Copy of Marine Corps Gazette July 1971

[slapout9]

I just heard Ken say "METT-TC".

Yep!



The author also talks about a sense-evaluate-decide-act process.....which sounds like OODA before OODA?

[Ken White]

Yep!

he did...

The author also talks about a sense-evaluate-decide-act process.....which sounds like OODA before OODA?

A lot of people were doing OODA long before OODA -- before Boyd was born, in fact...

The really good fighters who did that combined 'sense' and 'evaluate' almost seamlessly and acted before their opponents. It's a trait, can't be taught. Boyd did that, with OODA, he just tried to tell people how he thought he did it...

[gute]

Can not stay long to day. That is a great idea gute..... Commando units in the Boer War were pretty much what we would call Cavalry units in the USA but what makes that method of organization useful IMO was that there was no set size of the unit, the size was based on the operating environment. The units could be rather small or they could be rather large. Gotta go for now.

Call the organization a troop - it has a Hqs element, infantry platoon, scout platoon and heavy weapons platoon (based on the units of the IBCT). This troop can opertate as a two-platoon company or a four section search and attack troop. The organization can operate mounted and dismounted, arms room concept for support weapons M240, M320, M224, M2, MK19, Javelin, TOW, etc. The battalion or "battle group" would have 3-5 of these troops plus the STA company, FA battery, aviation company and support company. The troops would be capable of C2 over 1-2 more platoons/sections depending on METT-TC.

[gute]

If one goes back and takes a look at Colonel Odom's article about small units, you will some some similarities to this ""Search & Attack" battalion.