Pegasus Lift - Mission Summary

Evaluation of Options & Impact of Alerts

Operation Pegasus Lift – Mission Summary
CJ 1 – Equipment Selection

Evaluation Criteria & Weightings

Criterion Definition Weight Rationale
Mission-Enabling Value How strongly the kit unlocks or enhances later high-pay-off courses of action. 0.30 The whole purpose of pre-mission load-planning is to create future options; that long-tail benefit deserves top weight.
Weight / Mobility Penalty Added kilograms and bulk that will slow ingress, egress, and casualty movement. 0.25 Excess weight hurts performance in every phase; almost as decisive as mission-enabling value.
Signature & Detectability Likelihood the gear produces noise, light, RF, or bulk that makes the team easier to detect. 0.20 Stealth is a core SOF principle, but most loads can be masked through tactics; moderate weight.
Versatility Across Phases Number of distinct phases or contingencies in which the kit is useful. 0.15 Flexibility matters, but only after the first three factors are satisfied.
Humanitarian / Resilience Benefit Contribution to medical treatment for allies or civilians, or to team endurance. 0.10 Ethical and resilience value is important, but it cannot override mission success criteria.

Weighted-Scoring Table

Option & Factor Weighting Mission-Enabling Value Weight / Mobility Penalty Signature & Detectability Versatility Across Phases Humanitarian / Resilience Benefit Total
0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 1.00
Technical Surveillance Equipment 1.501.000.800.750.204.25
Advanced Medical Supplies 1.200.751.000.600.504.05
Non-Lethal Equipment 0.900.750.600.450.403.10
Camouflage & Concealment 0.601.000.800.450.102.95
Weapons & Ammunition 0.600.500.400.300.101.90
Explosives & Breaching Equipment 0.300.250.200.300.001.05
CJ 2 – Tactical Insertion

Evaluation Criteria & Weightings

Criterion Definition Weight Rationale
Detection Risk / Stealth Probability the insertion method will be spotted or heard by hostiles. 0.30 A compromised infiltration can end the mission before it starts — highest weight.
Total Time to Crash Site End-to-end duration from departure to on-scene arrival. 0.25 Time is life for the survivor and reduces the window for enemy response.
Insertion Reliability Sensitivity to weather, aircraft availability, or specialist skill requirements. 0.20 Even a stealthy fast plan is useless if it’s cancelled half the time.
Operational Flexibility Freedom to adjust landing point, exfiltration axes, or altitude advantage. 0.15 Valuable but a tie-breaker after stealth, time, and reliability.
Physical Toll on Team Fatigue, decompression, or injury risk imposed by the method. 0.10 Important, yet SOF teams usually mitigate via conditioning.

Weighted-Scoring Table

Option & Factor Weighting Detection Risk / Stealth Total Time Insertion Reliability Operational Flexibility Physical Toll Total
0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 1.00
HALO Parachute 1.501.250.800.600.304.45
Jungle Infiltration 1.500.501.000.600.203.80
HAHO Parachute 1.201.000.600.600.303.70
Indigenous Canoe 1.200.750.600.450.303.30
Humanitarian-Aid Cover 0.600.750.600.300.402.65
CJ 3 – Medical Intervention

Evaluation Criteria & Weightings

Criterion Definition Weight Rationale
Probability of Medical Survival Estimated chance the casualty survives 24 hours post-treatment. 0.30 Saving the isolated aircrew is the mission’s purpose — top weight.
Time on Site Additional minutes the team remains stationary at the crash site. 0.25 Longer exposure multiplies ambush risk; near-top weight.
Mobility After Treatment Expected pace the casualty can sustain on foot after care. 0.20 Determines whether egress timelines remain feasible.
Team Security Noise, light, or electronic signature introduced by the treatment. 0.15 A bad choice here can compromise stealth; mid-weight.
Logistical Dependence Need for external assets or pre-chosen kit to execute the option. 0.10 Adds friction but is usually manageable — lowest weight.

Weighted-Scoring Table

Option & Factor Weighting Probability of Medical Survival Time on Site Mobility After Treatment Team Security Logistical Dependence Total
0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 1.00
Immediate Extraction / In-Transit Care 1.501.250.600.600.404.35
Rapid Stabilization 1.201.000.800.600.504.10
Shrapnel Management & Splint 0.900.750.800.600.503.55
Advanced Medical Care
*Available if Advanced Medical Supplies selected in CJ 1*
1.500.500.800.450.203.45
Drone-Delivered Supplies 0.900.250.800.300.102.35
CJ 4 – Ambush Ahead

Evaluation Criteria & Weightings

Criterion Definition Weight Rationale
Probability of Avoiding Contact Likelihood the team passes the ambush without engaging the enemy. 0.30 Preserving lives and ammo by avoiding contact is paramount.
Time Penalty to Extraction Point Additional minutes required to reach the extraction point. 0.25 Delays increase exposure and reduce survival window.
Risk to Team Expected casualty probability if contact occurs. 0.20 Direct threat to personnel safety must be minimized.
Operational Signature Noise, smoke, or other detectable effects that reveal team presence. 0.15 Maintaining stealth and political discretion is important.
Sustainability Impact on fatigue, ammunition, and morale for follow-on movement. 0.10 Ensuring capacity for subsequent phases is necessary.

Weighted-Scoring Table

Option & Factor Weighting Probability of Avoiding Contact Time Penalty Risk to Team Operational Signature Sustainability Total
0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 1.00
Recon & Bypass 1.501.000.800.750.404.45
KIA Diversion 1.500.751.000.450.304.00
Close Air Support 1.501.250.600.150.403.90
Alternate Route 1.200.750.800.750.303.80
Counter-Ambush 0.901.000.400.150.202.65
CJ 5 – Civilian Encounter

Evaluation Criteria & Weightings

Criterion Definition Weight Rationale
Protection of Non-Combatants Degree to which the option safeguards the injured family from harm. 0.30 The Laws of Armed Conflict elevate civilian protection — highest weight.
Mission Integrity / Tempo Impact on ability to complete rescue and meet the extraction timeline. 0.25 Cannot sacrifice the primary mission; near-top weight.
Risk to Team Added detection, infection, or kinetic risk to the SOF team. 0.20 Team survival is critical but manageable through tactics.
Political / Informational Optics Likelihood of negative press, strategic blowback, or diplomatic fallout. 0.15 Political cost echoes long after the mission; mid weight.
Resource Cost Seats, fuel, or carry-load consumed. 0.10 Often the easiest constraint to mitigate — lowest weight.

Weighted-Scoring Table

Option & Factor Weighting Protection of Non-Combatants Mission Integrity / Tempo Risk to Team Political / Informational Optics Resource Cost Total
0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 1.00
Leave Family Advanced Medical Supplies 1.201.251.000.600.504.55
Evacuate Child + One Parent 1.501.000.800.750.304.35
Evacuate Entire Family 1.500.500.600.750.203.55
Request Separate Extraction 1.200.750.800.600.203.55
Keep Moving 0.301.251.000.300.503.35
CJ 6 – Final Extraction

Evaluation Criteria & Weightings

Criterion Definition Weight Rationale
Probability of Successful Extraction Likelihood the entire team, casualty, and aircrew leave the area alive. 0.30 Mission cannot succeed without a safe extraction — top weight.
Immediate Risk to Life Expected casualties to team and aircrew during the extraction attempt. 0.25 Almost as critical as success; balances risk vs. speed.
Time to Execute Ability to complete the action within the 5-minute abort window. 0.20 Time is fuel and life; must fit within the abort timeline.
Collateral / Strategic Optics Potential civilian damage and political fallout of the option. 0.15 Strategic cost lingers but secondary to saving lives now.
Follow-On Logistics Fuel, ordnance, or maintenance impacts that affect further ops. 0.10 Important for subsequent missions, but least urgent.

Weighted-Scoring Table

Option & Factor Weighting Probability of Successful Extraction Immediate Risk to Life Time to Execute Collateral / Strategic Optics Follow-On Logistics Total
0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 1.00
Call Close Air Support 1.501.251.000.450.304.50
Emergency Extraction Point 1.201.000.600.750.504.05
Cover Approach with Smoke 1.201.000.800.750.404.15
Make a Run for It 0.900.501.000.750.503.65
Call Off Extraction 0.000.250.000.750.501.50
Counter-Attack 0.300.250.400.300.201.45
Impact of Alerts

How Alerts Influenced Each Critical Juncture

Critical Juncture Alert Impact
CJ 1 – Equipment Selection

No alerts: Evaluation reflects baseline planning assumptions.

CJ 2 – Tactical Insertion

Alert 2.2 – Helicopter Grounded: Removed helicopter insertion option.

Alert 2.1 – Broken Communications: Increased urgency, boosting transit time scores (+0.25) and lowering reliability (–0.25) for air methods.

CJ 3 – Medical Intervention

Alert 3.1 – Multiple Extraction Points: Required reassessment of site time, penalizing slow options (–0.25).

Alert 3.2 – Severe Weather & Rising Threat: Increased team security risk (–0.25) for radio/UAV methods.

CJ 4 – Ambush Ahead

HAWKEYE Intelligence: Detection of ~40 enemy soldiers spiked the weight on contact avoidance and forced counter-ambush raw score to 1.

CJ 5 – Civilian Encounter

Alert 5.1 – Hostile Platoon Closing: Removed KIA support option and reduced mission-integrity scores (–0.25) for all evac choices.

KIA Support Offline: Penalized lingering options by raising team-risk (+0.25).

CJ 6 – Final Extraction

Alert 6.1 – V‑22 Damage & SAM Threat: Imposed a 5‑min abort window, added time-to-execute criterion (0.20 weight).

Alert 6.1 Continued: Reduced success probabilities (–0.25) for options delaying takeoff; ran-time boosted (+0.20).

Team Scorecard

Confirm your team score below by selecting the options your team chose.  Compare your choice to the rank ordering from a professional crisis management team. 

Team Scorecard
Critical Juncture Pro Team Score Your Team's Decision Late Decision?
Critical Juncture 1: Operational Challenges
Option 1B - Technology Enhancements / Adoption 5 Select
Option 1A - Operational Process Optimization 4 Select
Option 1C - Human Resource Development 3 Select
Option 1F - Health & Safety Enhancements 2 Select
Option 1E - Supply Chain Diversification 1 Select
Option 1D - Short-Term Market Flexibility 0 Select
Critical Juncture 2: Oil Leak (Initial Response)
Option 2C - Partial Production Halt 5 Select
Option 2B - Gradual Shutdown 4 Select
Option 2F - Rapid Containment Response 3 Select
Option 2D - Impact Assessment Pause 2 Select
Option 2E - Security Assessment 1 Select
Critical Juncture 3: Crisis Communications
Option 3F - Transparent Communication 5 Select
Option 3D - Interview with Brazilian Journalist 4 Select
Option 3C - Interview with Ana Pereira 3 Select
Option 3B - Issue a Prepared Statement 2 Select
Option 3E - Wait Until Facts Are Clear 1 Select
Option 3A - Hold a News Conference 0 Select
Critical Juncture 4: Oil Spill Containment
Option 4D - Floating Barriers 5 Select
Option 4C - Containment Booms 4 Select
Option 4E - Marsh Creation 2 Select
Option 4B - Aerial Surveillance 0 Select
Critical Juncture 5: Hostage Taking (Initial Response)
Option 5C - Engage Crisis Negotiation Team 5 Select
Option 5E - Demand Proof of Life 4 Select
Option 5B - Community Mediation 3 Select
Option 5D - Leverage Brazilian Co-Chair 2 Select
Option 5A - Diplomatic Channels 1 Select
Option 5F - Crisis Communications Strategy 0 Select
Critical Juncture 6: Hostage Taking Resolution
Option 6B - Intelligence Gathering Operation 5 Select
Option 6F - Joint Special Forces (US & Brazil) 4 Select
Option 6E - US Special Forces 3 Select
Option 6D - Regional SWAT Mission Failure Select
Option 6A - Give in to Demands Mission Failure Select
Option 6C - Private Military Contractor (PMC) Mission Failure Select
Critical Juncture 7A: Salvage Amazonia (Selected 6B, 6E, or 6F)
Option 7A-D - Diversify and Rebrand 5 Select
Option 7A-B - International Solution 4 Select
Option 7A-A - Full Restoration 3 Select
Option 7A-C - Transparency Focus 2 Select
Option 7A-E - Divest and Exit 1 Select
Option 7A-F - Stay the Course Mission Failure Select
Critical Juncture 7B: Closure Strategy (Selected 6A, 6C, or 6D)
Option 7B3 - Ethical Closure and Environmental Restoration 5 Select
Option 7B5 - Asset Donation and Community Initiatives 4 Select
Option 7B4 - Contractual Commitment Fulfillment 3 Select
Option 7B2 - Employee Transition and Severance 2 Select
Option 7B1 - Orderly Asset Liquidation and Debt Settlement 1 Select

Submit Your Team Scorecard

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Once you’ve reviewed the Mission Summary and submitted your Team Scorecard, proceed to the Mission Retrospective under the guidance your Facilitator to unpack your team’s experience.

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