GROUND DESCRIPTION

The 305 Brigade Commander and your entourage, you are welcome to my command
post here at GR 345678. I am Lt Col Javuru Ronny, The Commanding officer 311 Bn,
and I have officers who will help me in the execution of this mission please stand up and
introduce yourself.
The purpose of my presence here is to orient and take you through a brief on how I
intend to accomplish the task you have assigned me.
Looking out from the command post, about 400m, there's a semi-structure house and
through it and beyond is the general direction of North.
From my reference point Approximately 600m, there's a tall tree clearly seen, that is
our 12 o'clock and our access of advance towards the enemy.

Ground Orientation and Boundaries

Sir, I will now orient you to the ground and our operational boundaries.
● Left Boundary:
From my reference point, on my 9 o'clock, approximately 600m there's a hill
almost bare ground with a few scrubs and tree, that is my point A, seen? From
my reference point, 10 o'clock, approximately 500m, there's another hill with
scattered trees and scrubs, that is my point B, seen? From my reference point,
11 o'clock, approximately 500m, there's a hill with short trees and grasses.
That is my point C. There is a imaginary line drawn from point A to point B to
Point C connecting the Left boundary. The left boundary of our area of
operation is a prominent hard-surface road that runs from my 9 o'clock position
all the way to my 3 o'clock. This road is a key logistical and administrative
feature, which we will use for our resupply route.
● Right Boundary: Our right boundary is marked by a deep, impassable wadi,
which serves as a natural barrier. This wadi runs from my 3 o'clock to my 9
o'clock, creating a clear and defensible flank, so we do not expect any enemy
threat from this direction.
● Main Axis of Advance: Our main axis of advance is along the Kanyarugiri
River. This river, while a potential obstacle, also provides a direct and
concealed route for our main effort. It flows from the north to the south,
dissecting the area of operations.

Prominent Features and Ground Division

Using the 12 o'clock clock method, I will highlight some of the most prominent
features of the terrain.
● 1 o'clock: At my 1 o'clock, approximately 5 kilometers in the distance, you
can see a large, distinct conical hill that we have designated as "Mount
Doom." This hill is the highest point in the area and provides excellent
observation and fire control. We have reason to believe the enemy has
established an observation post there.
● 10 o'clock: To my 10 o'clock, about 3 kilometers away, you can see a unique
and easily identifiable stand of acacia trees. This feature will serve as a key
checkpoint and a reference point for our flanking units.
 ● 3 o'clock: At my 3 o'clock, approximately 2 kilometers away, is a small,
elevated settlement. Our intelligence indicates this is a potential enemy forward
observation post. This is a point of interest we must neutralize early in the
operation.
Now, I will divide the ground from left to right and by depth to provide a more
detailed understanding of the terrain.
● Left (Left of River): This area is characterized by a dense, tropical forest. The
terrain here is relatively flat, but the vegetation provides exceptional cover and
concealment. This area is suitable for flanking maneuvers and infiltration.
● Center (Kanyarugiri River Valley): The center is defined by the Kanyarugiri
River valley, which is a significant dead ground. This area is characterized by
low-lying, open
 grassland with limited cover. This dead ground is a tactical challenge, but it also
offers a degree of concealment from direct observation from the far hills.
● Right (Right of River): The right side of the area is composed of open,
scrubland and rocky outcrops. The terrain is broken and difficult to traverse,
but the rocks offer limited cover from fire.
In terms of depth, we have three distinct zones:
● Near Ground: The near ground, extending approximately 1 kilometer from our
current position, is relatively flat and open. This area provides good fields of fire
for our support weapons and allows for rapid initial movement.
● Middle Ground: The middle ground, stretching from 1 to 4 kilometers, is the
significant dead ground I mentioned earlier. This deep valley will obscure our
forces from enemy observation from the hills but will also limit our ability to
engage the enemy with direct fire.
● Far Ground: The far ground, beyond 4 kilometers, is dominated by a series of
rolling hills. This is the enemy's likely defensive area. The hills offer the
enemy excellent vantage points, strong defensive positions, and a significant
tactical advantage.

Tactical Analysis (OCOKA)

I will now provide a detailed tactical analysis using the OCOKA framework.
● Observation & Fields of Fire: The enemy holds the high ground on the far side,
giving them superior observation and extensive fields of fire, particularly from
"Mount Doom." This will allow them to observe our movement from a distance
and engage us at long range. Our observation and fields of fire are limited in the
middle ground due to the dead ground, making us vulnerable during our
approach.
● Cover & Concealment: The dense forest on our left provides excellent
concealment for our flanking force, allowing them to approach undetected. The
dead ground in the middle offers good concealment from direct observation from
the high ground but little cover from indirect fire. The rocky terrain on the right
provides limited cover from small arms fire.
● Obstacles: The Kanyarugiri River is a major natural obstacle. While currently
fordable in some locations, a recent change in weather could make it impassable.
We have identified several fording points, but bridging may be required. The
broken terrain on the right flank and the dense forest on the left also serve as
natural obstacles that will slow down our movement.
● Key Terrain: The key terrain in this area of operations is without a doubt
Mount Doom at my 1 o'clock. This hill provides the best observation and fire
control over the entire area, including the enemy's expected defensive positions.
Seizing and holding this hill is critical to our success as it will allow us to
dominate the battlefield and suppress enemy positions.
● Avenues of Approach: We have identified two primary avenues of approach.
Our main avenue of approach is through the dead ground in the center, which
offers a direct route to the enemy's main positions but exposes our force once
we ascend the far hills. Our secondary avenue of approach is a flanking
 maneuver through the dense forest on the left, which offers concealment and a
surprise element. We have ruled out a flanking maneuver on the right due to the
difficult rocky terrain.

Effects of Terrain and Demography

Sir, the terrain will have a profound effect on our operations.

 ● Effects of Terrain: The dead ground in the middle will prevent us from using our
direct fire weapons effectively during the approach. We will have to rely on
indirect fire from our mortars and artillery to soften the enemy defenses. The hilly
terrain will slow our advance and increase troop fatigue. The river will also pose a
significant logistical challenge.
● Demography: The area is sparsely populated with a few small villages scattered
throughout. The locals are primarily subsistence farmers and pastoralists. Our
intelligence indicates that the enemy has not integrated with the local population.
Our Rules of Engagement are clear: we must avoid civilian casualties at all costs.
We will conduct the operation in a manner that minimizes disruption to civilian life
and ensures the safety of non-combatants. We will also have a dedicated civil-
military operations team to engage with the local population and address their
needs after the operation.
That concludes my briefing, sir. My troops are ready for your orders, and we are
confident in our ability to achieve victory.