METT‐TC
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It’s time to take command and start analyzing the situation…
METT-TC is a mnemonic used by the United States Army to help commanders remember and prioritize what to analyze during the planning phase of any operation. This site will take you through all 6 factors of METT-TC, and discuss them in detail. This site will also provide you with an abundance of other information such as troop leading procedures, land navigation skills, and operation order structure.
After receiving an essential task and purpose, either in a warning order or the OPORD, the platoon leader can then begin the analysis of his own mission. He may use a refined product to better visualize the interrelationships of the terrain, the enemy, and friendly forces. These may include a MCOO and/or the situational template (SITEMP), if available. The platoon leader’s goal in this analysis is to clarify what the scout platoon is to accomplish and why the platoon must accomplish it. Key considerations in the analysis include the following:
- What is my task and purpose for this operation?
- What is the commander’s intent?
- What are the specified tasks for the operation (those that the commander stated must be accomplished)? (NOTE: In the OPORD, these tasks are outlined in paragraph 3, which comprises the commander’s intent, concept of the operation, tasks to subordinate units, and coordinating instructions.)
- What are the implied tasks for the operation? These are other tasks, not specifically noted by the commander, that must be accomplished during the operation.
- What are the essential tasks for the operation? These are all tasks, both specified and implied, that are absolutely required to ensure mission success.
The platoon leader’s analysis of the enemy situation should focus on the areas outlined in FM 71-1 (doctrinal analysis and objectives, composition and disposition, capabilities, weaknesses, anticipated COAs, and factors that can influence these COAs). The analysis can focus on the following considerations:
- What types of enemy units is the platoon up against?
- Where are these units?
- What is the enemy doing?
- How strong is he?
- What kind of equipment does he have?
- What are his capabilities and weaknesses?
- Where is he vulnerable?
- Where are his kill zones and fire sacks?
- What are the enemy’s intentions, doctrinal objectives, and most probable COA(s)?
- What can he do in response to friendly actions?
The platoon leader analyzes the terrain using the factors of OAKOC: observation and fields of fire; avenues of approach; key terrain; obstacles; and cover and concealment.
The platoon leader’s analysis of troops available for an operation includes an assessment of the platoon’s vehicles and equipment. Considerations in the analysis include the following:
- What is the present condition of the platoon’s soldiers, vehicles, and equipment?
- What is the supply status of ammunition, fuel, and other necessary items?
- What is the state of training of the platoon?
- What is the state of morale?
- How much sleep have the men had?
- How much sleep can they get before and during the operation?
- Does the platoon need any additional equipment to support or accomplish its mission?
- What attachments does the platoon have (or require) to accomplish its mission?
- How many OPs (mounted/dismounted) can be manned with the available assets?
- How big a frontage can be covered with the available assets?
The platoon leader’s analysis of the time available for an operation begins with the “one-third/two-thirds” rule of planning and preparation discussed earlier in this section. This principle allows the platoon leader to use one-third of planning and preparation time himself, then to allocate the remaining two-third to subordinates. Additional considerations in the analysis should include the following:
- How much time is available to plan and conduct reconnaissance?
- How much time is available for rearming, refueling, and resupply?
- How long will it take the platoon to move to planned OPs, to the line of departure (LD), and/or to the objective?
- Is there enough time for rehearsals?
- How much time is available to the enemy for the activities listed in the previous items?
- How does the potential enemy timeline for planning and preparation compare with that developed for friendly forces?
In his analysis of how the platoon will handle situations involving civilians (including stability and support operations), the platoon leader should assess the following considerations:
- What are the applicable rules of engagement (ROE) and/or rules of interaction (ROI)?
- What procedures and guidelines will the platoon use in dealing with refugees, prisoners, and other civilians?
- Will the platoon be working with civilian organizations, such as governmental agencies, private groups, or the media?
- Will the platoon be tasked to conduct stability operations (such as peace operations or noncombatant evacuation) or support operations (such as humanitarian or environmental assistance)?
These continue until your mission ends, when you receive a fragmentary order, or a new warning order or operation order. Once you receive a new mission, the TLP start again.
- Receive the mission
- Issue a warning order (WARNO)
- Make a tentative plan
- Start necessary movement
- Reconnoiter
- Complete the plan
- Issue the completed plan
- Supervise
Steps 1 and 2 are completed in order, but steps 3-7 are not required to follow that sequence. Step 8 should be done throughout the whole process. Many of the steps can be completed at the same time. While in combat, you may not have enough time to go into much detail with each step, but the procedure must still be used to make sure nothing was left out. Your plan may adjust as new information is gained.
Hill - A hill is an area of high ground. From a hilltop, the ground slopes down in all directions. A map shows a hill by contour lines forming concentric circles. The inside of the smallest closed circle is the hilltop.
Saddle - A saddle is a dip or low point between two area of higher ground. A saddle is not necessarily the lower ground between two hilltops – it may be simply a dip or break along a level ridge crest. If you are in a saddle, you see high ground in two opposite directions and lower ground in the other two directions. Contour lines for a saddle normally resemble an hour glass.
Valley - A valley is a stretched-out groove in the land, usually formed by streams or rivers. A valley begins with high ground on three sides, and usually has a course of running water through it. If you are standing in a valley, three directions offer high ground, while the fourth direction offers low ground. Depending on the valley size and where you are standing, you may not see high ground in the third direction, but water flows from higher ground to lower ground. Contour lines forming a valley are either U-shaped or V-shaped. To determine the direction the water is flowing, look at the contour lines. The closed end of the contour line (U or V) always point upstream towards the high ground.
Ridge - A ridge is a sloping line of high ground. If you are standing on the centerline of a ridge, you will normally have low ground in three directions and high ground in one direction with varying degrees of slope. If you cross a ridge at right angles, you will climb steeply to the crest and then descend steeply to the base. When you move across the path of a ridge, depending on the location, you may find either an almost unnoticeable slope or a very obvious incline. Contour lines forming a ridge tend to be U-shaped or V-shaped. The closed end of the contour line points away from high ground.
Depression - A depression is a low point in the ground or a sinkhole. It could be an area of low ground surrounded by higher ground in all directions, or simply a hole in the ground. A map usually shows only depressions that are equal to or greater than the contour interval. Depressions are represented by closed contour lines that have tick marks pointing towards the low ground.
Draw - A draw is a less developed stream course than a valley. A draw offers no level ground and, therefore little or no maneuvering rooms while in its confines. If you are standing in a draw, the ground slopes upwards in three directions and downward in the other direction. The contour lines depicting a draw are U-shaped or V-shaped, pointing toward high ground.
Spur - A spur is a short, continuous sloping line of higher ground, normally jutting out from the side of a ridge. A spur is often formed by two rough parallel streams, which cut draws down the side of a ridge. The ground slopes down in three directions and up in one direction. Contour lines on a map depict a spur with the U or V pointing away from the high ground.
Cliff - A cliff is a vertical or near-vertical feature. It is an abrupt change of the land’s elevation. When a slope is so steep that the contour lines converge into one “carrying” contour of contours, this last contour line has tick marks pointing toward low ground. Contour line very close together or touching each other also indicate cliffs.
Cut - A cut is a man-made feature that results from cutting through raised ground, usually to form a level bed for a road or railroad track. Cuts are shown on a map when they are at least ten feet high. They are drawn with a contour line along the cut line. This contour line extends the length of the cut and has tick marks from the cut line to the roadbed, if the map permits this level of detail.
Fill - A fill is a man-made feature that results from filling a low area, usually to for a level bed for a road or railroad track. Fills are shown on a map when they are at least ten feet high. They are drawn with a contour line along the fill line. This contour line extends the length of the filled area and has tick marks that point toward the lower ground. If the map scale permits, the length of the fill’s tick marks are drawn to scale and extend from the base line of the fill symbol.
- Enemy Forces
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- Enemy’s Composition, Disposition, Strength: (SALUTE) Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time observed, Equipment
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- Enemy’s Capabilities & Limitations: (DRAW-DG) Defend, Reinforce, Attack, Withdraw, Delay, Gas
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- Enemy’s Most Likely Course Of Action (EMLCOA)
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- Friendly Forces
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- Higher’s Mission & Intent
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- Adjacent Units
- a. North/South/East/West
- b. Same Echelon
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- Supporting
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- Attachments/Detachment
Who, What, Where, When, and (most importantly) Why?
- Commander's Intent
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- Center of Gravity
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- Critical Vulnerability
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- Exploitation Plan
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- Desired Endstate
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- Concept of the Operations
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- Scheme of Maneuver
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- Fire Support Plan
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- Tasks
- Coordinating Instructions
(previously known as service support)
A. Administration – “Bad Guys & Bandages”: EPW & Casevac Plans B. Logistics – “Beans, Bullets, & Batteries”: Chow, Ammo, Supply, Comms, Pyro, etc.
(previously known as command & signal)
A. Signal
- Primary
- Secondary
B. Command
- Location of Key Leaders
- Succession of Command