Produce a Point Paper for the EUCOM Commander to use in congressional testimony.
As a member of a notional Joint Planning Group (JPG) of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM J5), your JPG has completed an update of the Strategic Estimate* for the Baltic Region to get the Commander up to speed on the situation in the region regarding Kaliningrad and provide the basis for a commander’s estimate, and if necessary, development of plans. Following the successful briefing of the Strategic Estimate (where it was approved), the Combatant Commander learned that he would have to travel to Washington to join the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at congressional hearings on the situation in the Baltic region regarding Kaliningrad. You have been tasked to prepare a Point Paper for the Combatant Commander to use in testimony before congressional committees and in meetings in Washington regarding Kaliningrad. The intent is to provide analysis of the Strategic Estimate regarding Kaliningrad.
Below are the instructions for the paper:
a. Introduction. Use a point paper to provide assessment, recommendations, and
discussion points in outline form. It features short, to the point, easy to read text.
b. Strategic Direction. The task is to produce a three-page Point Paper. Your paper will be based on the information from the C299 Strategic Estimate slides, it will be turned in a 3-page paper.
c. Strategic Environment. I have three objectives for the C299 paper. First it is a review of
the content of the Strategic Estimate along with the concepts of DIME, Validity, Risk and logic
(Paul & Elder elements of thought). The third goal is to acquaint students with a typical
General Staff officer dilemma of having to prepare a staff product for a senior leader that fits a constraint format, but at the same time requires thought and effort to select the most pertinent information.
d. Strategic and Operational Challenges. The secret to brevity is to write according to the
Army Writing Style of short clear statements in the active voice and focusing on the key topic.
e. Potential Opportunities.
Option 1: Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic. Follow this format to apply DIME.
f. Assessment of Risks & Mitigation. You do not need to turn in a map or use the decision
matrix. The decision matrix is an optional tool. If you use it you must explain it fully in the
second section of the paper. Also, I suggest it be an appendix to your paper if you use it.
2. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
a. Recommendation. Use end notes and cite your source(s)
b. Validity assessment. You must provide an example for each criterion not just an assertion
that the Option is valid without evidence.
c. Justification. Compare the options in some way to show why your recommendation is
superior.
d. Risks and mitigation. You may use outside sources so long as they do not contradict the
primary source (the Strategic Estimate Slides) and if you use outside sources you must
provide a bibliography as required.
e. Conclusion. Read the instructions and follow them. This is just an example to help you
with a difficult assignment.
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