Improving engineer reconnaissance in First Marine Division

94 Pages·1.7 MB·English

by  Banta, Edward D

NPS ARCHIVE
1997.12
BANTA,
E.
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
Monterey, California
THESIS
IMPROVING ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE
IN FIRST MARINE DIVISION
by
Edward D.Banta
December, 1997
Thesis Advisor: Nancy Roberts
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Thesis
B21522
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December, 1997 Master's Thesis
IMPROVING ENGINEERRECONNAISSANCE IN FIRSTMARINE DIVISION FUNDING NUMBERS
AUTHOR(S)
Banta, Edward D.
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Naval Postgraduate School ORGANIZATION
Monterev CA 93943-5000 REPORTNUMBER
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11. SUPPLEMENTARYNOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those ofthe author and do not reflect the
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13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200words)
This thesis explores alternative organizational designs to improve 1st Marine Division's engineer
reconnaissance capability. It defines engineer reconnaissance as a complementary component of the
divisions decentralized reconnaissance function, and addresses the evolution of engineer
reconnaissance and its relevence to current and future maneuver commanders. This thesis expands
on current deficiencies in training, organization, and coordination to define the engineer
reconnaissance deficiency in terms of an organizational design problem. Four alternative solutions
are proposed to develop and maintain an improved engineer reconnaissance core competency
involving both structural and training changes. This thesis evaluates each alternative by three cost
criteria (personnel, training, and lateral coordination requirements), and four benefit criteria
(quality, acceptability, applicability, and maintainability) using an additive weighting and ranking
method of analysis to determine an optimal course of action. Results of this analysis suggest that
creating an engineer reconnaissance section at 1st Combat Engineer Battalion will provide the
greatest engineer reconnaissance benefit to the division at the lowest cost.
SUBJECTTERMS NUMBEROF
14. 15.
Engineer Reconnaissance, Organizational Design, Cost/Benefit Analysis PAGES
90
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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
IMPROVING ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE IN FIRST MARINE
DIVISION
Edward D. Banta
Major, United States Marine Corps
B.A., Colgate University 1986
Submitted in partial fulfillment
ofthe requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT
from the
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
December 1997

DUDLEYKNOX LIBRARY
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
MONTEREY CA
93943-5101
ABSTRACT
This thesis explores alternative organizational designs to improve 1st Marine
Division's engineer reconnaissance capability. It defines engineer reconnaissance as a
complementary component of the divisions decentralized reconnaissance function, and
addresses the evolution of engineer reconnaissance and its relevence to current and
future maneuver commanders. This thesis expands on current deficiencies in training,
organization, and coordination to define the engineer reconnaissance deficiency in
terms of an organizational design problem. Four alternative solutions are proposed to
develop and maintain an improved engineer reconnaissance core competency involving
both structural and training changes. This thesis evaluates each alternative by three
cost criteria (personnel, training, and lateral coordination requirements), and four
benefit criteria (quality, acceptability, applicability, and maintainability) using an
additive weighting and ranking method of analysis to determine an optimal course of
action. Results of this analysis suggest that creating an engineer reconnaissance section
at 1st Combat Engineer Battalion will provide the greatest engineer reconnaissance
benefit to the division at the lowest cost.
VI
..
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I 1
A BACKGROUND
1
B OBJECTIVES
1
ASSUMPTIONS
C. 2
METHODOLOGY
D. 3
E ORGANIZATION OF STUDY
4
OVERVIEW OF ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE
II. 5
INTRODUCTION
A. 5
B RECONNAISSANCE FUNCTIONS IN 1ST MARINE DIVISION 5
C ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE DEFINED 6
D REQUIREMENT FOR ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE
10
1 Historical Requirement 10
2. Current Requirement 12
3. Projected Future Requirement 13
E CURRENT ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITIES
AND LIMITATIONS 14
1. First Combat Engineer Battalion 14
2. First Marine Division Reconnaissance Company 16
3 Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions 17
F ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE DOCTRINE 18
1. Development ofEngineer Reconnaissance Doctrine 18
2. Current Engineer Reconnaissance Doctrine 19
G. CHAPTER SUMMARY 20
III DEFINING THE PROBLEM 23
INTRODUCTION
A. 23
vn
.........
B CREATING A CORE COMPETENCY
23
Unit Grouping 24
1
2. Centers ofGravity and Related Diversification 25
C TASK UNCERTAINTY AND INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS 26
D INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL COORDINATION
27
1 Vertical and Lateral Coordination 27
2. Skill Standardization 29
E PROBLEM STATEMENT AND CHAPTER SUMMARY
31
IV ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS 33
A INTRODUCTION
33
B ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE SECTION AT 1ST CEB 33
Personnel Requirements 35
1
2. Training Requirements 36
3. Lateral Coordination Requirements 37
C ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITY AT
DIVISION RECONNAISSANCE COMPANY 39
Personnel Requirements 40
1
2. Training Requirements 42
3 Lateral Coordination Mechanisms 42
D ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITY IN LIGHT
ARMORED RAIDER BATTALION
43
Personnel Requirements 44
1
2. Training Requirements 46
3 Equipment Requirements 47
4. Lateral Coordination Requirements 47
E DEVELOPING AN ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITY
THROUGH CROSS TRAINING 48
MEU
1 Cross Training With Platoons 49
2. Cross Training With LAR Battalions 51
3 Lateral Coordination Mechanisms 51
CHAPTER SUMMARY
F. 52
Vlll