Estimate the Situation

Estimate the Situation

When estimating the situation, you should use the factors of METT-T as a basis: METT-T is Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Troops, and Time.  All of these factors are rolled into this estimate by following this checklist: 

• Mission
• What is the main mission of the scenario?  For example, defend the town, attack the ridgeline and clear the zone, etc.
• Are there any mission specific tasks?  For example, kill the enemy armor; do not lose more than 15% of your force, etc.
• What are the mission essential tasks?  For example, what objectives need to be captured or defended, what is the type of each objective (i.e. touch, occupy, preserve, etc.)?
• What constraints and limitations does your force have?  For example, is your force mainly leg infantry, while your opponent has a mostly armored force?
• Enemy
• What are his intentions?
• What do you know about his force capabilities?
• What do you know about the enemy order of battle (OB)?  Note: you will continually add to your knowledge of the enemy OB as the game progresses.
• Does the enemy have any strengths that you know about (i.e. is he expected to field Tiger tanks)?
• What do you know about the equipment he is using?
• Does the enemy have any weaknesses you know about (i.e. is the enemy entrenched, thus immobile)?
• What are the enemy’s most obvious Courses of Action (COA)?  Note: this will get more detailed treatment in the OCOKA section.
• Terrain & Weather
• What type of terrain are you operating in?  For example, mostly urban, mountainous, wooded, etc.  Note: this will get more detailed treatment in the OCOKA section.
• What is the weather?
• What is the temperature(i.e. hot, warm, cold)?
• From which direction is the wind blowing and how strong is it? Note: this is very important information and should be referred to when plotting smoke missions and predicting how quickly dust and smoke will dissipate.
• Troops
• What is your order of battle?
• What equipment do you have available?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What resupply capabilities do you have?
• What courses of action (COA) are available to you?  Note: this will get more detailed treatment in the OCOKA section.
• Time
• What is the time schedule that you have to work with?  In other words, how long is the scenario, is the end time variable, etc.?
•  At what time of day does the scenario take place?
• What is the reinforcement schedule?

I will have an Estimate the Situation exercise for you to do in the near future, after I complete the OCOKA section.  Should be a hoot, so stick around.