OCOKA - Advanced Terrain Analysis Through a Tactical Lens

Part VIII of the Complete Navigation Field Guide

We are delving deep into understanding how to move across the land in our ongoing series, the Complete Navigation Field Guide. It’s crucial to understand that part of our learning here is to train ourselves now so that we can have more resilient communities during times of emergency, crisis or societal disruptions. To aid in that effort, today we will look closely at a framework called OCOKA to better understand tactical terrain analysis.

The realm of military strategy includes some invaluable knowledge about understanding terrain. One of the most established frameworks for terrain analysis is OCOKA, an acronym that stands for Observation and Fields of Fire, Cover and Concealment, Obstacles, Key Terrain, and Avenues of Approach. Developed through centuries of military experience, OCOKA provides a structured approach to assessing and utilizing terrain to gain strategic advantages.

OCOKA's origins can be traced back to ancient warfare, where commanders recognized the importance of terrain in shaping the outcomes of battles. From Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" to Carl von Clausewitz's "On War," military theorists have long emphasized the critical role of terrain in strategy. Over time, these ideas coalesced into the formalized concept of OCOKA, which is now a staple in military training and operations worldwide.

There is a ton of information you could read about the history, but let’s forgo that and get right into what OCOKA means in military as well as collapse terms.

Breakdown of OCOKA Components

I. (O) - Observation and Fields of Fire

Definition and Significance Observation refers to the ability to see the surrounding area, including enemy movements and activities. Fields of fire pertain to the range and angle from which a force can effectively engage the enemy with direct fire weapons. Both observation and fields of fire are crucial for assessing threats and effectively utilizing weaponry.

Practical Examples

• Military Scenario: In a military context, securing a hilltop position provides excellent observation of the surrounding terrain, allowing forces to detect enemy movements from a distance. Fields of fire from this elevated position enable effective engagement of advancing enemy troops.

• Societal Disruption Scenario: In a situation where societal disruption has occurred, choosing a camp or base of operation with a clear line of sight over the surrounding area allows for early detection of potential dangers, such as approaching looters or other threats. This observational advantage can be enhanced by setting up defensive measures, like barriers or early warning systems, to protect the base and ensure the safety of its inhabitants.

II. (C) - Cover and Concealment

Differences Between Cover and Concealment

• Cover: Provides physical protection from bullets, shrapnel, and other projectiles. Examples include walls, large rocks, and reinforced structures.

• Concealment: Hides a person or object from view but does not offer physical protection. Examples include tall grass, bushes, and shadows.

How to Identify and Utilize Cover and Concealment Effectively

• Identification: Survey the environment to distinguish between elements that offer cover (such as thick tree trunks or boulders) and those that provide concealment (such as dense foliage or camouflage).

• Utilization: When moving through potentially hostile areas, use cover to protect against threats and concealment to avoid detection.

III. (O) - Obstacles

Types of Obstacles (Natural and Artificial)

• Natural Obstacles: Rivers, mountains, dense forests, swamps, and cliffs.

• Artificial Obstacles: Barbed wire, trenches, minefields, walls, and barricades.

Strategies for Navigating and Leveraging Obstacles

• Navigation: Use maps, GPS, and reconnaissance to identify and plan routes around obstacles. In a survival scenario, tools like machetes or portable saws can help clear smaller natural obstacles.

• Leveraging: Utilize obstacles to impede enemy movement and channel them into more favorable positions for defense. For example, placing barbed wire across a field can slow down and funnel enemy forces into a designated kill zone.

IV. (K) - Key Terrain

Definition and Identification of Key Terrain Key terrain is any location or area that provides a significant advantage to whoever controls it. This might be due to its elevated position, resource availability, or strategic location.

Strategic Advantage of Controlling Key Terrain

• Military Advantage: Controlling key terrain, such as a high ridge or a bridge, can dominate movement routes, offer superior observation and fields of fire, and serve as a strong defensive position.

• Collapse Advantage: In a survival context, key terrain might include areas with access to fresh water, food sources, or natural shelters. Securing such locations ensures long-term sustainability and defense against threats.

V. (A) - Avenues of Approach

Importance of Recognizing and Securing Avenues of Approach Avenues of approach are the routes that lead to an objective or key terrain. Recognizing and securing these routes is vital for both offensive and defensive operations, as they dictate the movement and supply lines of both friendly and enemy forces.

Case Studies of Successful and Failed Maneuvers Based on Control of Avenues of Approach

• Successful Maneuver: During the Battle of Normandy in World War II, Allied forces successfully identified and utilized multiple avenues of approach to advance inland from the beaches, overwhelming German defenses by attacking from multiple directions.

• Failed Maneuver: In the Battle of Thermopylae, while the Greek forces initially held a strong defensive position, their failure to secure a hidden avenue of approach allowed the Persians to outflank them, leading to their eventual defeat.

Understanding and applying OCOKA principles in various scenarios can significantly enhance strategic decision-making, whether in military operations or collapse situations. These principles provide a robust framework for evaluating terrain and making informed choices to achieve tactical and strategic objectives.

Community Defense

Organizing and Defending a Community Using OCOKA

In times of societal collapse or disruption, communities must be prepared to defend themselves against various threats. By applying the OCOKA framework, communities can strategically organize and fortify their defenses to ensure greater security and resilience. Here’s how each component of OCOKA can be utilized for community defense:

• Observation and Fields of Fire: Establish lookout points on high ground or tall structures to monitor the surrounding area. This enables early detection of approaching threats and provides a clear line of sight for defensive actions. Organize regular patrols and use technology like drones or cameras to enhance surveillance capabilities.

• Cover and Concealment: Identify and fortify natural and man-made structures that provide cover from potential attacks. This includes building barricades, reinforcing walls, and utilizing natural terrain features such as hills or dense vegetation. Use camouflage to conceal critical resources and hide defensive positions.

• Obstacles: Create barriers to hinder or slow down potential aggressors. This can involve erecting fences, digging trenches, and placing obstacles like fallen trees or vehicles in strategic locations. Plan and maintain clear paths for community members while ensuring these obstacles impede unauthorized access.

• Key Terrain: Recognize and secure areas that offer strategic advantages, such as elevated ground, choke points, or locations with access to vital resources like water and food. Controlling key terrain ensures that the community can defend critical assets and maintain supply lines.

• Avenues of Approach: Identify and monitor all potential routes that could be used by outsiders to enter the community. Set up checkpoints and barriers along these routes, and ensure that defensive measures are in place to respond quickly to any incursions.

Real-Life Examples of Communities That Successfully Utilized Terrain for Defense

• Orania, South Africa: This self-sustaining community has strategically utilized its isolated location and natural barriers to maintain security and autonomy. By controlling access points and leveraging the surrounding terrain, Orania has minimized external threats and created a stable environment for its residents.

• Zapatista Communities in Chiapas, Mexico: The Zapatista movement has effectively used the rugged, forested terrain of Chiapas to defend against governmental forces. Their deep knowledge of the local landscape has allowed them to establish secure bases and organize effective defenses, maintaining autonomy over their territories.

• The Kurds in Northern Syria: During the Syrian conflict, Kurdish communities have utilized the mountainous terrain of the region to their advantage. By controlling key terrain and monitoring avenues of approach, they have successfully defended their territories against various hostile forces.

Practical Exercises and Applications

Field Exercises

Suggested Activities for Practicing OCOKA in Real-World Settings

1. Observation and Fields of Fire Drills:

   • Set up observation posts at various elevated positions around a designated area.

   • Practice identifying and reporting potential threats using binoculars or scopes.

   • Establish mock fields of fire using training weapons or laser pointers to determine effective coverage areas.

2. Cover and Concealment Practice:

   • Conduct a scavenger hunt where participants find and mark objects that provide cover and concealment in a natural or urban environment.

   • Practice moving between cover points while minimizing exposure, simulating a stealth approach.

   • Create and utilize makeshift barriers for cover using available materials like logs, sandbags, or vehicles.

3. Obstacle Navigation and Construction:

   • Set up a course with both natural and artificial obstacles, such as fallen trees, fences, and trenches.

   • Practice navigating the course, focusing on speed, stealth, and maintaining situational awareness.

   • Build simple obstacles to impede movement, and learn how to construct barriers that can be quickly deployed.

4. Key Terrain Identification:

   • Organize a mapping exercise where participants identify key terrain features in a given area.

   • Use maps and compasses to plot routes that take advantage of these features for defense and resource access.

   • Simulate defending key terrain by setting up mock defensive positions and coordinating responses to simulated attacks.

5. Avenues of Approach Analysis:

   • Conduct a terrain analysis to identify potential avenues of approach to a designated location.

   • Set up checkpoints and simulate monitoring these routes, practicing how to intercept and redirect potential threats.

   • Use role-playing to simulate different scenarios of approach, including stealth and direct assaults.

Role-Playing Scenarios for Better Understanding and Application

1. Community Defense Simulation:

   • Create a scenario where participants defend a mock community against an approaching threat. Assign roles such as lookouts, defenders, and attackers.

   • Use the OCOKA framework to plan and execute defensive strategies, focusing on observation, cover, key terrain, and avenues of approach.

   • Debrief after the exercise to discuss what strategies worked and what could be improved.

2. Resource Gathering Expedition:

   • Simulate a mission to gather essential resources from a nearby location. Participants must navigate obstacles and use cover and concealment to avoid detection.

   • Apply the OCOKA principles to plan the route, identify key terrain, and secure the avenues of approach.

   • Evaluate the effectiveness of the plan and make adjustments based on the outcomes of the exercise.

3. Escape and Evasion Drill:

   • Role-play a scenario where participants must evade a pursuing force by navigating through challenging terrain.

   • Utilize observation points to monitor the pursuers and choose routes that offer the best cover and concealment.

   • Practice using natural and artificial obstacles to slow down or mislead the pursuers, while identifying key terrain to regroup and reassess the situation.

4. Emergency Response Simulation:

   • Simulate a community emergency, such as a natural disaster or sudden attack, requiring immediate defensive action.

   • Apply OCOKA principles to quickly assess the situation, establish observation posts, identify cover, and secure key terrain.

   • Role-play the coordination of community members to respond effectively, ensuring safety and security for everyone involved.

These practical exercises and role-playing scenarios help participants internalize the OCOKA principles and apply them in real-world settings. By regularly practicing these skills, individuals and communities can enhance their preparedness and resilience against various threats.

Additional Resources

Books, Articles, and Manuals for Further Reading on OCOKA and Terrain Analysis

1. Books

   • "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu: This ancient Chinese military treatise offers timeless wisdom on strategy, including the importance of terrain in warfare. Although not specifically about OCOKA, it provides foundational concepts that have influenced military thinking for centuries.

   • "On War" by Carl von Clausewitz: A comprehensive analysis of warfare, this book covers various aspects of military strategy, including the significance of terrain. Clausewitz’s theories have deeply impacted modern military doctrines, including the development of OCOKA.

   • "Terrain Analysis: Principles and Applications" by John P. Wilson and John C. Gallant: This book delves into the principles of terrain analysis, offering insights into various techniques and their applications in both military and civilian contexts.

   • "Small Unit Tactics: An Illustrated Manual" by Matthew J. Luke: A practical guide to small unit tactics, this manual covers the application of OCOKA principles in detail, providing scenarios and exercises for better understanding.

2. Articles

   • "The Role of Terrain in Military Operations" by the U.S. Army War College: This article explores the historical and contemporary significance of terrain in military strategy, with detailed discussions on the OCOKA framework.

   • "Applying Terrain Analysis in Wilderness Survival" by the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education: This article translates military terrain analysis concepts into practical applications for wilderness survival enthusiasts, highlighting the relevance of OCOKA principles.

   • "Modern Military Operations and the Importance of Terrain" by Military Review: An in-depth examination of how terrain considerations, including OCOKA, are integrated into modern military operations and training.

3. Manuals

   • U.S. Army Field Manual FM 3-21.8 (Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad): This manual provides comprehensive coverage of small unit tactics, including detailed guidance on terrain analysis and the application of OCOKA principles in various operational contexts.

   • Marine Corps Warfighting Publication (MCWP) 3-11.1 (Marine Rifle Company/Platoon): A key resource for understanding the tactics, techniques, and procedures of the Marine Corps, with extensive sections on terrain considerations and OCOKA.

   • Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 3-21.8 (Infantry Platoon and Squad): Focuses on the tactics and techniques used by infantry platoons and squads, with a strong emphasis on terrain analysis and the OCOKA framework.

   • Field Manual FM 3-34 (Engineer Operations): Offers insights into how engineers use terrain analysis for both construction and combat operations, integrating OCOKA principles into planning and execution.

These resources provide a solid foundation for understanding OCOKA and its applications in both military and civilian contexts. Whether you're a military professional, a survivalist, or simply interested in strategic terrain analysis, these books, articles, and manuals offer valuable knowledge and practical guidance.

Stay tuned for more from the Collapse Curriculum. Cheers.