XV Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2023

The nature and roles of the military services require communication skills that are most exacting. Faced with the need for extreme accuracy, absolute thoroughness, and attention to detail on one hand, and brevity, speed, and almost instantaneous response on the other, a highly specialized and stylized type of speech has evolved. This type of speech has been called the "military briefing". It requires specific techniques with respect to the role of the briefer, to the purpose it serves, and to the nature of the required response. As with the intelligence estimate and the OPORD, the military briefing is an operational tool of the trade.

Brigade and battalion S2s must communicate to the commander, primarily by means of the military briefing. The military briefing is used so extensively that it has become an accepted staff procedure technique. The primary reasons for frequent use of the military briefing are to save time for the senior officer; to enable him to question the briefer and to clarify points; and to facilitate rapid, coordinated response and thereby reduce reaction time.

The intelligence briefing usually is a "one time only" presentation of unfamiliar facts, with reference to enough familiar material to establish the scope and content for the listeners, but it is always tailored to the user. There are no "attention-getters." Only the essentials are delivered in an objective manner. This is the significant difference between the military briefing and everyday public speaking techniques.

Here is what you need to know to be able to give winning briefings - the kind that communicate and get desired results. Before preparing a military briefing, you need a clear objective or idea of just what you expect the listeners to think, feel, or do after hearing your briefing. Next you must decide if you are giving a briefing to inform or one that seeks to persuade or advocate. Finally, you must commit to adhere to the ABC’s of briefing - accuracy, brevity, and clarity.

There are three things to know about preparing and presenting a military briefing. The acronym OSD means Organization, Support and Delivery.

Let us first describe the organization part. It consists of three sections: beginning, body and ending. At the beginning you tell them what you are going to tell them. Military briefings have a standard beginning.

In the body section you tell them the information. Main points in briefings are most often organized according to one of the standard patterns of organization: chronological, spatial, cause/ effect, problem/solution, pro/con and topical. The bottom line of effectively organizing a briefing is to organize logically so it helps you present the information and, above all, helps your audience listen and retain it. In a decision briefing, for example, the presentation of all feasible courses of action, their advantages and disadvantages, and a discussion are required. Use logic to arrive at conclusions and recommendations. Reveal the reasons for arriving at the stated conclusion as the most logical course of action.

In the ending section you tell them what you told them. Military briefings also have a standard ending.

Since a briefing is by definition, brief, support is generally limited to factual data carefully selected to accomplish the “need to know.” Still each of the standard types of verbal support is important. Definitions are often needed to explain new or unfamiliar terms or acronyms. Examples provide specific or concrete instances to clarify general or abstract ideas.

Comparisons and contrasts between the familiar and unfamiliar help audiences grasp new ideas more readily. Statistics and testimony or quotations from expert and trustworthy sources help to prove the points you’re making.

Somebody once said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Visual aids can dramatize, amplify or clarify the points you are trying to get across to your audience. Most often you will use Power Point with your briefings. But whatever visual support you use, keep a few things in mind. Make it relevant, simple and large enough to be seen by your audience. And don’t let it draw either your attention or the attention of the audience away from what you’re saying.

Although preparing the briefing can be laborious, delivery is the most difficult part for most people. But it doesn’t need to be. If you know your subject and have prepared well, then presenting briefings can be an exhilarating experience. The secret is to be well organized, have the right supporting information and then practice, practice, practice— giving attention to several important factors of delivery.

Strive for a smooth, convincing, friendly, and effective delivery, with a proper military bearing. A pleasant, well-modulated voice, suited to the size of the area or room is a requisite. Be confident. Confidence is achieved through practice and a thorough knowledge of the subject.

The important factors of delivery we are going to describe are method, eye contact, body movement, gestures, voice and transitions. Most of your briefings will be delivered extemporaneously. You will plan them idea by idea rather than word-by-word. Then you will just carry a brief outline or a few notes to the lectern when you speak. This method will cause you to prepare carefully, yet it will enable you to adjust to your audience and sound more spontaneous and conversational.

You will want to look directly at people, most likely giving more attention to the senior person(s) in the audience, but attempting to include all listeners. Effective eye contact will keep the audience’s interest, allow you to adjust to nonverbal feedback, and make you appear more credible to your listeners.

Whereas in many speaking situations persons are advised to “get out from behind the lectern and move around,” with military briefings this is seldom the case. Military briefings are usually presented from behind the lectern.

Use gestures. The hands, arms, shoulders, head and face can reinforce what you are saying. Although gestures can be perfected with practice, they will be most effective if you make a conscious effort to have them appear natural and spontaneous rather than planned.

Mind your voice. Three vocal characteristics are important. First is quality. Although you should strive to be pleasing to listen and attempt to use your voice to its best advantage, rest easy in knowing some of the very finest briefers anywhere have only average voices. Second is understandability. Your audience must be able to understand you. Give special attention to articulation—how you form sounds, pronunciation—how you say words, and avoidance of stock expressions such as “okay,” vocalized pauses such as “uh,” “um,” or “and uh,” and, above all, poor grammar. The third characteristic is variety. Effective briefers vary the rate, volume, force, pitch and emphasis.

One mark of a winning briefing is how well the parts are tied together. Effective transitions aid listening, provide a logical flow and add a professional touch. In written documents such as the one you are reading now, bold print or space between sections lets you know I am transitioning from one point to another. Briefers do the same thing with the words they use and the way they say them. Attention should be given toward supplying transitions between the beginning and the body, the body and the ending, between main points, from main points to sub points and even between sub points. Effective transitions help your listeners and add polish and professionalism to your briefing.

There are four recognizable types of intelligence briefings: information briefing, decision briefing, staff briefing, and mission briefing. Although there are elements common to all, each type is distinct and is discussed separately.

The purpose of the information briefing is to inform the listener to keep him abreast of the current situation or to supply specific requested information. It does not require a decision. The desired response is comprehension. Information briefings provide: high priority information that requires the immediate attention of the commander; complex information, such as statistical charts, that requires detailed explanation; controversial information which requires elaboration for thorough understanding.

Although the decision briefing contains elements of the information briefing, it is much broader and more comprehensive in scope, and it is presented for an entirely different purpose. The specific response to the decision briefing is an answer to a question or a decision to take a course of action.

A decision is the expected response of the decision briefing. At the outset of the briefing, you must announce clearly that you are seeking a decision. At the conclusion, if no decision is received, ask for it. You must be certain the decision given by the decision maker is understood. If you are uncertain, you should ask for clarification.

The staff briefing is the most widely used type of military briefing. It is designed for the rapid oral dissemination of information to a group of people and is similar to the information briefing. Although it is not commonly used for planning purposes or for solving problems, it bears a similarity to the decision briefing whenever it leads to a command decision. It is used at every military echelon to keep the commander and his staff informed of the current situation. The anticipated response is a coordinated or unified effort.

The mission briefing is designed especially for use during combat operations. It is used to emphasize information, give specific instructions, or instill an appreciation of the mission. The desired response is a thorough understanding and appreciation of operational conditions that will lead to the successful execution of the mission. It is closely related to the information briefing.

The purpose of the mission briefing can be summarized as the final review of a forthcoming military action that is designed to ensure that those taking part are certain of their objectives and the particular problems that may confront them.

Anything you’ve already learned about writing, grammar, and writing mechanics will be helpful in military communication. However, when you’re using Air Force specific documents and briefings, The Tongue and Quill is a resource you’ll always want to keep in easy reach. Effective communication in the military will be important to you as a follower, supervisor, and leader.

References:

Military Communication Skills Jeanne M. Holm Center URL:https://www3.nd.edu/~jthomp19/AS300/1_Fall%20Semester/Basics_of_Briefing/Basics_of_Briefing_V2.pdf

Большакова Т.И., Варушкина А.В., Живокина М.А. Особенности брифингов военнослужащих// Т.И. Большакова, А.В. Варушкина, М.А. Живокина. Филологические науки. Вопросы теории и практики. Тамбов. Грамота. 2018 г. №4 (82). Ч.1 С.315-319

URL: https://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/policy/army/fm/34-80/appb.htm

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