Course Overview:

The HVT Operations course is designed to provide participants with the advanced

knowledge and skills necessary to identify, track, capture, or neutralize High-Value

Targets (HVTs) in various operational environments. This course will cover the full

spectrum of activities associated with HVT operations, emphasizing joint and combined

operations, interoperability, and strategic impact.

Scope:

The course encompasses strategic, operational, and tactical levels of HVT operations.

Topics include intelligence preparation, target selection, mission planning, execution,

and post-mission assessments. The course will also explore legal and ethical

considerations, Rules of Engagement (ROE), and the integration of advanced

technology and ISR assets.

Prerequisites:

Participants should have prior experience in SOF operations, intelligence gathering, or

mission planning. A basic understanding of military operations, including Direct Action

(DA) missions and unconventional warfare is required. Participants should also be

familiar with their service branch’s tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for

conducting HVT operations.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategic importance of HVTs and their impact on mission success and broader military objectives.

• Understand how HVT operations contribute to achieving national security goals, undermining enemy command and control and disrupting adversarial operations.

 Intelligence and Targeting: 

• Develop the ability to conduct thorough Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) with a specific focus on identifying and tracking HVTs.
•  Differentiating between strategic, operational, and tactical targets.
• Learn to integrate multiple intelligence disciplines (SIGINT, HUMINT, IMINT, MASINT) to build a comprehensive target profile and pattern of life analysis.
• Overview of recent HVT operations and their impact.

Mission Planning:

• Master the process of mission planning for HVT operations, including the development of courses of action (COAs), risk assessments, and contingency planning.
•  Learn to coordinate joint and combined operations, ensuring seamless interoperability among different units and allied forces.

Execution of HVT Operations:

• Understand the TTPs required for successful HVT operations, including infiltration, direct action, exfiltration, and the use of ISR platforms.
• Gain proficiency in the use of specialized equipment and technology designed for HVT\ missions.
• Conducting Direct Action (DA) missions, including breaching, clearing, and securing.
• Unconventional warfare tactics to destabilize and isolate HVTs.
• Exfiltration methods and personnel recovery.
• Command and control structures, including communication protocols and deconfliction.

Post-Mission Analysis:

• Develop skills in conducting detailed After-Action Reviews (AARs), focusing on capturing lessons learned and refining TTPs.
• Learn to utilize post-mission intelligence to inform future operations and update intelligence databases.