Warrior Operations

As we discuss the transition of the Warrior from Chapter 2, their military service, to Chapter 3, their post-service life, we sometimes have to talk to Warriors in a language they understand. This is not because we, the Warrior, don’t speak the “normal” language of life, but because we have been given a new common language to ensure the rapid transmission of information from level to level. So this week, as I talk about transition, I will use the analogy of the different types of military operations. Throughout time, the titles change a little here and there but the concepts remain the same. I will use the Army terms because, well, I was in the Army (and I ran out of crayons).

Types of Operations. There are four general types of operations in the military: OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS: The purpose of offensive operations is to change the course of events in our favor — and these types of operations usually include violence and force. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS: During a defensive operation, military forces will protect themselves, their area of operations (commonly called the AO) and any property contained in the AO. STABILITY OPERATIONS: Stability operations hold military situations together during tenuous times. SUPPORT OPERATIONS: Support operations provide reinforcement to local authorities, both foreign and domestic, during times of need. Let’s discuss how these types of military operations are actually Warrior Operations as well.

Too often we exclude or separate our lives in the military from our life out of the military or that of civilians. We equate our military service with “our life,” always make comparisons to that life and that of those whom haven’t served. But really, if we are truly a Warrior, then our life in uniform is merely a subset of our Warrior life. And our life as a Warrior is merely a subset of human life. Ipso facto why don’t we apply what we learned in Chapter 2 to Chapter 3? If we are a Warrior, then we must continue to learn, train, and live according to the 4 types of operations. How? Let’s break each one down and compare Chapter 2 and 3 along the way.

Offensive Operations. To recap, the purpose of offensive operations is to change the course of events in our favor. Characteristics of a good offense are surprise, concentration, audacity and tempo. So, as Warriors in Chapter 3, how do we execute these characteristics and to what end? Well, first of all, the purpose of offensive operations in Chapter 3 is also to change the course of events in our favor. Meaning we want to take the issues we face in transition such as loss of friends, new employment, new role in life, new ways to have fun and spending time with family, and change the course of heading down the wrong path.

We need to audaciously seek employment or education with a strong but maintainable tempo, one we can get to the objective with safely. We need to focus on this operation, set aside distractions like missing the military, our friends, and our desire to party like we are Rick James in 1970. When we gather all these forces together with the right pace and attitude we can be successful. Mind you, like any good conflict, there are many offensive operations going on at once. If we were to only conduct one, the enemy, sloth, debauchery and poor behavior, could sneak in. So, we conduct these operations at home with our families, within the local community, in our faith, and in our health and well-being.

With any offensive operation in Chapter 2, we need 3 basic geographical things: a line of departure, a direction of attack, and an objective. In Chapter 2, we spends hours and days planning these 3 major parts. In Chapter 3, we need to figure where we are in our education or employability, relationships and interactions with the community. Are we employable with a decent enough skillset to get a job that will help maintain our family, us included? Are we involved with our community, our little league teams, volunteering at the soup kitchen, helping our elderly neighbor mow their lawn, attending town meetings? Are we engaged in our family life, not just deciding what everyone will do to keep us happy but really engaged with them? Are we going to recitals, really caring about our spouse blabbing in our ear about their feelings and how their day was?

Do we have an objective and a plan to get there with checkpoints along the way to measure our pace to the goal and verify we are on the right path? What is the objective? A bachelors degree? Or learning a new trade? Being a better parent and spouse? Write this stuff down boys and girls, just like we did in Chapter 2. In Chapter 2, we wrote it all out, drew it out on a map or sand table and rehearsed the crap out of it so it was ingrained in our head. Do the same in Chapter 3. Path, timeline, checkpoints, objective. And don’t forget, we need a plan to recognize the objective. What does success look like?

During a defensive operation, military forces will protect themselves in Chapter 2. Characteristics of a good defense include preparation, security, disruption, mass and concentration, and flexibility. In Chapter 3, things are no different. The main thing we are defending is our health and well-being, physical and mental. In Chapter 2, we were taught to set up our defensive position in conjunction with other members of our team, make sure we have overlapping security, develop a rest plan, constantly improve our position, be flexible in our set up, and be prepared for attacks of various types, overhead, direct fire, pysops, the environment.

First, in Chapter 3, we ensure that we are working with fellow Veterans, our VA or medical providers, our family, our church, and our community to ensure we are working towards overlapping goals of safety and the promotion of good mental and physical health. We work with this “unit” to be prepared for attacks of any kind; physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social. We set about our priorities of work focusing on health and welfare and never stop improving our position by containing to go to counseling, medical appointments, addiction meetings and by working our bodies like a Warrior if we are able. We must sure ourselves financially as well, spending less than we earn, preparing for that rainy day. We also have to be flexible. A lot of things can happen. We aren’t in a controlled environment anymore. We aren’t in Chapter 2 anymore. When it rains in Chapter 3, it sucks.

Stability operations hold military situations together during tenuous times. In Chapter 2, STABOS puts the military in direct contact with the local civilians to restructure or reset their interactions with their government. In Chapter 3, let’s call it Reverse STABOS, we must be in direct contact with our civilian community to reshape who we are and how we fit into it and the Nation as a whole. Going to the local VFW 5 nights a week isn’t what I am talking about. We, as Warriors, have a great amount to offer our community. Find out where you are needed. Be a Little League assistant coach. You know how to put together a team. It lets you make a good impression on our youth and it puts you out there with the local peeps.

Support operations provide reinforcement to local authorities, both foreign and domestic, during times of need in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, we need to continue these operations through things like participating in Town Halls so we are involved in our government. Being part of a neighborhood watch, local CERT team, giving blood are all examples of this support to local authorities. It’s way better than having to go to your Team Leader’s house because it’s his kid’s birthday this weekend and you are “part of his family now.” Ugh. Being part of these local groups in support of our town, county, state or region is also a great way to meet like-minded people who you just might enjoy hanging out with.

In summary, be audacious and bold in your actions, protect your health and welfare, interact with the indigenous population and work within your community to make it better. Have a plan Boy Scout! But remember, the plan is only good until you start to execute it. Be flexible in your path but always move towards the objective.

So, as we wrap it up this week just after the Superbowl, remember, offense wins games but defense wins championships. Stability and support wins the hearts and minds!

—SGM DTB—