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A military operation plan (OPLAN) is a detailed, formal document that outlines how military forces will achieve objectives, often for actual or potential conflicts, covering all aspects from mobilization to deployment and execution. Key components include the mission statement, operational environment description, courses of action, logistics, and a time-phased force and deployment data (TPFDD). The planning process typically involves a continuous cycle of planning, preparation, execution, and assessment, guided by specific doctrine like the United States' six-phase planning construct and the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP).
Key Aspects of a Military Operation Plan (OPLAN)
Purpose: To provide a comprehensive framework for conducting military operations to achieve specified objectives, often for actual or potential contingencies.
Scope: An OPLAN details the forces, resources, support, and transportation needed to execute the plan from start to finish.
Key Information:
Objectives: What the plan aims to achieve.
Operational Environment: A description of the terrain and conditions affecting the operation.
Courses of Action (COA): Different options for achieving the mission.
Logistics & Support: Requirements for sustainment and other necessary support.
Deployment Data: A Time-Phased Force and Deployment Data (TPFDD) file detailing the movement of forces and resources.
The Planning Process
The process of developing an OPLAN is a sequential, cyclical activity performed at multiple levels of war:
Receive the Mission: Get the order from a higher headquarters.
Mission Analysis: Analyze the mission and the environment, gathering information and identifying factors.
Courses of Action (COA) Development: Create various potential courses of action.
COA Analysis & Comparison: Wargame and compare the strengths and weaknesses of each COA.
COA Approval: Present the results to the commander for a decision.
Orders Production: Write the detailed operations order based on the approved plan.
Examples and Related Concepts
OPLAN (Operation Plan): A full, detailed plan.
CONPLAN (Concept Plan): A plan in concept form, lacking the full detail of an OPLAN.
OPORD (Operations Order): A directive issued by a commander to an operating force that outlines the mission and execution details, often based on an OPLAN.
TPFDD: A database containing time-phased data for deploying forces and resources into a theater of operations.