There are four types of military briefings:
-
Information.
-
Decision.
-
Mission.
-
Staff.
Information.
The information briefing is intended to inform the
listener and to gain the person's understanding.
The briefing does
not include conclusions, recommendations, or require decisions.
The
briefing deals primarily with facts.
You, as the briefer, state that the purpose of the briefing is to
provide information and that no decision is required. You provide a
brief introduction to define the subject and to orient the listener
and then present the information.
Examples of an information briefing are information of high priority
requiring immediate attention; information of a complex nature, such
as complicated plans, systems, statistics, or charts, requiring
detailed
explanation;
and
controversial
information
requiring
elaboration and explanation.
Decision. The decision briefing is intended to obtain an answer or a
decision.
It is the presentation of a staff officer's recommended
solution resulting from analysis or study of a problem or problem
area.
Decision briefings vary as to formality and detail depending on the
level of command and the decision maker's knowledge of the subject
(the problem or problem area).
In situations where the person
receiving the briefing has prior knowledge of the problem and some
information relating to it, the briefing normally will be limited to a
statement of the problem, essential background information, and a
recommended solution.
However, you must be prepared to present assumptions, facts,
alternative
solutions,
reason(s)
for
choosing
the
recommended
solution, and the coordination involved. If the person who is being
briefed is unfamiliar with the problem and/or the facts surrounding
it, then a more detailed briefing will be necessary.
In this case,
you should include any assumptions used in analyzing the problem,
facts bearing on the problem, a discussion of the alternatives,
conclusions, and the coordination involved.
At the outset of the briefing, you must state that you are seeking a
decision. At the conclusion of the briefing, if you do not receive a
decision, ask for it. You should be certain that you understand the
decision thoroughly.
If you are uncertain, ask for clarification.
In this regard, a
precisely worded recommendation that may be used as a decision
statement, once approved by the commander, assists in eliminating
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