Risk Management: An Integral Part of Operational Planning

Abstract

Abstract : Clausewitz' premise that War is politics by another means, dictates that the success of any military operation requires that both military and political objectives be achieved. Joint Planning provides the optimum course of action to the war fighting Commander in Chief (CINC) and Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander to achieve military objectives. Risk Management (RM) is a five step process that identifies hazards, assesses risks and implements controls to reduce risks to an acceptable level. While RM methodology is being merged into joint doctrine publications, how RM should be applied in the Joint Planning and Execution System (JOPES) has not been adequately articulated. Infusing RM methodology in the JOPES and the Commander's Estimate of the Situation (CES) results in risk based planning that refines Courses of Action (COAs) to achieve military objectives while minimizing losses of combat power. This paper illustrates how RM fits into the JOPES and the CES process and shows staff planners how to maximize force protection in every COA presented to the CINC or JTF Commander within the existing planning process. The paper recommends (1) updating RM terminology in the Joint Doctrine Encyclopedia, (2) addressing RM in joint history publications, (3) conducting RM analyses on all tasks in the Universal Joint Task List (UJTL), (4) incorporating RM in the User's Guide for the JOPES, (5) capturing and controlling risks during the planning process, and (6) ensuring operational schemes and campaign plans do not overshadow hazards within the COAs. RM rules derived from historical cases include: (1) Risk is present in all military operations. (2) Accept no unnecessary risks. (3) Risk can be reduced, accepted, avoided, distributed, and/or transferred. (4) Risk associated with the COA should be communicated up the chain of command so that a proper risk decision can be made at the appropriate level. (5) Successful RM achieves its objective.