How do you feel about the Pentagon releasing battle plans to public months before execution?

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:16:27 -0500

The Pentagon briefed the public on it's plans for taking Mosul from ISIS in April/May. It doesn't seem like a smart move to me. What do you guys think?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 2:19 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:19:25 -0500

I don't like it one bit. If I were an Iraqi Soldier training to kick doors in Mosul, I'd be kinda pissed off right now. I'm not sure why the standard rules of OPSEC don't seem to apply here...

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 20 at 2015 2:40 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:40:23 -0500

I guess the Pentagon does not have to complete the annual OPSEC Training Requirements.

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Feb 20 at 2015 3:01 PM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 15:01:09 -0500

Hopefully this could be an IO campaign that they are using to fool ISIS. To be honest, without being really critical of the current administration, not a big fan of how they have conducted themselves during this crisis. Wish we could have been more vigilant in stopping them.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Feb 20 at 2015 3:03 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 15:03:30 -0500

I was pretty surprised to see this happen, TBH. Obviously it was a deliberate action taken. I don't understand the sense in it. What happened to the element of surprise being important?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 3:09 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 15:09:24 -0500

Loose lips sink ships... OPSEC saves lives and time will tell how many lives this will cost those taking back the city.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 3:50 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 15:50:50 -0500

Well the administration did say they were going to be transparent. I really hope they have some decent CIED support.

Response by SFC Jason Porter made Feb 20 at 2015 4:07 PM

SFC Jason Porter — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 16:07:34 -0500

So much for OPSEC!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 5:08 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 17:08:53 -0500

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Feb 20 at 2015 5:26 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 17:26:47 -0500

I think once you hit a certain rank you have to many acronyms to remember and the first one they lose is OPSEC!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 5:29 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 17:29:05 -0500

To me, that violates OPSEC. Also, if one recalls, Geraldo Rivera was kicked out of Iraq when he was reporting troop movement/plans.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 9:09 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 21:09:20 -0500

We should not be releasing it unless it is part of a larger misdirection effort.

Response by 1SG Cameron M. Wesson made Feb 21 at 2015 6:49 PM

1SG Cameron M. Wesson — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 18:49:00 -0500

Team,

Let's think about something here. I hear many of you folks talking OPSEC. Check; however, let me share with you that OPSEC is an Information Related Capability (IRC) and apart of Information Operations. So is Military Deception. MILDEC are actions taken to mislead enemy decision makers as to our capabilities, intentions, and operations and causing them to take specific actions, or not, that will contribute to the accomplishment of the friendly mission.

Don't jump to a conclusion without more information... or do so... and talk about it on all forums.... as that may help support the MILDEC operations.

Remember... one of the best MILDEC operations during Desert Storm was that we were coming right accross the border. All the traffic and movement patterns.... even the feint landing into Kuwait... said we were. Then we hooked north and flanked them... the Iraq Army never saw it coming... until the coalition Army was on top of them.

Just food for thought.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 7:03 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 19:03:16 -0500

I definitely think there's a strategic reason for the information release...so I'm not too worried about the release

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Feb 21 at 2015 9:55 PM

SFC Collin McMillion — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 21:55:11 -0500

Personally I see it as a way to get together a bigger group in order to take more out in one strike. The big thing I noticed was there was not even a close action date, maybe April, maybe May, something not right about this whole release. Hit them coming in, going out, or while there. None of it makes sense. Who knows, could be a plan to take smaller areas while ISIS plans for the big one so they will have no place to retreat to, as that little guy on "Laugh In", if you remember the show, used to say......"Very Interesting".

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 1:02 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 01:02:25 -0500

Yes...

Because every battle where the plans were discovered by the enemy went so well...

Response by Sgt Jim Brooks made Apr 29 at 2015 2:09 PM

Sgt Jim Brooks — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:09:53 -0400

In my opinion we should never publicly release our plans, even one second before we hit the enemy. You win battles and wars by surprising them. If they really are going to do it, we need to get rid of the idiot that released it and put someone that understands in their place.