How the Army Runs

F106 Short Essay Questions Instructions

Purpose:
The intent of this assignment is for you to demonstrate your understanding of lessons F104 – F106 of the course. At this point in the course, you have studied strategic guidance, capability gap analysis and identification, solution analysis, materiel solution process, organizational requirements and authorizations, prioritization, and programming and budgeting. The three short essay questions in this assignment focused on phases II-V of the Force Development and Force Integration. However, as FM is an integrated process. Processes from F101-F103 may need to be incorporated or mentioned to demonstrate your understanding of the FM model.

This assignment requires you to apply knowledge from the lessons and reading materials (Attached).  Instructors will evaluate you on(1) how well you understand force management systems and implications (content) by applying that information into a coherent discussion, and (2) whether the tone and style are consistent with that expected of professional staff work (writing skills).

Following the specific directions for written assessments in the Assessment Plan (Appendix A to the Block Advance Sheet), write a 1- to 2-page answer for each of the three questions.  There is one question each covering the F104, F105 and F106 lessons. Instructors will grade your paper in accordance with the attached rubric.

When answering all three questions, remember that these questions are less concerned with you detailing the specifics of any particular item (getting into the weeds), but are more concerned with you understanding the interrelationships, inputs and outputs, and demonstrating understanding of how the Army manages change with limited resources and uses prioritization requirements. While there are three individual questions, they are very much related and should support one another.

Short Answer Questions:

F104 Question: In the previous lessons, you have learned how the Force Management process translates changes in strategic guidance, enemy capabilities, and input from operational commanders into potential DOTMLPF-P solutions to identified capability gaps. These solutions can be materiel and/or non-materiel in nature. Briefly describe how Capability Developers and other force modernization proponents across the Army translate those potential solutions into the Force Design Update (FDU), and how the FDU creates approved requirements documents. (The focus is Phase 2 and 3 of FD)

F105 Question: Describe how the Army uses the Total Army Analysis to translate validated force design proposals into actionable changes to the Army’s force structure, creates the budget request for that structure, and communicates those changes to the force. (The focus is Phase 4 and 5 of FD)

F106 Question: Planning, Programming, Budget and Execution (PPBE) is the process that aligns strategy to resources.  Explain how PPBE encompasses the entire FM model, is cyclical, and is not simply an action that only occurs in Phase 4 of FD.  Ensure to address how PPBE is affected by and affect the other two primary decision support processes.

**SPECIAL NOTE** F106 Short Essay Questions cover the material in F104-F106 with an emphasis on Phases 3, 4, and 5 of the Force Development process. See the F106 Short Essay Questions Instructions for more detailed instructions and the writing assignment rubric.

Standard: This paper addresses all three terminal learning objectives of the block:

– TLO-CC-2: Incorporate critical and creative thinking skills.
– TLO-CC-8: Apply DOD and Army processes to develop, resource, and integrate Army capabilities for combatant commanders.
– TLO-CC-10: Incorporate effective communication skills.