Define the Outcome

Planning to Define the Outcome
By Kenneth Rice

How can planning proceed in the absence of clearly stated strategic objectives and of a clearly defined Desired End State (DES)? How does the military determine its “measures of success”?

Strategic Objectives

“The man who is ready to beard a tiger or rush a river without caring whether he lived or died – that sort of man I should not take. I should certainly take someone who approached difficulties with due caution and who preferred to succeed by strategy.” Sun Tzu – The Art of War

The same strategic objective can bring out different reactions from different people. It’s the well-defined goals and desired results that should drive strategic planning. The ‘strategic objective’ is the political aim (e.g. freedom from oppression, conquering neighboring states, defense from insurgents). Every military operation should be directed towards clearly defined, decisive, and attainable goals. These goals, or objectives, must drive military actions throughout the entire spectrum of military operations. The National Military Strategy “guides the Armed Forces in employing their resources in the most effective manner to achieve national security and defense objectives.” (Joint Pub 1)

How can planning proceed in the absence of clearly stated strategic objectives? In the absence of well-defined goals or clear strategic objectives, planners must couple the latter with the Desired End State (DES) and identify assumptions so that they can begin the process. Naval Warfare Publication 5-01 defines assumptions as a “supposition about the current situations either as 1) assumed to be true in the absence of positive proof or 2) necessary to enable a commander during planning to complete an estimate of the situation and make a decision on the course of action, or both.” Though an assumption regarding strategic objectives is not a preferred method of information sourcing, it will enable planners to begin the planning process. However, in order to begin moving toward a desired end state, military leaders must constantly ask for clearly defined and attainable objectives.

The Desired-End-State

“In its strategic context, military victory is measured in the achievement of the overall political goal and associated termination objectives.” Joint Publication 3-0