V. H. SHARYAN, Colonel (Res.), Research Fellow, Center for Research on Operational Art, NDRU, MOD, RA

SUMMARY

The experience suggests that in modern wars commanders and headquarters at all levels are required to comprehensively and systematically plan, which makes it possible to realistically use available forces and means for successful completion of assigned tasks, as well as preemption of the enemy in command and control. In this respect, two conceptual approaches are considered: centralized (the RF Armed Forces) and decentralized (the US Army) command and control, as well as similar actions are juxtaposed at the army corps level – mission analysis at the decision-making stage in the process of preparing an operation in the RF Armed Forces and analyzing the task in the mission in the decision-making process in the US Army (Military Decision-Making Process).

Based on the research carried out in the processes of mission analysis and task analysis, we can conclude that at the decision-making stage, the efficiency of preparing the operation will increase if:

• initial calculation of time and orientation of subordinate headquarters in relation to forthcoming actions will be carried out after receiving the combat mission, and at different stages of preparation of operations (decision-making, tasking, planning) a reduction in time will be implemented for increasing the time provided to subordinates;
• issues regarding the assessment of the situation and the formulation of the commander’s concept will be put on the list of main activities on the mission analysis;
• among the activities on mission analysis, the principles of mission command will be taken into account, due to which the process of decentralized decision-making implemented via a single method will be ensured.