So What's the Problem?

“The problem is…”  Those three simple words start many of my sentences.  I realized it’s a pretty typical sentence starting technique for many Soldiers when I was with an Army buddy, floating down the Flint River (kayaking actually).  This same friend runs a great charity for veterans – Race for the Wounded.    It is a grassroots, nonprofit organization, founded with the vision and goal to support veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They train, fund, equip and support veterans in some of the toughest off road races in the world, helping them heal from the wounds of war through hardcore off-road competition. 

We were working our way down the river, intermittently drifting as we cast for shoal bass, when I suggested doing something like this (kayaking excursions) might be a good activity for vets to participate in as a means of healing.  That’s when I heard it – “The problem is….” – how would you get a guy out in the case of a medical emergency?  We had no cell phone coverage and that stretch of the river was inaccessible by land or motorboat.  

The doctrinal definition for “problem” is found in Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) No. 5.  It states, “A problem is an issue or obstacle that makes it difficult to achieve a desired goal or objective.  In a broad sense, a problem exists when an individual becomes aware of a significant difference between what actually is and what is desired. In the context of operations, an operational problem is the issue or set of issues that impede commanders from achieving their desired end state.”

For military guys solving problems is what we do by nature.  (Some might argue we do a pretty good job of creating them too.)  In fact, in the past we frequently referred to training exercises as “field problems.”  The purpose of going to the field was so we could learn and train how to solve tactical problems.  Being in the field caused us to confront the many elements and variables we’d inevitably seek to master, control, or conquer.  Leaders would employ our doctrine as outlined in the relevant Field Manuals, coupled with their experience, in order to solve the tactical field problem(s).

The military has designed acronyms and acrostics to help the Soldier solve, or at least take appropriate action when a problem is encountered.  METT-TC is one example that is used to help solve a tactical problem – it represents; Mission, Enemy, Terrain (and weather), Troops (and support available, Time available), and Civil considerations.  Under “Terrain” we further use the acronym OCOKA which stands for Observation, Cover and Concealment, Obstacles, Key terrain, and Avenues of Approach.  These two simple memory aids (METT-TC and OCOKA) enable a Soldier at the Company level and below to employ the eight-step Troop Leading Procedures (TLP) to solve a tactical problem. 

Those eight simple steps are captured by RIMS-R-CIS; Receive the mission, Issue a warning order, Make a tentative plan (using METT-TC and OCOKA), Start necessary movement, conduct Reconnaissance, Complete the plan,  Issue the order, and Supervise. When we buy something it usually comes with an instruction manual, military doctrine is that manual.  Nonetheless, there remains one persistent problem – misdiagnosing the root cause – treating the symptoms – not solving the problem. 

One thing that amazes me is how many of the professions in our modern-day world are dedicated to solving problems. Whether it is doctors trying to medicate maladies and eradicate pain, mechanics trying to mend machines, policemen trying to maintain or restore order, or farmers trying to bring forth food from the ground.  The fact of the matter is most of these worthy endeavors are all largely necessary to undo the curse of sin.  Genesis Chapter 3 describes some of the effects of sin entering the world:

 “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children…“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.  It will produce thorns and thistles for you…By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

The ultimate, and only answer to our sin predicament poses an even bigger problem for many; a virgin giving birth to a baby by the name of Jesus.   So what’s the problem?