opponent gains a valuable time advantage. To gain this advantage,
the tactical planner must create and transmit the minimum essential
elements of combat orders within the limitations of the available
planning time. The goal is to give subordinate units enough time to
conduct planning, reconnaissance, preparation, and rehearsal before
starting combat operations. It does more harm than good to present
the perfect plan to subordinates units if they do not have time to
send out their own orders and prepare for battle.
c. A good time plan drives the planning process, and reverse planning
and ruthless enforcement of the time plan are keys to effective time
management. The reverse-planning schedule is the preferred and most
widely used technique.
It starts with the last known action and
progresses backwards to the present (from the time the ID is crossed
or the time the defense must be set up). The schedule includes all
the unit's major tasks-time of the battle action, time to be set up
and ready to defend, battle update briefings, order issuance,
reconnaissance, and initial movement.
d. A sample time line is shown in Figure 3-12. Note that one-third of
the time is spent on planning and two-thirds on preparation.
Figure 3-12.
Sample time line.
3-6. Task Organization and Mission Assignment.
If performance does not
follow the projected course, the TF engineer must observe engineer
organizational principles and the task-organization process to
recommend changes in the task organization or mission assignments.
EN5483
3-14
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