For me (never served in the military, but ran a contracting company operating in war zones for 5-10 years)
1: Priorities:
(a) Secure the town at all costs (not strictly "at all costs", but I believe commander's intent is to have a base of supply, and the water source is critical). Mission success is primary here, but I'm not 100% that "secure the town" is the only way.
(e) Figure out how to accomplish mission without a fight.
(c) Minimize friendly casualties
The journalist is secondary. We would never violate laws of armed conflict, and the journalist is a grown ass man who is knowingly in the war zone, so any risk is on him. My career is secondary.
I'm uncertain there's a reason to fight the town militia. Ideally I'd go in myself with interpreter and small PSD (with a QRF ready) to negotiate with village elders and get their support. It's their town; we'd happily pay for access, and base outside the town. Maybe upgrade their water/infra too.
Town isn't where I'd want to fight from, anyway, just need to to be safe. My logistics point would be terrain based.
2) ConOps to include:
b) Approach on the road in daylight
k) Occupy hill west of town as base of fire
l) Occupy an overwatch position on the hill south of town
m) Halt a vehicle heading into town and have them escort you
(Basically, set something up overtly to suppress the town IFF it becomes hostile, and if available, conduct surveillance/recon of the town before entry, but then go in overtly and without much drama.)
Apparently that was the secondary option "chosen by a significant minority of experts, particularly those with Special Forces experience."
1: Priorities: (a) Secure the town at all costs (not strictly "at all costs", but I believe commander's intent is to have a base of supply, and the water source is critical). Mission success is primary here, but I'm not 100% that "secure the town" is the only way. (e) Figure out how to accomplish mission without a fight. (c) Minimize friendly casualties
The journalist is secondary. We would never violate laws of armed conflict, and the journalist is a grown ass man who is knowingly in the war zone, so any risk is on him. My career is secondary.
I'm uncertain there's a reason to fight the town militia. Ideally I'd go in myself with interpreter and small PSD (with a QRF ready) to negotiate with village elders and get their support. It's their town; we'd happily pay for access, and base outside the town. Maybe upgrade their water/infra too.
Town isn't where I'd want to fight from, anyway, just need to to be safe. My logistics point would be terrain based.
2) ConOps to include: b) Approach on the road in daylight k) Occupy hill west of town as base of fire l) Occupy an overwatch position on the hill south of town m) Halt a vehicle heading into town and have them escort you
(Basically, set something up overtly to suppress the town IFF it becomes hostile, and if available, conduct surveillance/recon of the town before entry, but then go in overtly and without much drama.)
Apparently that was the secondary option "chosen by a significant minority of experts, particularly those with Special Forces experience."