TDG 10-5: Solution A

Possible Solution to ‘Two Birds, One Stone’

By GySgt Ronald Russell

Situation

A platoon-sized force is moving north in three parallel elements. The far right element is on the west side of Route 6.

Execution

Commander’s intent: “I want a simultaneous ambush on two of the American elements from our position in between them. This will cause the Americans to shoot at each other and into the local population.

“We will establish ambush position on the southwest corner of Route 6 and main supply route. Two groups will orient outboard (east and west). Ambush will be initiated by rocket propelled grenades when the far right patrol reaches our position. Bombmaker, use explosives to make a cell phone-activated improvised explosive device (IED) on Route 6.”

Command and control: “I will initial the IED when the Americans have started firing. While the IED causes confusion, we will infiltrate across Route 6 and evacuate northeast using the local populace and buildings as cover.”

Issues for Consideration

1.What is your reason for launching this attack on this ground? I am launching the attack on this ground to disrupt the alliance between Gul and U.S. forces.

2. What does Wadaan want you to accomplish? He wants me to disrupt U.S. movement in “friendly” area.

3. How do your actions support this? Increase U.S. friendly-on-friendly casualties causing possible damage to civilian relations.

4. What do you consider mission success? I consider success two American groups shooting at each other surrounded by the civilian population.

5. What do you want to see happen to Warlord Gul Rang’s area of control? What do you want to see happen to the American forces? I want to generate tension and possibly destroy the alliance between Gul and the U.S. forces.

6. What consideration do you give to damage to personal property and loss of life in Gul’s area? I want all civilian losses to be blamed on U.S. forces.

7. Is your focus on using your fighters to engage the enemy or on instigating locals? I am focusing on both.

8. Assume that at the end of the engagement you have brought down two Americans, your fighters have ceded the battlefield to the Americans, you have fallen back to your area of control with most of your fighters, one child and one woman have been killed in the fighting, their home has been damaged, and two of your fighters have been killed. How can you use this to your advantage? If the attack goes properly and I can force a blue-on-blue incident between the American forces, the local population will lose faith in the U.S. capabilities and become sympathetic the Warlord Wadaan Zarhawar.

9. How sensitive are you to casualties among your own fighters? How sensitive are you to local civilian casualties? I believe the largest risk to my fighters will occur while trying to cross the road during the retrograde. I am not worried about local civilian casualties.