Joint Operation Planning Process:

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Joint Operation Planning Process
Joint Forces Staff College National Defense
University
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Lesson Objectives

• Describe the purpose of Joint Operational
  Planning
• Name the steps in the Joint Operational Planning
  Process
• Describe inputs and outputs of the Joint
  Operational Planning Process

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JOPP Basics

• Receive and analyze required tasks.
• Review and refine threat situation.
• Develop and compare alternative courses of
  action.
• Select the best course of action.
• Submit and gain concept approval.
• Prepare a plan based on approved concept.
• Complete the planning document.

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THE JOINT OPERATION PLANNING PROCESS
Step 1 Initiation Step 2 Mission
Analysis Step 3 Course of Action (COA)
Development Step 4 COA Analysis and
Wargaming Step 5 COA Comparison Step 6 COA
Approval Step 7 Plan or Order Development
Strategic Guidance
Common to all joint organizations at any level
Concept Development
Plan Development
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Mission Analysis
Step 2
JP 5.0 Joint Operation Planning Aug 2011
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Mission Analysis

• From the Broad, General Assigned Task, the CCdr
  Conducts Mission Analysis by Identifying---
• Specified Tasks- Actions He Has Been Tasked to
  Conduct in Other Documents Such As Defense
  Agreements, Directives From CJCS, Etc.
• Implied Tasks- Actions That Are Deduced From
  Analysis of the Assigned and Specified Tasks.
• Essential Tasks- Actions That Are Absolutely
  Necessary, Indispensable, or Critical to the
  Success of a Mission.

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Types of Forces
Assigned Forces
Apportioned Forces
Allocated Forces
Global Force Management
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Course of Action (COA) Development
Step 3
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Elements of a Course of Action

• Who -- (what forces) will execute it?
• What -- type of action is contemplated?
• When -- is it to begin?
• Where -- will it take place?
• How -- will it be accomplished?

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Course of Action Tests

• Adequate - does it accomplish mission?
• Feasible - use only the resources apportioned?
• Acceptable - worth the possible costs?
• Distinguishable - meaningfully different?
• Complete - does it answer who, what,
  when, where, how?

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Course of Action Analysis Wargaming
Step 4
JP 5.0 Joint Operation Planning Aug 2011
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Staff Estimates
1 Mission 2. The situation and courses of
action 3. Analysis of opposing courses of
action 4. Comparison of own courses of
action 5. Decision
STAFF ESTIMATES
J-6 ESTIMATE
J-1 ESTIMATE
J-2 ESTIMATE
J-3 ESTIMATE
J-4 ESTIMATE
INTELLIGENCE
OPERATIONS
LOGISTICS
PERSONNEL
C4
Components
Supporting Cmds
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Course of Action Comparison
Step 5
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Comparing COAs
Advantages Disadvantages
COA 1 COA 2
Bullets or narrative
Bullets or narrative
COA 1 COA 2
Criteria Weight Rating Product
Rating Product
Attack COGs 1
1 2
2 Flexibility 2 1
2 2 4
6
3
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Course of Action Approval
Step 6
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Plan or Order Development
Step 7
Flesh and Publish
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• What options did CENTCOM provide the SECDEF and
  POTUS for invading Iraq?

PBS Frontline Rumsfeld's War VIDEO
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• Crisis Action Planning

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Crisis Action Planning Process
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What is a crisis?
An incident or situation involving a threat to
the United States, its territories, citizens,
military forces, and possessions or vital
interests that develops rapidly and creates a
condition of such diplomatic, economic,
political, or military importance that commitment
of US military forces and resources is
contemplated to achieve national objectives.
-
JOPES Vol. I, Sep 2006
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THE JOINT OPERATION PLANNING PROCESS
Same Analytical Process for Both CAP and
Contingency Planning
Step 1 Initiation Step 2 Mission
Analysis Step 3 Course of Action (COA)
Development Step 4 COA Analysis and
Wargaming Step 5 COA Comparison Step 6 COA
Approval Step 7 Plan or Order Development
JIPOE
Strategic Guidance Warning order
Concept Development
Plan Development Planning / Alert Order
CAP Specific
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An Example of Crisis Action Planning
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Joint Operation Planning Products

• Products
• COMMANDERS ESTIMATE
• BASE PLAN
• CONCEPT PLAN (CONPLAN)
• OPERATION PLAN (OPLAN)
• WARNING ORDER
• PLANNING ORDER
• ALERT ORDER
• OPERATION ORDER
• EXECUTE ORDER
• FRAGMENTARY ORDER
• DEPLOYMENT ORDER