ATTP 5-0.1 Commander and Staff Officer Guide - Army Electronic ...

Plans and Orders
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. There are
several types of plans:
� Campaign plan.
� Operation plan.
� Supporting plan.
� Concept plan.
� Branch.
� Sequel.
12-13. A campaign plan is a joint operation plan for a series of related major operations aimed at
achieving strategic or operational objectives within a given time and space (JP 5-0). Developing and
issuing a campaign plan is appropriate when the contemplated simultaneous or sequential military
operations exceed the scope of a single major operation. Only joint force commanders develop campaign
plans.
12-14. An operation plan is plan for the conduct of military operations prepared in response to actual and
potential contingencies (JP 5-0). An operation plan (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 operation order when the commander sets an execution time or
designates an event that triggers the operation.
12-15. 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.
12-16. In the context of joint operation planning level 3 planning detail, a concept plan is an operation
plan in an abbreviated format that may require considerable expansion or alteration to convert it into a
complete operation plan or operation order (JP 5-0). Often branches and sequels are written as concept
plans. 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
12-17. An order is a communication—verbal, written, or signaled—which conveys instructions from a
superior to a subordinate. Commanders issue orders verbally or in writing. The five-paragraph format
(situation, mission, execution, sustainment, and command and signal) remains the standard for issuing
orders. The technique used to issue orders (verbal or written) is at the discretion of the commander; each
technique depends on time and the situation. Army organizations use three types of orders:
� Operation order (OPORD).
� Fragmentary order (FRAGO).
� Warning order (WARNO).
12-18. An operation order is a directive issued by a commander to subordinate commanders for the
purpose of effecting the coordinated execution of an operation (JP 5-0). Commanders issue OPORDs to
direct the execution of long-term operations as well as the execution of discrete short-term operations
within the framework of a long-range OPORD.
12-19. A fragmentary order is an abbreviated form of an operation order issued as needed after an
operation order to change or modify that order or to execute a branch or sequel to that order (JP 5-0).
FRAGOs include all five OPORD paragraph headings and differ from OPORDs only in the degree of detail
provided. An example of a proper naming convention for a FRAGO to an OPORD is, “FRAGO 11 to
OPORD 3411.” If a FRAGO contains an entire annex, then the proper naming convention would be,
“Annex A (Task Organization) to FRAGO 12 to OPORD 3411.”
14 September 2011 ATTP 5-0.1 12-3