DEVELOPMENT OF A FORCED ENTRY MISSION OBJECTIVE SELECTION ALGORITHM FOR IMPLEMENTATION INTO THE JOINT WARFARE ANALYSIS EXPERIMENTAL PROTOTYPE

William Nicholas Allen Slavik-Captain, United States Marine Corps
B.S., Rice University, 1988
Master of Science in Operations Research-December 1995
Advisor: Samuel H. Parry, Department of Operations Research

Abstract

This thesis develops an algorithm for the selection of objectives for forced entry military operations in a theater level campaign model. The Joint Warfare Analysis Experimental Prototype (JWAEP) is an interactive, 2-sided, theater-level combat model based on an arc-node representation of ground, air, and littoral combat. It may be used in an interactive gaming mode or a closed-form stochastic analysis mode. The need for active mission assignment in the analysis mode mandates that objectives for combat operations be nominated during each planning cycle to adapt to the changing face of the battlefield. JWAEP would execute an initial feasibility check for enemy occupied or controlled nodes against the assets available to the friendly forces. Based on the probabilistic representation of the enemy units occupying a node, the algorithm determines the relative value of perceived maneuver units and static targets. This is then compared to the relative perceived strength of the units in that node and surrounding nodes which may also defend against the operation. The perceived strength determines the threat; it is calculated for each force capable of executing the attack. The most desirable node for each force, given value and threat, is sent to the appropriate planning module. The principal focus of this thesis is on the determination of the target value parameter and the node defensibility parameter as they are used to nominate and rank possible objectives.