Theater Engagement Planning: Bridging the Strategic Concept and the Activity Annex

Abstract

Abstract : Each geographic combatant commander is tasked to develop a formal written plan, called a Theater Engagement Plan (TEP), which identifies the military engagement activities that the command will execute over the next seven years. The two key components of a TEP are the Strategic Concept (objectives, strategic environment, etc.) and the Activity Annex (specific activities to be executed) . The Joint Staff developed formal guidance for the commands on what should be in the Strategic Concept and Activity Annex and what they should look like. However, the formal guidance does not include any information on how to translate the Strategic Concept into specific military activity requirements. This paper presents a rigorous methodology to help command planners think through the inherently subjective process of theater engagement planning. This methodology utilizes an analytical hierarchy process-based computer tool that enables the planner to build a decision framework that incorporates priorities, needs, and subjective assessments. The output of the methodology is a prioritized listing of the military engagement activities that will best contribute to accomplishment of the CINC's objectives. A planner will then have the rational foundation to optimally allocate scarce military engagement activity resources across the theater and justify the command's requirements.