1. This examination is designed to test your critical reasoning skills and your comprehension of the concepts contained in operational art and operational design, as well as the elements of operational design in the context of campaign and major operation planning. The exam is due at the end of C403 and is worth 40% of the C400 grade.
2. You must complete the online lesson C403 Operational Art and Operational Design. You may use the online lesson, readings, and references to help you answer the exam. Additionally, there are two videos that explain key concepts in preparation for the exam. You can find the videos in the C403 lesson folder in Blackboard. The videos are: (1) Plan Green by Mr. Dale Eikmeier and (2) Arguing the Operational Environment (OE): Identifying the Center of Gravity (COG) by Mr. Dale Eikmeier and LTC Tino Perez.
3. To do well on the C403 Operational Art and Design exam, you must do the following.
• Complete the C403 online lesson.
• Read the required readings and reference materials.
• Watch the two required videos.
• You may watch the optional videos if you need additional instruction.
• Review the Operational Approach Student Aid.
3. There is a total of 8 requirements/questions on the exam; some of the exam questions have multiple parts. Carefully read the document, C403 Contextual Background and Supporting Documents; this document contains Part 2 Contextual Background & Part 3 Supporting Documents for the exam. Read the information in Parts 2 and 3 and then reread the information, making notes of pertinent information. Repeat this process multiple times if necessary, before attempting to answer the questions.
4. You should spend about 2 weeks reviewing C403 Contextual Background and Supporting Documents before responding to the exam questions. You must use critical thinking as you analyze the historical planning documents, and you must justify/explain your answers on the exam. A DDE faculty member will evaluate your exam based on clarity and conciseness.
5. Your answers must be typed and double-spaced. Use Times New Roman 12-pitch font and one-inch margins. The exam specifies how long your answers should be; for most questions, your answers will not exceed one typed page. Do not use first-person or passive voice. Clearly identify the requirement and question you are addressing.
Example: