Anticipation is defined as?

• A. The ability to foresee operational requirements and initiate necessary actions without waiting for OPORD/FRAGO
• B. The ability to plan thoroughly
• C. The ability to improvise
• D. The ability to gather intelligence

Answer: (A)

Anticipation means foreseeing operational requirements and initiating actions before receiving an OPORD or FRAGO. It relies on understanding the mission, the environment, and likely needs so you can maintain tempo and reduce delays. For example, if you anticipate a need for fuel or maintenance during a movement, you secure those resources ahead of time instead of waiting for a revised directive. This reflects proactive action aligned with the commander's intent, not waiting for explicit orders to drive every step. Planning thoroughly is valuable, but it describes preparing for potential futures; anticipation specifically emphasizes acting now to meet those predicted needs. Improvising is reactive, dealing with events as they occur, which differs from proactively anticipating. Gathering intelligence is about collecting information to inform decisions, not directly about initiating pre-emptive actions.