Posted on Apr 28, 2020
What are the differences between an operation's "End State", "Commander's Intent", "Mission's Objective", and "Mission's Purpose"?
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I've spent quite a bit of time looking through ADP 5-0, Ranger Handbook, examples of OPORDs and explanation online, etc. Every source seems to be contradicting or vague. I'd like to get a clear understanding of these terms before I get any closer to commissioning.
Posted >1 y ago
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Para 2 Mission is comprised of TASK, PURPOSE, and END STATE
1st Sqaud establishes a strong point (TASK) at NK123456 NLT 1300Z IOT secure the road intersection (Objective) along MSR BLUE (PURPOSE). End state: friendly forces are able to enjoy freedom of movement on MSR Blue and movement and Sustainment are protected.
An Objective is either logical or physical. Do something to (seize, defend, attack, secure, etc) a geographic area , that area is the Objective. A tactical task may read like: A Company establishes a support by fire position on OBJ Steelers in support of B Company. B Company will be the Main Effort and attack OBJ Steelers IOT destroy enemy forces defending that area.
Commander's Intent is how the commander envisions the operation and how it will develop based on their visualization of the battlefield. Para 3. It gets into how, where so far it has been Who, What, When, Where and Why. If push comes to shove and everything changes, having your mission and commander's intent should tell you everything you need to continue in absence of orders.
You need to use ADP 1-02 and use the definitions in there. Doctrine pubs will help you put together these terms in context but they all have prescriptive definitions. This is glue. It holds it all together. This ADP is not only Army wide, but Joint, and Combined (NATO and UsFK). Ive had conversations in graphics with people that don't speak English.
1st Sqaud establishes a strong point (TASK) at NK123456 NLT 1300Z IOT secure the road intersection (Objective) along MSR BLUE (PURPOSE). End state: friendly forces are able to enjoy freedom of movement on MSR Blue and movement and Sustainment are protected.
An Objective is either logical or physical. Do something to (seize, defend, attack, secure, etc) a geographic area , that area is the Objective. A tactical task may read like: A Company establishes a support by fire position on OBJ Steelers in support of B Company. B Company will be the Main Effort and attack OBJ Steelers IOT destroy enemy forces defending that area.
Commander's Intent is how the commander envisions the operation and how it will develop based on their visualization of the battlefield. Para 3. It gets into how, where so far it has been Who, What, When, Where and Why. If push comes to shove and everything changes, having your mission and commander's intent should tell you everything you need to continue in absence of orders.
You need to use ADP 1-02 and use the definitions in there. Doctrine pubs will help you put together these terms in context but they all have prescriptive definitions. This is glue. It holds it all together. This ADP is not only Army wide, but Joint, and Combined (NATO and UsFK). Ive had conversations in graphics with people that don't speak English.
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END STATE: The Goal Line. What the final product is to be
COMMANDER'S INTENT: What they are wanting to do/going to do to get to the Goal Line
MISSION OBJECTIVE: What needs to happen to fulfill the Commander's Intent and reach the Goal Line
MISSION PURPOSE: Why you are completing the objectives per the Commander's Intent to get to the End State.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell. But if you really want to know more...click this link to read ADP 3-0:
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN18010_ADP%203-0%20FINAL%20WEB.pdf
COMMANDER'S INTENT: What they are wanting to do/going to do to get to the Goal Line
MISSION OBJECTIVE: What needs to happen to fulfill the Commander's Intent and reach the Goal Line
MISSION PURPOSE: Why you are completing the objectives per the Commander's Intent to get to the End State.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell. But if you really want to know more...click this link to read ADP 3-0:
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN18010_ADP%203-0%20FINAL%20WEB.pdf
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MCPO (Join to see)
To amplify (possibly clarify):
END STATE: "When the smoke clears, this is what we're going to find. This is what the enemy AARs are going to say, this is what the NEXT folks coming here will see."
COMMANDER'S INTENT: "This is HOW we're going to get to the end state." This tends to be more vague - "We're going to go in with lots of smoke and mirrors to confuse them to minimize our casualties and to hopefully intimidate them into running away," or similar statements.
MISSION OBJECTIVE: I really can't say it better than SFC L did. This is the actual road-map or recipe of disaster to be used to achieve our objectives.
MISSION PURPOSE: This is PURELY amplifying info. "We're gonna take Hill 327 as a feint so the enemy comes to us and leaves Hill 551 alone so we can set up a FOB and hit them from behind." It's that sort of statements.
END STATE: "When the smoke clears, this is what we're going to find. This is what the enemy AARs are going to say, this is what the NEXT folks coming here will see."
COMMANDER'S INTENT: "This is HOW we're going to get to the end state." This tends to be more vague - "We're going to go in with lots of smoke and mirrors to confuse them to minimize our casualties and to hopefully intimidate them into running away," or similar statements.
MISSION OBJECTIVE: I really can't say it better than SFC L did. This is the actual road-map or recipe of disaster to be used to achieve our objectives.
MISSION PURPOSE: This is PURELY amplifying info. "We're gonna take Hill 327 as a feint so the enemy comes to us and leaves Hill 551 alone so we can set up a FOB and hit them from behind." It's that sort of statements.
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Our Scout platoon's MISSION OBJECTIVE is to provide Security for the Battalion attack on the objective's (at BS12345678) flanks and farside.
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Our MISSION PURPOSE is the prevent any enemy combatants from leaving the objective prior to the attack with the additional PURPOSE to provide early warning of and delay any enemy reinforcements attempting to reach the objective.
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MY INTENT is to prevent all enemy forces from escaping the compound and to report any delay any enemy reinforcements from the compound. Our COMMANDER'S INTENT is to attack the compound using A & B Companies in the attack with C Company in reserve.
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The END STATE for our platoon is no enemy forces escape the compound with no enemy reinforcements reaching the compound during the battalion's attack to reduce the defenses of, then capture and occupy the compound.
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Our MISSION PURPOSE is the prevent any enemy combatants from leaving the objective prior to the attack with the additional PURPOSE to provide early warning of and delay any enemy reinforcements attempting to reach the objective.
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MY INTENT is to prevent all enemy forces from escaping the compound and to report any delay any enemy reinforcements from the compound. Our COMMANDER'S INTENT is to attack the compound using A & B Companies in the attack with C Company in reserve.
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The END STATE for our platoon is no enemy forces escape the compound with no enemy reinforcements reaching the compound during the battalion's attack to reduce the defenses of, then capture and occupy the compound.
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