Exercise ‘Ink Blot’ was the first Counterinsurgency (COIN) exercise of the course calendar in Term Three. This exercise was conducted at the college premises from 20 to 24 August 2024. The aim of the exercise was to practice Course Participants in planning a division deployment in a COIN scenario. The exercise has primarily been designed to understand the COIN scenario and conduct COIN Operations within division level. Accordingly, the main objectives of this exercise were to comprehend the given COIN scenario, to apply the knowledge on COIN and Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA) teachings on conducting COIN operations and to test the Course Participants’ ability to apply the acquired knowledge on COIN and MACA teachings in formulating effective plans and conducting COIN operations. Further, this exercise provided an opportunity for Course Participants to practice the decision making process and initiate written staff works as the commanders and their staff of an infantry division before the deployment of their troops in COIN scenario.

Exercise was conducted in two parts and in part one, initially a considerable time was allocated for Course Participants to do the brainstorming session and comprehend the COIN scenario. Course Participants had to carryout Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPOE) and the Estimate Process of a division deployment in a COIN scenario, which included the conduct of military operations in support of civil administration. In part two, Course Participants carried out the discussion and presented their plans on divisional deployment in the COIN scenario.

The exercise was given an added value as the delegation of Command and Staff College of Pakistan attended the exercise as observers. It paved the way to share the experience on COIN of both countries with Course Participants.

2024 EXERCISE INK BLOT