FM 5-0, The Operations Process - Federation of American Scientists

Appendix E
E-9. Plans and orders possess clarity. They use doctrinally correct terms and symbols, avoid jargon, and
eliminate every opportunity for misunderstanding the commander’s exact, intended meaning.
E-10. Effective plans and orders contain assumptions. This helps subordinates and others to better
understand the logic behind a plan or order and facilitates the preparation of branches and sequels.
E-11. Plans and orders incorporate flexibility. They leave room to adapt and make adjustments to counter
unexpected challenges and seize opportunities. Effective plans and orders identify decision points and
proposed options at those decision points to build flexibility.
E-12. Plans and orders exercise timeliness. Plans and orders sent to subordinates in time allow subordinates
to collaborate, plan, and prepare their own actions.
TYPES OF PLANS
E-13. Plans come in many forms and vary in scope, complexity, and length of planning horizons. A plan is
a design for a future or anticipated operation. Strategic plans establish national and multinational military
objectives and include plans to achieve those objectives. Operational-level or campaign plans cover a series
of related military operations aimed at accomplishing a strategic or operational objective within a given
time and space. Tactical plans cover the employment of units in operations, including the ordered
arrangement and maneuver of units in relation to each other and to the enemy within the framework of an
operational-level or campaign plan. (See paragraph E-59 for operation plan formats.) There are several
types of plans:
• Campaign plan.
• Operation plan.
• Supporting plan.
• Concept plan.
• Branch.
• Sequel.
E-14. A campaign plan is a joint operation plan aimed at achieving strategic or operational objectives
within a given time and space. Developing and issuing a campaign plan is appropriate when the
contemplated simultaneous or sequential military operations exceed the scope of single major operation.
Only joint force commanders develop campaign plans.
E-15. An operation plan is any plan for the conduct of military operations prepared in response to actual
and potential contingencies (JP 5-0). An OPLAN may address an extended period connecting a series of
objectives and operations, or it may be developed for a single part or phase of a long-term operation. An
OPLAN becomes an OPORD when the commander sets an execution time or designates an event that
triggers the operation.
E-16. A supporting plan is an operation plan prepared by a supporting commander, a subordinate
commander, or an agency to satisfy the requests or requirements of the supported commander’s plan
(JP 5-0). For example, the ARFOR commander develops a supporting plan as to how Army forces will
support the joint force commander’s campaign plan or OPLAN.
E-17. A concept plan is an OPLAN in an abbreviated format that requires considerable expansion or
alteration to convert it into a complete operation plan or operation order. Often branches and sequels are
written in the form of concept plans. (See chapter 2 for a discussion on branches and sequels.) As time and
the potential allow for executing a particular branch or sequel, these concept plans are developed in detail
into OPLANs.
TYPES OF ORDERS
E-18. An order is a communication, written, oral, or by signal, which conveys instructions from a superior
to a subordinate (JP 1-02). (See figures E-2 through E-5 for OPORD formats.) There are three types of
orders:
E-2 FM 5-0 26 March 2010