Military Review English Edition July-August 2015 | Page 100
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July-August 2015 MILITARY REVIEW
m
fa
quo. A rogue actor may target the Smith family and
disrupt all of their coordination. Fierce competition
for move resources may cancel all actions related to
the Smith move. Constant friction by multiple sources
involved in the move may slow and disrupt the move.
Finally, a catastrophic weather or environmental event
may defeat the move. The most likely way of maintaining a state of inertia comes from applying constant
friction to the move. Thus, applying friction to the
move is the critical capability. Looking at the possible
sources of this constant friction, we might consider
weather, distressed family members, or apathetic agency workers. While all of these may apply, the resource
that most directly performs the critical capability of
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PHASE II
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PHASE I
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determine the resources or means that are available to
perform this most important critical capability. The
resource that most directly performs this critical capability is the COG. Thus, the critical capability is a verb
describing the way to accomplish the overarching goal,
while the COG is a noun and the thing that performs
the critical capability. The resources or requirements
that the COG requires in order to perform the critical
capability are the critical requirements. Critical vulnerabilities are those critical requirements that are susceptible to attack. This method can be used to determine
both a friendly and enemy COG.
Let us look back at the Smith family PCS example
and determine the COGs of both the Smith family and
the environment. First, we look at the best way (critical
capability) that each can accomplish its end state, and
then we determine which resource within their respective systems is the source of this action. The source of
action that most directly performs the critical capability
is the COG.
There are several ways that the Smith family can
accomplish its goal of moving the family members and
property from Kansas to Germany. A friend with a
power of attorney could arrange all aspects of the move.
Or, the Smith family could simply hope that agency representatives take the initiative to coordinate the actions
of the move. However, the most likely way to accomplish this move is for the Smith family to personally coordinate all move events. Coordinating all move events
is the critical capability. If this is the most likely way to
do this, which element of the Smith family will perform
this critical capability of coordinating the move events?
Considering Maj. Smith, Mrs. Smith, the children, and
the dog are the resources within the Smith family, Maj.
Smith is the resource that will most directly perform the
critical capability of coordinating the move. Thus, Maj.
Smith is the friendly center of gravity. Now we look at
the resources Maj. Smith requires in order to coordinate
the move. Some of these might be PCS orders, out-processing time, personal transportation, and access to
communications. These are critical requirements. Any
of these that are vulnerable to attack could be critical
vulnerabilities. Perhaps inadequate lead time is a key
factor and thus a critical vulnerability.
When looking at the opposing actor, the environment, we must look at ways that the environment will
attempt to accomplish its goal of maintaining the status