METT-T The Combat Edge

METT-T Seminars 1

Army Aviation

August 2012

METT-T The Combat Edge

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C-130 Flares

METT-T The Combat Edge

Bryan BranhamRetired, US Military

Ohio UniversityOhio University

Executive Education SeminarExecutive Education Seminar

Note

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The following format is not the typical business/office

briefing and should be used only as a guide in considering

information dissemination and task assignment

METT-T The Combat Edge

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DC9 Tail Break

Considerations

There are no small battles in business, just different effects at different levels within the organization

Business is war

Wars are won through winning battles

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Failure flows up-hill

Sun Tzu's Art of WarFive Factors of Warfare

• Way– people have the same thinking as their superiors; no fear of danger and betrayal.

• Heaven– dark and light, cold and hot, and the seasonal constraints.

• Ground– high and low, far and near, obstructed and easy, wide and narrow, and dangerous and

safe.

• General– wisdom, credibility, benevolence, courage, and discipline.

• Law– organization, the chain of command, logistics, and the control of expenses.

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Sun Tzu's Art of War • Principles of warfare – Do not depend on the enemy not coming, but depend

on our readiness against him.

• Unity of Command– He will win who knows when to fight and when not to

fight.

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Sun Tzu's Art of War

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The general who wins a battle makes many

calculations in his temple before the battle is fought

5 Ps of Mission Preparation

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PoorPoor

PlanningPlanning

PoorPoor

PromotesPromotes

PerformancePerformance

METT-T The Combat Edge

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CessnaTakeoff

METT-T for SuccessOverview

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DescriptionDescription

ElementsElements

3 steps to mission success3 steps to mission success

ApplicationsApplications

DefinitionDefinition

PurposePurpose

Key pointsKey points

ObjectiveObjective

SummarySummary

Definition• Mission briefing

– Oral and/or written and provides concise, detailed information and/or procedural guidance for a given operation to specific personnel

• Briefing– An act or instance of giving precise instructions or essential

information

• Mission – A specific task with which a person or a group is charged (1) a

definite military, naval, or aerospace task (2) a flight operation of an aircraft or spacecraft in the performance of a mission

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Description• Mission Briefing:

– Five-paragraph operation order:1. Situation – Identify both friendly and enemy aspects of mission

– METT-T» Mission – specific task/s» Enemy - competition» Time – when start/finish» Terrain – surroundings/environment» Troops – assets; personnel, fiscal, etc.

2. Mission –Specific task/s? 5 Ws3. Execution – How will mission be accomplished?4. Support – What support is available?5. Command and Signal/Control – Who is responsible/makes decisions?

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Purpose• The mission briefing serves to:

– Issue or elaborate on an operation directives– Provides specific information, instructions or appreciation of a mission– Review the key points of a forthcoming operation– Ensure participants know the mission’s objective, problems they may

confront, and ways to overcome them– Reinforces orders– Provides more detailed requirements and instructions for each

individual– Explains the significance of each individual role– Avoids confusion of 5 Ws

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Elements• Task: – What specific mission must the company accomplish

• Purpose: – Why is the company executing the mission

• Method: – How is the company going to accomplish the mission

• End-state: – What is the vision of success

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Elements

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• 5 W’s of Briefing for Success– Who – What– When – Where – Why

Example• You, Good Airlines operations manager, just received this info from the VP

for Operations.

• This morning at 9 AM, Bad-boy Airlines announced they would begin service into our market offering round trip tickets for $69. Our current price is $99 for the same route. We need to determine the financial impact if we cut fares to meet the competition. Meet with all department managers and determine the impact of decreasing our fares to match the competition. Provide me a recommendation, decrease fare or stay at current price, at 5 PM and schedule follow-up meeting.

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ExampleMission Briefing

• Five-paragraph operation order:

1. Situation – (METT-T)(METT-T) At 0900 today, Bad-boy Airlines (Enemy)(Enemy) announced they would begin service into our market (Terrain)(Terrain) offering round trip ticket for $69. Our current price is $99 for the same route. Operations manager will meet at 2 PM today (Time)(Time) with all department managers (Troops)(Troops) and (Mission)(Mission) determine the financial impact of decreasing our fares to match the competition. Operations will report to VP for Operations at 5 PM with determination and recommendation. Follow-up to be scheduled at a later date (Time)(Time) . Identify both friendly and competitive aspects of mission.

2. Mission –Managers (who)(who) meet at 1400 today (when)(when) and make determination on fare cut impact (what).(what). Ops will report recommendation to VP for Ops (why(why) at 1700 (when)(when) today. (where)?(where)?

3. Execution – Managers meet. Operations manager reports to VP for Ops. (how)(how)

4. Support – All departments in company.

5. Command and Signal/Control – Operations manager then VP for Operations.

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Market ShareRelative to load capacity

0

25

50

75

100

mkt $99 mkt $69 load $99 load $69 # acft Rev $99 Rev $69

Bad Boy Air Good Airline Other carriers

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Objective

• Ensure successful actualization and completion of mission, as briefed, with acceptable levels of risk

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Applications• Military

– Daily Operations• Office management• Meeting• Training

– War / Combat

• Business

– Daily operations• Office management• Meeting• Training

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Key Points

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• Analyze the mission: METT-T– Mission– Enemy– Time– Terrain– Troops

• Coordinate with internal and external elements

Disseminate all pertinent information

SWOT

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Tree Strike

Apache Tree Strike

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Decision Making

M14 Helicopter

Check ListExample Checklist

1. Documents In Aircraft2. Emergency Checklist In Aircraft 3. Flight Controls Locks Removed, freedom of movement4. Parking Brake SET5. Ignition Switch OFF6. Mixture IDLE CUT-OFF7. Radio Master Switch OFF8. Electrical Switches OFF9. Landing Gear Lever DOWN10. Emergency Gear Lever UP11. Fire Extinguisher CHECK12. Battery Master Switch ON13. Landing Gear Position Lights CHECK 3 GREEN14. Fuel Quantity CHECK15. Annunciator Lights TEST16. Pitot Heat CHECK17. Interior and Exterior Lights CHECK18. Stall Warning CHECK19. Battery Master Switch OFF20. Flaps EXTEND21. Chocks/Tow Bar REMOVE

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Check List (Failure)

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DC 4 Crash

3 Steps to Mission Success

• Brief the mission– Brief-back

• Ask and answer all questions

• Execute the Mission– As briefed

• Debrief the mission– Paramount in successful subsequent actions– Good and bad points– All involved– No spear throwing – Constructive criticism and on point of improvement

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4 P’s of Successful Management• Philosophy

– Management feels a process enhances mission operations/safety/revenue/profit, etc

• Policy– Management establishes a policy to implement the philosophy

• Procedures– Steps developed to provide standardized guidance to

accomplish the policy requirements

• Practice– Individuals/teams implement the standardized procedures to

accomplish the mission

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Briefing for Success8 Steps to Briefing and Leading Winners

1. Receive and analyze the mission – METT-T

• Mission• Enemy• Time• Terrain• Troops

2. Perform asset inventory/assessment– (select leaders)

3. Form a tentative plan 4. Start necessary movement/ mobilization (initial assignments)5. Collect data/ information6. Make decisions and complete the plan (Lead/ manage)7. Implement the plan8. Supervise and refine (Lead/ manage)

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Leadership Styles• Transformational (visionary/ inspirational)– Assumes individual motivation– Proactive– Team building– “selling”

• Transactional (managerial)– Assumes reward-punishment motivation– Reactive

• management by exception– “telling”

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Considerations• Rules of engagement (regulations)

• Risk Assessment

• Safety

• Policy

• Manpower (economics)

• Availability (current staff /new acquisition)

• Lead-time

• ChecklistMETT-T Seminars 32

Summary for Success

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Receive Mission/ AssignmentReceive Mission/ Assignment

De-Brief MissionDe-Brief Mission

Brief MissionBrief Mission

Execute Mission (as briefed)Execute Mission (as briefed)

Select LeadersSelect Leaders

Questions

Scenario• You, Joan Smooth, are the Director of Operations for Steel Mill, iron and steel products exporter. You are responsible for

ensuring personnel are equipped to maintain export levels and meet competitive demands in cost, quality and quantity.• Your company recently won a large share of a contract for mining ore and steel product export and requires expansion of

equipment and personnel this week.• Your imported mining equipment supplier, Heavy Metal, recently received approval of Chapter 11 filing and is ready for to

provide all equipment needed for this project.• The mining equipment is manufactured in a country, Fair Trade, which is a large importer of your countries mining

products. • In the last board meeting, Jan Legal, your company's international law department director, mentioned import/export

issues were being discussed within the World Trade Organization, WTO, of which your country and Fair Trade are current members.

• The sales department forecasts a 85% market share for at least 2 years since Steel Mill is the largest company of its type in your country and there is no sizable competitor.

• You must coordinate with all internal and external departments for input and assistance in developing a coordinated plan. Marketing director, Sell More, is information release authority and reports to VP for Operations. Finance director, Mr. Bean Counter, must approve all funds needed.

• WTO meets again this week to further discuss import/export issues.• The company board meets today at 3 PM today in the conference room for your briefing and recommendation and will

give their approval for a course of action.• You will prepare a mission briefing on your marketing plan and control measures for presentation to the board today.

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Scenario• 1. Situation (METT-T)

– (Mission)(Mission) Our company, Steel Mill, recently won a large share of a contract for mining ore and steel product export which requires expansion of equipment and personnel this week.

– (Enemy)(Enemy) World Trade Organization, WTO is currently discussing import/export issues, we, and our supplier, Fair Trade, are current members.– (Time)(Time) Equipment and personnel upgrades required this week.– (Troops)(Troops) Coordinate with all internal and external department directors.– (Terrain)(Terrain) Our imported mining equipment supplier, Heavy Metal, recently received approval of Chapter 11 filing and is ready for to provide all

equipment needed for this project. The mining equipment is manufactured in a country, Fair Trade, which is a large importer of your countries mining products.

– Jan Legal, company international law department director, mentioned discussions of import/exports issues within the World Trade Organization, WTO– Sales department forecasts a 85% market share for at least 2 years since Steel Mill is the largest company of its type in your country and there is no

sizable competitor. – Department managers meet today at 1000 to develop a plan and recommendation for board approval.

• 2. Mission ( 5 Ws)– You will brief the company board today at 3 PM today (when).(when). in the conference room with your recommendation and implement the recommended

plan upon board approval.– You, operations department director, must coordinate with all internal and external department directors (who)(who) for input and assistance in developing a

coordinated plan (what)(what) for equipment acquisition and hiring personnel (why)(why) today at 1000. Meet in conference room. (where)(where) Marketing director, Sell More, is information release authority and reports to VP for Operations. Finance director, Mr. Bean Counter, must approve all funds needed.

• 3. Execution (how)– You, Ops Department Director, meet with internal and external office directors, including Sell More and Mr. Bean Counter, to develop an

implementation plan and brief company board.

• 4. Support – All company departments in company.

• 5. Command and Signal/Control– Operations department director, VP for Operations, Company board

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Scenario• You, Joan Smooth, Ops Department Director, briefed the board recommending equipment acquisition and personnel hiring for the

new contract.• Your recommended implementation plan has commenced and purchase orders were approved. Requisitions were let for the

equipment and costs were established based on the current steel market at time of order and subject to market change.• The evening news special report says the World Trade Organization, WTO, is supporting implementation of increased tariffs on all

imported and exported iron and steel products.• This increase in tariffs could increase costs of steel by more than 50% and is expected to have a major impact on steel exporters and

manufacturers.• Your imported mining equipment supplier, Heavy Metal, recently received approval of Chapter 11 filing and may be directly affected

by this tariff issue.• The size of your order and the contract could place Steel Mill in jeopardy of loosing its market share due to the expense of the

upgrade of equipment and personnel.• The sales department now forecasts a potential lower market share if the tariffs actually create increased costs and potential trade

war issues. • You must coordinate with all department directors in developing an alternate implementation plan, if needed, and determine the

level/amount of procurement of equipment and personnel for the contract. Marketing director, Sell More, is information release authority and reports to VP for Operations. Finance director, Mr. Bean Counter, must approve all funds needed.

• The CEO and VP for Operations want an update to the board today NLT 1700 in the conference room with your recommendation. Mr. Good Talker, company Public Affairs, is authority for release to the public.

• Company stock prices opened 5% lower this AM and you are calling a meeting of all department directors.• You will prepare a mission briefing on your marketing plan and control measures for presentation to the board today.

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Mission Brief• 1. Situation (METT-T)

– (Mission)(Mission) Determine if a new implementation plan is needed. If a new plan is needed, determine the new number of personnel, amount of equipment needed and how to perform the contract considering the recent current events of increased tariffs, increased steel costs and updated cost increases expected with this contract.

– (Enemy)(Enemy) World Trade Organization, WTO, is supporting implementation of increased tariffs on all imported and exported iron and steel products.– This increase in tariffs could increase costs of steel by more than 50% and is expected to have a major impact on steel exporters and manufacturers.

Your imported mining equipment supplier, Heavy Metal, recently received approval of Chapter 11 filing and may be directly affected by this tariff issue.– (Time)(Time) Updated brief to CEO and VP Ops at 1700 today.– (Troops)(Troops) Coordinate with all department directors.– (Terrain)(Terrain) Company stock prices opened 5% lower this AM. This increase in tariffs could increase costs of steel by more than 50%. Our imported mining

equipment supplier, Heavy Metal, recently received approval of Chapter 11 filing and may be directly affected by this tariff issue. May have to change level of equipment and personnel procurement which could impact contract performance. Potential trade war issues.

• 2. Mission ( 5 Ws)– You (who)(who) must coordinate with all departments (who)(who) in developing an alternate implementation plan, if needed, to maintain acceptable cost

structure (why)(why) in the contract. You will brief (what)(what) the CEO and VP Ops today at 1700 (when)(when) in the conference room (where)(where) with your recommendations.

• 3. Execution (how)– Coordinate with all department directors to determine if a new implementation plan is needed and how to accomplish changes if a new plan is needed.

• 4. Support – All directors and departments in company.

• 5. Command and Signal/Control– CEO, VP for Operations and Company board

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