1. OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
AS OF 10 OCT 04 CDC

2. OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
MY CENTER IS GIVING WAY, MY RIGHT IS IN RETREAT; IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER; SITUATION EXCELLENT. I AM ATTACKING. MARSHAL FERDINAND FOCH BATTLE OF THE MARNE SEPTEMBER 1914.

3. TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Action: Conduct offensive operations.
Condition: Given FMs, reading assignments, and an instructor in a classroom with training materials.
Standards: Conduct offensive operations IAW FM 3-0, FM 3-90, FM , FM , and achieve a 70% pass in
overall testing.

4. ADMINISTRATION
SAFETY: NONE
RISK ASSESSMENT: LOW
ENVIRONMENTAL: NONE

5. REFERENCES Doctrinal: FM 3-0 Tactics: FM 3-90 Company: FM 3-21.10
Platoon: FM

6. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Action: Determine the purpose of the offense.
Condition: Given FMs and reading assignments in a classroom with an instructor and training materials.
Standards: Determine the purpose of the offense IAW FM 3-0, FM 3-90, FM , FM , and achieve a 70% pass in overall testing.

7. What is the purpose of Offensive
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
What is the purpose of Offensive
Operations?
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS SEEK, RETAIN, AND EXPLOIT THE INITIATIVE TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY DECISIVELY.
FM 3-0 pg 7-2

8. OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS Additional Tasks: Disruption of the enemy
Denying the enemy resources
Fixing the enemy
Securing terrain
Gaining information
Achieved by “Aggressive Patrolling”
FM 3-0 pg 7-2

9. THE OPERATIONAL AND TACTICAL LEVELS OF WAR
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
THE OPERATIONAL AND TACTICAL LEVELS OF WAR
Army operational units conduct offensive campaigns and major operations to achieve theater-level effects based on tactical actions.
Operational Offense: At the operational level, offensive operations directly or indirectly attack the enemy “center of gravity”.
Tactical Offense: At the operational level, tactical units exploit the effects that joint and multinational forces contribute to the offense.
FM 3-0 pg 7-2

10. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Action: Determine the Characteristics of the Offense.
Condition: Given FMs, reading assignments, and an instructor in a classroom with training materials.
Standards: Determine the Characteristics of the Offense IAW FM 3-0, FM 3-90, FM , FM , and achieve a 70% pass in overall testing.

11. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENSE

12. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENSE
Surprise
Concentration
Tempo
Audacity
Must be able to define and describe each
FM 3-0 pg 7-4

13. SURPRISE
STRIKING THE ENEMY AT A TIME OR PLACE OR IN A MANNER FOR WHICH HE IS UNPREPARED.
Unpredictability and boldness help gain surprise.
Delay enemy reactions, as it overloads and confuses enemy Command & Control (C2).
Surprise may also come from an unexpected change in tempo.
FM 3-0 pg 7-5

14. CONCENTRATION
CONCENTRATION IS THE MASSING OF OVERWHELMING EFFECTS OF COMBAT POWER TO ACHIEVE A SINGLE PURPOSE.
Attacking commanders manipulate their own and the enemy’s concentration by combining dispersion, concentration, military deception, and attacks.
FM 3-0 pg 7-5

15. TEMPO IS THE RATE OF SPEED OF MILITARY ACTION.
Faster tempo allows attackers to disrupt enemy defensive plans.
Rapid tempo demands quick decisions.
Tempo allows commanders to maintain momentum and never permits the enemy to recover from the shock of the initial assault.
FM 3-0 pg 7-6

16. AUDACITY A SIMPLE PLAN OF ACTION, BOLDLY EXECUTED.
Understand when and where to take risks.
Audacity inspires soldiers to overcome adversity and danger.
FM 3-0 pg 7-6

17. DECISIVE OPERATIONS IN THE OFFENSE
Operational Framework
DECISIVE OPERATIONS IN THE OFFENSE
What are Decisive Operations?
Decisive offensive operations are attacks that conclusively determine the outcome of major operations, battles, and engagements. At the operational level, decisive operations achieve the goals of each phase of a campaign.
FM 3-0 pg 7-7

18. SHAPING OPERATIONS Operational Framework
Shaping operations in the offense include attacks
designed to achieve one or more of the following:
Deceive the enemy.
Destroy or fix enemy forces that could interfere with the decisive operation.
Control terrain whose occupation by the enemy would hinder the decisive operation.
Force the enemy to commit reserves prematurely or into an indecisive area.
FM 3-0 pg 7-8

19. SHAPING OPERATIONS Operational Framework
Advance, flank, and rear security forces conduct security operations.
These elements:
Provide early warning.
Find gaps in defenses.
Provide time to react and space to maneuver.
FM 3-0 pg 7-9

20. SUSTAINING OPERATIONS
Operational Framework
SUSTAINING OPERATIONS
Sustaining operations in the offense ensure freedom of action and maintain momentum.
CSS unit locations need not be contiguous with those of their supported forces.
FM 3-0 pg 7-10

21. AREA OF OPERATIONS ENY ENY ENY ENY Security Operations
Shaping Operations
Supporting attack
Decisive Operations
Main attack

22. FORMS OF MANEUVER
While normally combined, each form of maneuver attacks the enemy differently. Each form poses different challenges for attackers and different dangers for defenders. You can determine what form of maneuver to use by analyzing the factors of
METT-TC.
FM 3-0 pg 7-10

23. FORMS OF MANEUVER Envelopment Turning Movement Infiltration
Penetration
Frontal Attack
FM 3-0 pg 7-10

24. ENVELOPMENT
...is a form of maneuver in which an attacking force seeks to avoid the principal enemy defenses by seizing objectives to the enemy rear to destroy the enemy in his current position.
FM 3-0 pg 7-11

25. ENVELOPMENT
ENY
ENY
Decisive
Operation
Shaping
Operations

26. TURNING MOVEMENT …is a form of maneuver in which the attacking
force seeks to avoid the enemy’s principal
defensive positions by seizing objectives to
the enemy rear and causing the enemy to move out of his current positions or divert major forces to meet the threat.
FM 3-0 pg 7-12

27. TURNING MOVEMENT
OBJ
ENY
ENY
ENY

28. INFILTRATION
…a form of maneuver in which an attacking forces conducts undetected movement
through or into an area occupied by enemy
forces to occupy a position of advantage in the enemy rear while exposing only small elements to enemy defensive fires.
FM 3-0 pg 7-13

29. INFILTRATION
Decisive
Operation
OBJ
ENY
ENY

30. PENETRATION
…a form of maneuver in which an attacking force seeks to rupture the enemy defenses on a narrow front to disrupt their defensive system.
FM 3-0 pg 7-13

31. PENETRATION OBJ OBJ OBJ ENY ENY Decisive Operation Shaping Operation

32. FRONTAL ATTACK …a form of maneuver in which an attacking
force seeks to destroy a weaker enemy
force or fix a larger enemy force in
place over a broad front.
A frontal attack is rarely the preferred
technique!! An assailable flank is
always a commander’s first choice!
FM 3-0 pg 7-15

33. FRONTAL ATTACK
OBJ
OBJ
ENY
ENY

34. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Action: Determine the types of offensive operations.
Condition: Given FMs and an instructor in a classroom with training materials.
Standards: Determine the types of offensive operations IAW FM 3-0, FM 3-90, FM , FM , and achieve a 70% pass in overall testing.

35. TYPES OF OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
FM 3-0 pg 7-16

36. TYPES OF OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
Movement to Contact
Attack
Exploitation
Pursuit
FM 3-0 pg 7-16

37. MOVEMENT TO CONTACT …offensive operations designed to develop
the situation and to establish or regain
contact with the enemy.
Variants:
Search and Attack
Approach March
Meeting Engagement
FM 3-0 pg 7-17

38. MOVEMENT TO CONTACT (Search and Attack)
...is a technique for conducting a movement
to contact that shares many of the characteristics of an area security mission.
FM 3-0 pg 7-18

39. MOVEMENT TO CONTACT (Approach March)
...is a technique for conducting a movement
to contact in which a commander intends to make contact with the smallest element possible. Units follow a general direction and may act as the advance, flank, or rear guard.
FM 3-0 pg 7-17

40. MOVEMENT TO CONTACT (Meeting Engagement)
...is a combat action that occurs when a moving force engages an enemy at an
unexpected time and place.
FM 3-0 pg 7-18

41. ATTACK …is an offensive operation that destroys or defeats enemy
forces, seizes and secures terrain, or both.
Hasty attack
Deliberate attack
Special purpose attacks:
Spoiling attack
Counterattack
Raid
Ambush
Feint
Demonstration
FM 3-0 pg 7-18

42. HASTY ATTACK
…usually occurs during movements to contact and defensive operations.
… it intentionally trades the advantages of thorough preparation and full synchronization for those of immediate execution.
FM 3-0 pg 7-19

43. DELIBERATE ATTACK
…are highly synchronized operations characterized by detailed planning and preparation.
...use simultaneous operations throughout the AO, planned fires, shaping operations, and forward positioning of resources to sustain momentum.
FM 3-0 pg 7-19

44. SPECIAL PURPOSE ATTACKS
Certain forms of attack employ distinctive
methods and require special planning. They
are:
Spoiling attack
Counterattack
Raid
Ambush
Feint
Demonstration
FM 3-0 pg 7-20

45. SPOILING ATTACK Commanders mount spoiling attacks from
a defensive posture to disrupt an expected
enemy attack. A spoiling attack attempts to
strike the enemy while he is most vulnerable
during his preparations for attack.
FM 3-0 pg 7-20

46. COUNTERATTACK
Commanders conduct counterattacks with lightly committed forward elements.
They counterattack after the enemy launches
his attack, reveals his main effort, or creates
an assailable flank.
FM 3-0 pg 7-20

47. RAID
A form of attack, usually small scale, involving a swift entry into hostile territory to secure information, confuse the enemy, or destroy installations.
It usually ends with a planned withdrawal from the objective area upon mission completion.
FM 3-0 pg 7-20

48. AMBUSH
…a form of attack by fire or other destructive means from concealed positions on a moving or temporarily halted enemy.
FM 3-0 pg 7-21

49. FEINT
A form of attack used to deceive the enemy as to the location or time of the actual decisive operation (or main effort).
Forces conducting a feint seek direct fire contact with the enemy but avoid decisive engagement.
FM 3-0 pg 7-21

50. DEMONSTRATION
A form of attack designed to deceive the enemy as to the location or time of the decisive operation by a display of force.
Forces conducting a demonstration do not seek contact with the enemy.
FM 3-0 pg 7-21

51. EXPLOITATION
…usually follows a successful attack and is designed to disorganize the enemy in depth.
…seeks to disintegrate enemy forces to the point where they have no alternative but surrender or flight.
FM 3-0 pg 7-21

52. PURSUIT
…designed to catch or cut off a hostile force attempting to escape with the aim of destroying it.
…are decisive operations that follow successful attacks or exploitations.
…occur when the enemy fails to organize a defense and attempts to disengage.
FM 3-0 pg 7-22

53. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Action: Identify the Phases of Offensive Operations.
Condition: Given FMs, reading assignments and an instructor in a classroom with training materials.
Standards: Identify the phases of the offense IAW FM 3-0, FM 3-90, FM , FM , and achieve a 70% pass on overall testing.

54. PHASES OF OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
PLANNING
PREPARATION
EXECUTION
FM 3-0 pg 7-23

55. PLANNING Tailor the concept of operations to the situation during
offensive planning:
Allows the rapid concentration and dispersal of units
Introduce fresh forces to exploit success while resting other forces
Protect the force
Facilitate transition to future operations
Sustain forces throughout the operation
Staffs analyze the situation in terms of METT-TC
FM 3-0 pg 7-23

56. PREPARING Begin shaping and sustaining operations: Recon Maintenance
Position resources
Conduct rehearsals
Follow the Troop Leading Procedures
FM 3-0 pg 7-26

57. EXECUTING Offensive operations require rapid shifts in
the focus of combat power to take
advantage of opportunities. Sustaining a
tempo the enemy cannot match is vital to
success.
FM 3-0 pg 7-26

58. OPERATIONS IN DEPTH

59. OPERATIONS IN DEPTH Deep Close Rear
These are high tempo operations that present the enemy with one continuous operation:
Deep
Close
Rear

60. DEEP OPERATIONS ...directed against enemy forces and functions
which are not in contact at the forward line of
own troops (FLOT). These operations employ
long range fires, denying the enemy freedom of
action and disrupting his preparation for battle.

61. CLOSE OPERATIONS …where forces are in immediate contact with
the enemy and the fighting between
committed forces and readily available
tactical reserves of both combatants occurs.

62. REAR OPERATIONS …including area damage control, taken by all
units, singly or in a combined effort, to secure
the force, neutralize or defeat enemy operations
in the rear area, and ensure freedom of action
in the deep & close fights.

63. ORGANIZATION FOR THE “ATTACK”

64. ORGANIZATION FOR THE ATTACK
When attacking an objective, the attacking force must be
organized into three main elements. These are:
Support element
Breach element
Assault element

65. SUPPORT ELEMENT OBJ DOG Provides close continuous overwatch.
Weapons are tailored to the mission.
Maintains positive control of fires.
OBJ
DOG

66. BREACH ELEMENT Breaches obstacles. Marks lanes.
Ruptures enemy defenses.
Provides security.
Facilitates passage of the assault element.
OBJ
DOG

67. ASSAULT ELEMENT Attacks through the breach or rupture.
Destroys enemy on objective.
Done with rapid, violent execution.
Note: The assault force must always be prepared to conduct the breach if the breaching force fails or is rendered combat ineffective.
OBJ
DOG

68. RALLY POINT
Is an easily identifiable point on the ground at which units can reassemble or re-organize if they become disbursed
RLY 8

69. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Action: Discuss the employment of weapon systems in the offense.
Condition: Given FMs and reading assignments in a classroom with an instructor and training materials.
Standards: Present information on the employment of weapon systems in the offense IAW FM 3-
21.8 and FM

70. WEAPONS M60 / M240B M249 (SAW) M203 M16A2 DRAGON / JAVELIN AT-4
GRENADES
MORTARS

71. DIRECT & INDIRECT FIRE CONTROL MEASURES

72. DIRECT FIRES Types of Direct fire available: Machine guns M203 AT-4
Close Air Support
Aids to control:
Engagement Areas
Sectors of Fire for SBF
Target Reference Points (TRP)
Engagement Priorities

73. INDIRECT FIRES Aids to control: Group Targets Series Targets
Types of indirect fire available:
M203
Mortars
Artillery
Naval gun fire
Aids to control:
Group Targets
Series Targets
Priority targets

74. INDIRECT FIRES Neutralize, suppress, or destroy enemy forces.
Deprive the enemy of resources or the use of decisive terrain.
Fix the enemy in position.
Deceive or divert the enemy.
Provide screening or obscuration.
Provide battlefield illumination.

75. INDIRECT FIRE PLANNING
Targets in the offense should be planned en-route to the objective, on the objective, and beyond the objective.
Mortars accomplish this by positioning near the LD using the one-half two-thirds maximum range rule as a guide and then moving forward.

76. TARGETS OBJ DOG A2 LD LD REAR AREA AB0006 AB0005 AB0004 AB0003 AB0002