Assumptions--Alternative Plans--Application of the Essential Elements of a Favorable Military Operation-- Testing for Suitability, Feasibility, and Acceptability-- Formulation of Tasks--Organization of Task Groups-- Application of the Fundamental Military Principle to the Determination of Objectives embodied in Tasks--Assembly of Measures for Freedom of Action--Preparation of Subsidiary Plans. *PART III. THE EXERCISE OF PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT IN THE EXECUTION OF THE PLAN VIII The Inauguration of the Planned Action (The Third Step--The Formulation and Issue of Directives) 183 Scope of the Third Step--Military Plans and Military Directives--Essentials of Military Directives-- Restatement of the Decision--Standard Forms for Plans and Directives--The Order Form--Types of Naval Directives. IX The Supervision of the Planned Action (The Fourth Step) 197 Nature of the Discussion--Goal of Planning--Importance of Execution--The Incentive--Conditions in War-- Recognition of New Problems--Nature of Readjustments Required--Importance of the Will of the Commander-- Problems Involving Modification of the Basic Plan-- Problems Challenging Integrity of Basic Plan--Further Procedure Applicable to such Problems of the Fourth Step--The Running Estimate of the Situation--Journal and Work Sheet--Special Remarks as to Entries--Summary. *CONCLUSION 217 *APPENDIX Outline Form of an Operation Plan 219 Tabular Form of the Estimate of the Situation 222 *INDEX 227 * Not included in the limited issue for use in Part I of the Correspondence Course. FOREWORD From the earliest days of recorded history, the facts associated with military operations of the past have been constantly studied. The result has been the accumulation of a mass of information from which conclusions have been drawn as to the causes of success and failure. Although scattered through countless volumes, and nowhere completely systematized and classified, this accepted body of knowledge constitutes the basis for the science of war.