CFA Field Operation Planning & Logistics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When conducting a risk assessment prior to a field operation, which factor should be prioritized FIRST?
- Cost of equipment required
- Identification of potential threats to personnel safety (Correct answer)
- Scheduling agent availability
- Selection of communication channels
Correct answer: Identification of potential threats to personnel safety
Personnel safety threats must be identified and mitigated before any other operational planning proceeds.
Question 2: A field agent discovers that the planned surveillance route is blocked due to a road closure. The BEST immediate action is to:
- Abort the operation and file a report
- Contact the operations center and execute the pre-planned alternate route (Correct answer)
- Proceed through the closure ignoring barriers
- Wait at the staging area until the closure is lifted
Correct answer: Contact the operations center and execute the pre-planned alternate route
Field agents should always have alternate routes identified during planning and should coordinate with the operations center when deviating from the primary plan.
Question 3: Which of the following BEST describes 'operational security' (OPSEC) in field logistics?
- Ensuring all vehicles are properly insured
- Protecting sensitive information from disclosure to unauthorized parties (Correct answer)
- Securing physical evidence in tamper-proof containers
- Maintaining encrypted radio communications at all times
Correct answer: Protecting sensitive information from disclosure to unauthorized parties
OPSEC is the process of denying adversaries information about capabilities and intentions by protecting critical information.
Question 4: During an extended field operation requiring multiple shifts, the MOST important logistical consideration is:
- Minimizing the number of agents deployed
- Ensuring seamless briefings and continuity of intelligence between shift changes (Correct answer)
- Reducing communication frequency to preserve battery life
- Scheduling shifts based strictly on seniority
Correct answer: Ensuring seamless briefings and continuity of intelligence between shift changes
Continuity briefings during shift changes prevent intelligence gaps that could compromise the operation.
Question 5: A field operations plan should include a 'time-phased' element primarily to:
- Bill clients accurately for agent hours
- Coordinate multiple elements of an operation in proper sequence (Correct answer)
- Satisfy legal documentation requirements
- Track agent overtime hours
Correct answer: Coordinate multiple elements of an operation in proper sequence
Time-phasing ensures each component of an operation is executed in the correct order to achieve the overall objective.
Question 6: When selecting a staging area for a field operation, the agent should consider all of the following EXCEPT:
- Proximity to the area of operations
- Cover and concealment from the subject
- The personal preferences of team members (Correct answer)
- Access to egress routes
Correct answer: The personal preferences of team members
Personal preferences are irrelevant to operational planning; all other factors directly affect mission effectiveness and safety.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'dead drop' in field logistics planning?
- A secure location to dispose of compromised evidence
- A covert method of exchanging information or materials without direct contact (Correct answer)
- An emergency rally point for agents who lose communications
- A backup power supply location for electronic equipment
Correct answer: A covert method of exchanging information or materials without direct contact
A dead drop allows parties to exchange materials or information without meeting directly, reducing exposure risk.
CFA Field Operation Planning & Logistics 2
When conducting a risk assessment prior to a field operation, which factor should be prioritized FIRST?