BSB commander controls the sustainment for the BCT with priority of support to the decisive operation or main effort. The BSB commander positions sustainment units well forward in an attack whenever possible to provide immediate support. As the BCT advances, sustainment units and capabilities echelon support forward to ensure uninterrupted support to maneuver units.

P

6-169. The BCT commander allocates resources as required to provide the maximum possible combat power to the decisive operation. Units conducting shaping operations should have sufficient combat power to conduct their mission.