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Center of Gravity Analysis Guide: Difference between revisions

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'''Friendly COG''': Assess our foundational strengths across various domains:
'''Friendly COG''': Assess our foundational strengths across various domains:
 
'''Diplomatic''': What international alliances and diplomatic relations fortify our position?
* '''Diplomatic''': What international alliances and diplomatic relations fortify our position?
* '''Information''': Which communication and propaganda efforts are most influential?
* '''Information''': Which communication and propaganda efforts are most influential?
* '''Military''': What units, capabilities, or systems are crucial for our success?
* '''Military''': What units, capabilities, or systems are crucial for our success?
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'''Adversary COG''': Pinpoint the adversary’s vital sources of power and potential targets:
'''Adversary COG''': Pinpoint the adversary’s vital sources of power and potential targets:
 
'''Diplomatic''': How do their international relationships affect their strategic capabilities?
* '''Diplomatic''': How do their international relationships affect their strategic capabilities?
* '''Information''': What misinformation or psychological operations do they deploy?
* '''Information''': What misinformation or psychological operations do they deploy?
* '''Military''': Which military assets are essential to their operational success?
* '''Military''': Which military assets are essential to their operational success?
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'''Host Nation COG''': Assess the host nation’s pivotal strengths and vulnerabilities:
'''Host Nation COG''': Assess the host nation’s pivotal strengths and vulnerabilities:
 
'''Diplomatic''': What is the host nation’s stance, and how does it influence the conflict?
* '''Diplomatic''': What is the host nation’s stance, and how does it influence the conflict?
* '''Information''': What are their capabilities in managing or disseminating information?
* '''Information''': What are their capabilities in managing or disseminating information?
* '''Military''': What military aspects of the host nation could influence their role in the conflict?
* '''Military''': What military aspects of the host nation could influence their role in the conflict?
* '''Economic''': How do the economic conditions affect their alignment in the conflict?
* '''Economic''': How do the economic conditions affect their alignment in the conflict?
* '''Cyber''': Assess the cyber infrastructure and defenses of the host nation.
* '''Cyber''': Assess the cyberinfrastructure and defenses of the host nation.
* '''Space''': Evaluate the host nation’s reliance and capabilities on space-based assets.
* '''Space''': Evaluate the host nation’s reliance and capabilities on space-based assets.


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=== 1. Define the Operational Environment ===
=== 1. Define the Operational Environment ===


To gain a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment, refer to the [[PMESII-PT|PMESII-PT]] (Political, Military, Economic, Social, Information, Infrastructure, Physical Environment, Time) framework.
Refer to the [[PMESII-PT|PMESII-PT]] (Political, Military, Economic, Social, Information, Infrastructure, Physical Environment, Time) framework to gain a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment.
 
'''Questions to consider:'''
* '''Questions to consider:'''
* What are the geographic, political, and societal characteristics that affect potential COGs?
  * What are the geographic, political, and societal characteristics that affect potential COGs?
* How do these elements advantage or disadvantage various actors?
  * How do these elements advantage or disadvantage various actors?
* What historical, cultural, and economic factors influence the conflict?
  * What historical, cultural, and economic factors influence the conflict?


=== 2. Determine COGs for All Parties ===
=== 2. Determine COGs for All Parties ===


Analyze the strengths and resources of friendly forces, adversaries, and other actors to hypothesize potential COGs.
Analyze the strengths and resources of friendly forces, adversaries, and other actors to hypothesize potential COGs.
 
'''For each actor:'''
* '''For each actor:'''
* What are their primary sources of power?
  * What are their primary sources of power?
* How do these COGs support their strategic objectives?
  * How do these COGs support their strategic objectives?
* Are there multiple COGs at different levels (strategic, operational, tactical)?
  * Are there multiple COGs at different levels (strategic, operational, tactical)?


=== 3. Identify Critical Capabilities ===
=== 3. Identify Critical Capabilities ===


Critical capabilities are the primary abilities essential for a COG to function effectively.
Critical capabilities are the primary abilities essential for a COG to function effectively.
 
'''Focus on Actions (Verbs):'''
* '''Focus on Actions (Verbs):'''
* What can the COG do to achieve its objectives?
  * What can the COG do to achieve its objectives?
* How does the COG exert influence or control?
  * How does the COG exert influence or control?
* '''Strategic Contribution:'''
* '''Strategic Contribution:'''
  * How do these capabilities contribute to the actor's overall mission?
* How do these capabilities contribute to the actor's overall mission?
  * What would be the impact if these capabilities were degraded or neutralized?
* What would be the impact if these capabilities were degraded or neutralized?
 
Examples of Critical Capabilities:*
*Examples of Critical Capabilities:*
'''Military''':
 
* '''Project Power''': Ability to deploy forces rapidly across different theaters.
* '''Military''':
* '''Sustain Operations''': Maintain prolonged military campaigns.
  * '''Project Power''': Ability to deploy forces rapidly across different theaters.
  * '''Sustain Operations''': Maintain prolonged military campaigns.
* '''Information''':
* '''Information''':
  * '''Influence Public Perception''': Shape narratives to gain support.
* '''Influence Public Perception''': Shape narratives to gain support.
  * '''Collect Intelligence''': Gather actionable information on adversaries.
* '''Collect Intelligence''': Gather actionable information on adversaries.


=== 4. Determine Critical Requirements ===
=== 4. Determine Critical Requirements ===


Critical requirements are essential conditions, resources, and means for a critical capability to be fully operational.
Critical requirements are essential conditions, resources, and means for a critical capability to be fully operational.
 
'''Focus on Resources (Nouns):'''
* '''Focus on Resources (Nouns):'''
* What resources are necessary for the critical capabilities?
  * What resources are necessary for the critical capabilities?
* Consider personnel, equipment, logistics, information, and infrastructure.
  * Consider personnel, equipment, logistics, information, and infrastructure.
* '''Questions to consider:'''
* '''Questions to consider:'''
  * What logistical support is required?
* What logistical support is required?
  * Are there technological dependencies?
* Are there technological dependencies?
  * What are the training and readiness levels of personnel?
* What are the training and readiness levels of personnel?


=== 5. Identify Critical Vulnerabilities ===
=== 5. Identify Critical Vulnerabilities ===


Critical vulnerabilities are aspects of critical requirements that are deficient or vulnerable to direct or indirect attack.
Critical vulnerabilities are aspects of critical requirements that are deficient or vulnerable to direct or indirect attack.
 
'''Focus on Weaknesses (Nouns):'''
* '''Focus on Weaknesses (Nouns):'''
* Are there single points of failure?
  * Are there single points of failure?
* Are there resource constraints or dependencies?
  * Are there resource constraints or dependencies?
* What are the physical or cyber vulnerabilities?
  * What are the physical or cyber vulnerabilities?
* '''Analysis:'''
* '''Analysis:'''
  * How can these vulnerabilities be exploited?
* How can these vulnerabilities be exploited?
  * What would be the effect of exploiting these vulnerabilities on the COG?
* What would be the effect of exploiting these vulnerabilities on the COG?


=== 6. Assess and Prioritize Vulnerabilities ===
=== 6. Assess and Prioritize Vulnerabilities ===


Use a weighting system to prioritize vulnerabilities based on their potential impact.
Use a weighting system to prioritize vulnerabilities based on their potential impact.
 
'''Criteria for Assessment:'''
* '''Criteria for Assessment:'''
* '''Impact on COG (I)''': How significantly would exploiting the vulnerability affect the COG?
  * '''Impact on COG (I)''': How significantly would exploiting the vulnerability affect the COG?
* '''Attainability (A)''': How feasible is it to exploit the vulnerability with available resources?
  * '''Attainability (A)''': How feasible is it to exploit the vulnerability with available resources?
* '''Degree of Difficulty (D)''': What is the level of challenge in exploiting the vulnerability?
  * '''Degree of Difficulty (D)''': What is the level of challenge in exploiting the vulnerability?
* '''Scoring System:'''
* '''Scoring System:'''
  * Use a scale (e.g., 1-5) to rate each criterion.
* Use a scale (e.g., 1-5) to rate each criterion.
  * Calculate a composite score to prioritize vulnerabilities.
* Calculate a composite score to prioritize vulnerabilities.
 
Example Assessment Table:*
*Example Assessment Table:*


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
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== Tools and Techniques ==
== Tools and Techniques ==
 
'''SWOT Analysis''': Evaluate Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for each COG.
* '''SWOT Analysis''': Evaluate Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for each COG.
* '''PMESII-PT Framework''': Analyze the operational environment comprehensively.
* '''PMESII-PT Framework''': Analyze the operational environment comprehensively.
* '''Systems Thinking''': Understand the interdependencies within the operational environment.
* '''Systems Thinking''': Understand the interdependencies within the operational environment.
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== Best Practices ==
== Best Practices ==
 
'''Continuous Assessment''': Regularly update COG analysis to reflect changes in the operational environment.
* '''Continuous Assessment''': Regularly update COG analysis to reflect changes in the operational environment.
* '''Interdisciplinary Approach''': Incorporate insights from intelligence, logistics, cyber, and other relevant fields.
* '''Interdisciplinary Approach''': Incorporate insights from intelligence, logistics, cyber, and other relevant fields.
* '''Operational Security''': Protect your own COG analysis from adversary intelligence efforts.
* '''Operational Security''': Protect your own COG analysis from adversary intelligence efforts.
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[[Category:Military Planning]]
[[Category:Military Planning]]
[[Category:Strategic Analysis]]
[[Category:Strategic Analysis]]
[[Category:Research Guides]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Operations]]
[[Category:Frameworks]]
[[Category:Research]]
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