MILITARY DECISIONMAKING PROCESS TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES
(MDMP TTPs)
Section X. STANDARD BRIEFING FORMAT
13-10. PURPOSE
This section contains guidelines for developing field grade presentation skills associated with tactical problems.
13-11. SCOPE
This guidance is appropriate for all presentations, including mission analysis, COA, decision, and OPORD briefings, as well as for tactical rehearsals. It applies to both the CGSC classroom and the field.
13-12. THE CARDINAL RULES
a. Determine the critical elements to be briefed BEFORE you start talking.
b. Speak clearly and confidently to your audience, not to your notes and mapboard.
c. Relate everything to terrain and time.
d. Do not waffle.
e. A good, feasible concept, clearly presented, has a better chance of being understood than a great concept that is poorly communicated.
13-13. TECHNIQUE
a. The situation and field grade analysis of the commander’s (or audience’s) information requirements, given the situation, determines what information is briefed, not a "standardized" set of topics or slides.
b. Before the briefing:
(1) Organize maps, overlays, current combat power status, and the current CCIR.
(2) Position the audience. Always strive to give briefings from a position where the actual terrain, or a portion of it, can be observed. Ensure all can see map(s) and overlay(s), even if all must stand instead of sit.
(3) Rehearse the presentation, including a checklist of the most important conclusions you need your audience to understand. Have an assistant critique the logic flow of your briefing. Not every staff officer needs to brief. Consolidate critical conclusions. Fewer presenters is better than more.
Average human beings can only remember about five important things at a time. The average attention span is less than 1 hour. Do not overestimate the ability of your audience to understand, from a single briefing, everything you know after working the issue in great detail.
c. Provide handouts.
(1) Create a one-page handout with critical background material that your audience may need to refer to later, but that you do not intend to waste their time by briefing. Provide the handout to the audience prior to the briefing. Examples are weather forecasts, enemy order of battle, projected friendly combat power, task lists, etc. Combine them and do not exceed one page. More than one page means you are giving the audience more raw data information than they need or can process quickly.
(2) For formal orders briefings, provide subordinates a copy of the written order and require them to read the base order prior to beginning the briefing. Allow time for subordinate and staff coordination after briefing. Require confirmation backbriefs from subordinates after the coordination period, but before subordinates depart the briefing site.
d. Ensure all overlays are posted correctly and clearly marked with correct symbology. Ensure graphics are consistent with higher HQ overlay and across all battle staff and subordinate command overlays. Assign one experienced individual to do the quality control checks.
e. During the presentation:
(1) Focus on the essentials. The more information you endeavor to put into your briefing, the more difficult it will become for everyone trying to understand your concept.
(2) Speak clearly. Express your ideas concisely with clear diction and correct military terminology. Avoid jargon, cliches, and statements not related to the problem. Clear oral briefs or orders, like any public speaking skill, require practice.
(3) Speak slowly. A balance must be found between speaking so quickly that you cannot be followed and so slowly that the audience finds it difficult to concentrate on your material.
(4) Speak confidently. Know what you intend to say. Refer to notes when necessary, but do not read from notes or the overlay. After spending hours developing conclusions or a concept, you should be able to talk without notes. Speak directly to your audience, whether it is a higher commander or your subordinate commanders.
(5) Relate your overlay to the ground. If briefing on the ground, ensure that your overlay, map, and presentation are oriented to the terrain. For example, "2-45 Infantry is presently here (point to the overlay), which is there (then point to their position on the ground)."
f. Provide feedback.
(1) Answer questions. Do not allow questions until the end of the briefing. Although not every staff officer should brief, allow functional area experts to answer specific questions. Assign a scribe, other than the briefers, to take notes. Ensure you have addressed all questions. Close by reviewing open issues and any decisions made by the commander during the brief.
(2) Focus. If subordinate commanders are required to provide feedback in the form of a backbrief or rehearsal, keep them focused. Emphasize personal visualization of their unique purpose, their understanding of the enemy and terrain, their vision of decisive actions, and the array of forces to achieve it. Do not allow rambling recitals of specified tasks and general statements from doctrine.