text: Fire Support and the Operations Process
  SECTION V – FIRE SUPPORT ASSESSMENT
  3-103. Assessment is a continuous process that measures the overall effectiveness of employing capabilities
  during military operations (JP 3-0). It is also used to determine progress toward accomplishing a task, creating
  a condition, or achieving an objective. Assessment involves continuously monitoring the situation and
  evaluating progress of an operation. Assessment precedes and guides the other activities of the operations
  process and concludes each operation or phase of an operation. However, the focus of assessment differs
  during planning, preparation, and execution. During planning, assessment focuses on gathering information
  to understand the current situation and developing an assessment plan. During preparation, assessment
  focuses on monitoring the progress of readiness to execute the operation and helps to refine the plan.
  Continuous assessment during execution is essential to adjusting operations based on changes in the situation.
  Assessment during execution involves a deliberate comparison of forecasted outcomes to actual events, using
  criterion to judge operational progress toward success.
  3-104. Assessment is commander centric, and commanders maintain a personal sense of the progress of the
  operation, shaped by conversations with senior and subordinate commanders and battlefield circulation.
  Operation assessment complements the commander's awareness by methodically identifying changes in the
  OE, identifying, and analyzing risks and opportunities, and formally providing recommendations to improve
  progress toward mission accomplishment. Assessment should be integrated into the organization's planning
  and operations battle rhythm to best support the commander's decision cycle.
  3-105. As an essential part of the overall operation assessment, the staff will assess FS. Staffs should assess
  how effectively the joint FS system supports forces in contact, supports the concept of operations, and
  associated FS plan, synchronizes FS, and sustains/protects the FS system. Positive indicators include a
  continuous flow of targeting information up and down the chain of command; availability of capabilities that
  can create both lethal and nonlethal effects; access to the requested type of FS; consistent use of the most
  effective FS; patterns of avoiding unnecessary duplication; civilian casualties and collateral damage; efficient
  use of airspace; and prompt fire support for troops in contact, along with rapid coordination methods.
  Negative indicators include insufficient creation of effects or achievement of objectives, patterns of friendly
  fire incidents, or unanticipated or unacceptable amounts of civilian casualties or collateral damage.
  3-106. Assessment Indicators. The staff should identify the specific pieces of information needed to infer
  changes in the OE supporting them. These pieces of information are commonly referred to as indicators.
  Indicators are relevant, observable, or collectible, responsive, and resourced. Assessment plans should
  include both quantitative and qualitative indicators. An example of a fire support assessment indicator could
  be the speed with which important information is communicated to, and acknowledged by, elements of the
  FS system.
  3-107. Operation assessments are an integral part of planning and execution of any operation, fulfilling the
  requirement to identify and analyze changes in the OE and to determine the progress of the operation.
  Assessments involve the entire staff and other sources such as higher and subordinate HQ, interagency and
  multinational unified action partners, and other stakeholders. They provide perspective, insight, and the
  opportunity to correct, adapt, and refine planning and execution to make military operations more effective.
  Operation assessment applies to all levels of warfare and during all military operations. Operation assessment
  applies during all military activities and operations, providing the opportunity for correction and adaptation.
  Assessment mechanisms and the assessment processes may differ at the tactical, operational, theater, global,
  and strategic levels, depending upon the commander’s pace of decision making and the OE analysis
  capabilities. An operation assessment is a continuous process that measures the overall effectiveness of
  employing capabilities during military operations in achieving stated objectives. For more information on
  assessments see JP 5-0.
  3-108. Ultimately, operation assessment is a process that measures progress toward mission
  accomplishment. The commander may direct the formation of a cell, whose primary function is to develop
  and execute the assessment plan and to conduct assessments. The assessment cell is a cross-functional
  organization with representatives from all staff sections, the SJA, subordinate units, and multinational and
  interagency unified action partners. The assessment cell operates during both planning and execution phases
  of an operation. FS may have a subordinate assessment team or working group that feeds the command's
  assessment cell. For more information on developing and executing a FS assessment plan see JP 3-09.