Grundmodul Militære Operationer

In the module, the student works with theories, concepts, doctrines, war history, as well as the planning and execution of military operations relevant to the operational level. Central to the module is the work of understanding the operating environment (OE), command and control (C2), and joint operations, with emphasis on multi-domain operations and the connection between effects within and across domains. The framework is the battlefield of the future, the current operating environment, as well as the planning and implementation of joint military operations. For this, national and NATO operational planning methods and leadership doctrines are used. In the module, the student is also given the opportunity to reflect on, discuss and relate critically to their own methods and approach to practice.

Requirements

Students must possess a BA/professional BA, officer training on an equivalent level or another equivalent degree. Students enrolled in the MA in Military Studies must have completed the Introduction module before this module.

Intended learning Outcomes 

Knowledge

• Must be able to understand and reflect on roles, responsibilities, relationships and processes in relation to the planning and execution of military operations, including understanding the levels of warfare.
• Must have specialized knowledge in operational art and joint operations at the operational level, including the practical application of planning and execution of joint operations. 
• Must be able to understand and reflect on the unique challenges and threats in the current operational environment which the operational commander and staff face and its implications for the planning and execution of joint operations.
• Must be able to understand and reflect on the role of the laws of war as a framing factor in the planning and execution of military operations.
• Must be able to understand and reflect on the implications of changes in the character of war in present and future operations, including reflecting on the impact of technology on the character of war as well as reflecting on the development of future operational concepts.
•  Must be able to understand and reflect on the framework and conditions for the command, coordination and organization of staffs solving tasks in complex operating environments.
• Must be able to understand and reflect on key concepts of critical thinking and creativity in relation to operational-level planning process.

Skills

•  Must through critical thinking and creativity assess the importance of the strategic context, the operating environment, the laws of war and NATO’s operational framework, and through scientific methods develop new analysis and solution models.
• Must, as part of a Joint Staff, contribute to the preparation of operational-level plans and recommendations using NATO operational-level planning methods.
• Must, as part of a Joint Staff, contribute to supporting and advising the Joint Force Commander in the planning and conduct of joint operations.
• Must be able to discuss and clearly communicate professional issues, solutions and recommendations to military and civilian superiors, civilian partners and peers.

Competencies

• Must be able to manage and develop methods for analysis of actors in the operating environment and be able to develop new and/or adjusted solutions that are appropriate to the given context.
• Must be able to discuss solutions to complex and hard-to-define strategic and operational issues and apply critical and creative thinking to find practical solutions to these issues. The discussion and proposed solutions of these issues should be based on using research-based theories, concepts, doctrines, methods and military history as well as considering the relevant international laws.
• Must be able to individually contribute professionally to or organize and command an operational-level planning group during the planning, implementation and assessment of complex joint operations including the consideration of legal implications.
• Must take personal responsibility of own professional development in order to develop own operational competencies, thus specialising further in the operational field of expertise.

Learing activitties and teaching methos 

The module is carried out as blended learning with physical presence for a total of 30 days, spread over several periods, and with intermediate distance learning periods. 

In order to participate in this module, students must demonstrate their completion of the Operations Introduction Module (OPIM). The module is divided into three parts. First, students will participate in a two-week planning course (Planning Basic). Second, students will attend three presence modules exploring areas of Joint Warfare Studies: the OE, C2, and joint operations. Short writing / presentation assignments will be completed in the OE and C2 presence modules. This part of the course will conclude with students writing an individual exam after the joint operations presence module. The third and final part is a two-week Capstone Exercise, where students will participate in wargames and other activities that synthesize learning from the entire module. In the final days of the Capstone Exercise, students will participate in a culminating group exam. Asynchronous distance learning periods occur between the four parts of the course. 

During the module, students are expected to apply knowledge and experiences from their own practice, knowledge and skills gained in the previous modules, as well as the research-based literature to exercise critical reflection on the doctrine-based planning models used in the module. In this connection, the student is expected to critically reflect both in practice and on practice, on their own and in facilitated discussions.

The language of the course will be English

Key dates and times

All events and activities are mandatory.

Workload overview

The below table show the approximate workload in hours. Students are required to put in hours prior to and between presence periods. Students are encouraged to discuss and plan the workload with their direct primary leader before applying for the course (see also attendance policy below).

Table – Workload overview

Written tasks

Written tasks 1 and 2 are pass/no pass. All written tasks must be passed in due time in order to attend the exam. If a student receives a no pass evaluation, the student will be given the possibility to rewrite in order to obtain a pass. Written tasks 1 and 2 are to be written in English.

Exam

Format: Individual exam to be written in English.

Duration: The exam questions will be provided after the completion of the last presence module (4 weeks to complete and hand in).

Grading: The Danish seven-step scale for grading.

Censor: External.

Attendance policy

According to “MMS studieordning” physical presence at the presence modules is mandatory.

The presence modules cannot be performed online nor will they be recorded. The reason is that the planning elements – along with development of critical thinking skills – are key elements of the module and course. The syndicate work for planning elements cannot be performed in a blended presence/online mode.

Module 1:

If the student cannot attend Module 1, the student is expected to complete a 6-page essay including references and a bibliography. The course director will provide the question and assess the quality of the essay. If the student meets the expectations set out by the course director, they will be allowed to continue the course.

Module 2 & 3:

Failure to attend either module will result in non-completion of the course. 

If a student cannot attend one day of either module, the course director and relevant syndicate leader will determine if a critical skill or topic is missed and what course of action should be taken.

• If you cannot attend one day of any module please inform the course directors and your syndicate leader.
• If you cannot attend more than one day of any module please contact the MMS office directly for guidance per the above policy.

If you have questions about this policy please contact the MMS office.