The ability to assess a situation and make an effective plan is one of the fundamental qualities required of an officer. Assessment of a situation involves determining the aim or 'mission', then analysing all the factors and their implications. This process produces a number of options from which the best one is selected. Only then can you get down to making a detailed plan. And that is the exact basis of the Planning Exercise.

 

You will be given a scenario that you will need to carefully study and then try to come up with some resolution. You should try to provide as much detail as you can in the exercise. You have 1 hour.
 

The guide, 'HOW TO PASS THE AOSB. A Candidate's Perspective', gives detailed advice and tips for the written Planning Exercise, the Group Planning Exercise and Planning Exercise Questioning.

 

Stick to the process you will be taught. PROCESS OVER TASK is one of the best pieces of advice that applies to many AOSB assessments.

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I have compiled the most sample planning exercises found anywhere, you can download them all in the link below. Do briefly look at them, but it is best not to attempt them until after your Briefing where you will be taught the process for completing them. Alternatively the taught process is detailed in 'HOW TO PASS THE AOSB. A Candidate's Perspective'.

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Below are a few of the top tips for getting through the Planning Exercise as taken from 'HOW TO PASS THE AOSB. A Candidate's Perspective':

 

• An important thing to remember with the planning exercise is that there is always way too much information for you to deal with. They’re testing whether you can sift through that and find the critical information for the scenario. Take in a highlighter and read through twice to ensure you’ve got the picture before you begin. The main factors that they expect you to consider may well be glaringly obvious - don't waste time disappearing down rabbit holes.

 

• You can abbreviate your map. Remember the DS will have seen the planning exercise many times before and so will understand your abbreviations. Just make everything clear; organise your work and lay it out neatly so that the marker can follow your logic (even if it is flawed).​

 

Manage your time effectively

• 25 minutes for reading the passage. Once quickly then again slowly, updating sketch map as you go. Take it sentence by sentence and check it for info that you've previously written down.

• 10 minutes for factors and assumptions

• 15 minutes for COAs,

• 10 minutes for finishing writing it up etc. Essentially make sure it's neat and you write down your thoughts and GET A WORKABLE PLAN. They stressed this about 10 times.​

 

• If you finish early, re-read the background and scenario and try and remember as many of the details of the problem as you can - someone will be expected to answer questions on the scenario and sod's law says it'll be you.

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• Be comfortable with Speed, Distance, Time. I cannot reiterate this enough.

 

• Once time is up and you have all completed your planning exercise you will be taken in silence to your group rooms to discuss a group plan. You will then be individually questioned on the planning exercise. On the walk back, take the opportunity to READ THE NARRATIVE AGAIN and familiarise yourself with the background.