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There is no standard formula for a successftd patrol briefing-just give the facts, sir. All of the facts.
THERE'S no shortage of reference material on the subject of patrolling. In addition to the rather thorough coverage in the standard field manual (FM 21-75), how-to-do-it type information may be found in the LPM, FMFM 6-5, the Guidebook for Marines, the intelligence manuals (FM 30-5 and 30-7), FMFM 8-2, the Ranger manual, and the British manual on anti-terrorist operations in Malaya-to name but a few. As a matter of fact, the Marine Corps Association has even published a pocket-sized manual, Small Unit Operations Against Guerrillas. Unfortunately, a common characteristic of these works is their cursory treatment of patrol intelligence briefing and debriefing. Considering the scope of detailed instructions for patrol leaders (one manual enjoins patrol leaders to carry an extra pair of socks and to be sure to camouflage behind the ears), the neglect of this important phase of patrolling is difficult to explain. It just seems to be taken for granted that the S-2 will inherently know all there is to know about briefing and debriefing. This article is based on the premise that when it concerns patrolling too much is taken for granted.
The normal purpose of an intelligence briefing is to provide the commander (the patrol leader) with a basis for making decisions and formulating a plan. The briefing must include information and intelligence about the enemy, weather, and area of operations; it must be tailored to the level and needs of the patrol. The same briefing would not be suitable for both the battalion commander and the patrol leader. It would be too much for one and not enough for the other.
Another purpose of the briefing (not in the case of reconnaissance patrols, necessarily secondary) is that of education. It must be clearly explained to the patrol what is desired. Patrol members must be cautioned to report only what is observed, leaving any conclusions for the commander. While it should not be necessary for the briefer to cover movement to and from the objective, action at the objective must be covered in detail. If a reconnaissance of a road or bridge is desired, it must not be left to an...