What is your purpose and task? (It all starts with your mission. Knowing this will provide you the understanding of how obstacles fit into the scheme).

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What is the initial defensive plan? (This highlights initial engagement areas, battle positions, and locations of weapon systems. They may likely change as planning and preparation continue. However, these are the elements that driving obstacle emplacement).

When is your no later than (NLT) time to be prepared to execute your task and purpose? (This is critical in determining how much time is available to emplace your obstacles. Time is the enemy when emplacing obstacles. There is never enough of it!)

What are friendly forces doing around you? (It is imperative you understand the maneuver plan and obstacle plan of the units around you. These can influence your planning, preparation, and eventual execution).

What obstacles has your higher headquarters tasked you to emplace? (In many cases, you will be required to construct obstacles in support of your higher headquarters’ plan. This is critical for several reasons. First, the future locations for these obstacles affect your maneuver and obstacle plan. Second, your emplacement of these obstacles consumes some of your resources (particularly Soldiers and time!)

What restrictions has your higher headquarters placed on you in regards to obstacle types, duration, etc…? (Based on current and future plans, the higher headquarters may place restrictions on various aspects of obstacle emplacement. These restrictions include prohibited obstacle locations, types of delivery systems to emplace mines such as artillery and close air support, and the time duration of mines. These restrictions must be understood early in the planning).

What is your task organization to achieve your mission? (You must know what you have available as soon as planning begins. The majority of this comes from the task organization. Additionally, you may be allocated other resources by your higher headquarters Operation Order such as FASCAM and other mine delivery means).

What is your experience in emplacing obstacles? (Certainly, the more experienced your personnel are in emplacing obstacles the better in terms of the time needed to emplace obstacles and the likely quality of the obstacles. You must know your strengths and more importantly, your shortcomings).

What is available in terms of materials? (You must conduct a preliminary look at what is available resource-wise to construct obstacles. This includes items such as wire, pickets, mines, etc…. You must know right away if you have any glaring shortages. Just as critical knows the location of your materials. As you know, the further away they are; the longer it will take to get them where you need them).

What do you believe the enemy’s mission is? (The understanding of the enemy’s mission assists you in forecasting his likely maneuver formations, his task organization, and most importantly, his attack timeline).

What are the enemy avenues of approach? (You want to determine to the best of your ability where he is going! After all, you do not want to expend valuable resources in emplacing obstacles on terrain the enemy will never maneuver upon. Ensure you analyze mounted, dismounted and air avenues of approach).

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