TABULAR FORMS[ToC]
TABULAR FORM OF
THE ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION
| Section | Page | |
| I. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BASIS FOR SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. | ||
| A. The Appropriate Effect Desired | [118] | |
| (1) Summary of the Situation | [119] | |
| (2) Recognition of the Incentive | [119] | |
| (3) Appreciation of the Assigned Objective | [119] | |
| (4) Formulation of the Mission | [121] | |
| B. Relative Fighting Strength | [121] | |
| (To include only such of the following factors as appear to be necessary background for the later reasoning in Sections II to IV.) | ||
| (1) Survey of the Means Available and Opposed | [123] | |
| *(a) General Factors | [124] | |
| (i) Political Factors | [124] | |
| (ii) Economics Factors | [125] | |
| (iii) Psychological Factors | [125] | |
| (iv) Information and Counter-Information Measures | [126] | |
| (b) Factors More Directly Applicable to the Armed Forces | [127] | |
| (i) Vessels, including Aircraft | [127] | |
| (ii) Land Forces, including land-based aviation | [127] | |
| (iii) Personnel | [127] | |
| (iv) Material | [128] | |
| (v) Logistics | [128] | |
| (2) Survey of the Characteristics of the Theater of Operations | [129] | |
| (a) Hydrography | [129] | |
| (b) Topography | [130] | |
| (c) Weather | [130] | |
| (d) Daylight and Dark Periods | [130] | |
| (e) Relative Location and Distance | [131] | |
| (f) Lines of Transportation and Supply | [131] | |
| (g) Facilities and Fortifications | [131] | |
| (h) Communications | [131] | |
| (3) Conclusions as to Relative Fighting Strength | [132] | |
| II. DETERMINATION OF SUITABLE, FEASIBLE, AND ACCEPTABLE COURSES OF ACTION. | ||
| A. Analysis of the Assigned Objective | [135] | |
| B. Survey of Courses of Action | [135] | |
| C. Application of Tests for Suitability, Feasibility, and Acceptability | [137] | |
| D. Listing Retained Courses of Action | [139] | |
| III. EXAMINATION INTO THE CAPABILITIES OF THE ENEMY | [139] | |
| A. Survey of the Enemy's Problem | [141] | |
| (1) Summary of the Enemy's Situation | [141] | |
| (2) Analysis of the Effect Desired by the Enemy | [141] | |
| B. Survey of Enemy Capabilities | [143] | |
| C. Application of Tests for Suitability, Feasibility, and Acceptability | [144] | |
| D. Listing Retained Enemy Courses of Action | [144] | |
| IV. SELECTION OF THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION. | ||
| A. Analysis and Comparison of Retained Courses of Action | [145] | |
| B. Determination of the Best Course of Action | [148] | |
| V. THE DECISION. | [151] | |
| * Usually included only in an estimate of broad scope. | [151] | |
On the reverse side, [page 224], will be found a Tabular Form of the Resolution of the Required Action into Detailed Operations.
CAUTION. This folder is merely a guide, provided in order to facilitate reference to the subject matter of Chapters VI and VII. It is not possible to arrive at sound military decision by its use alone.