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

EXPRESSING TIME
Plans and Orders
12-62. The effective time for implementing the plan or order is the same as the date-time group of the
order. Express the date and time as a six-digit date-time group. The first two digits indicate the day of the
month; the next four digits indicate the time. The letter at the end of the time indicates the time zone. Staffs
add the month and year to the date-time group to avoid confusion. For example, a complete date-time group
for 6 August 2012 at 1145 appears as 061145Z August 2012.
12-63. If the effective time of any portion of the order differs from that of the order, staffs identify those
portions at the beginning of the coordinating instructions (in paragraph 3). For example, “Effective only for
planning on receipt” or “Task organization effective 261300Z May 20XX.”
12-64. Express all times in a plan or order in terms of one time zone, for example ZULU (Z) or LOCAL.
(Note: Do not abbreviate local time as [L]. The abbreviation for the LIMA time is L.) Staffs include the
appropriate time zone indicator in the heading data and mission statement. For example, the time zone
indicator for Central Standard Time in the continental United States is SIERRA. When daylight savings
time is in effect, the time zone indicator for Central Standard Time is ROMEO. The relationship of local
time to ZULU time, not the geographic location, determines the time zone indicator to use.
12-65. When using inclusive dates, staffs express them by writing both dates separated by an en dash (6–9
August 20XX or 6 August–6 September 20XX). They express times in the 24-hour clock system by means
of four-digit Arabic numbers, including the time zone indicator.
IDENTIFYING PAGES
12-66. Staffs identify pages following the first page of plans and orders with a short title identification
heading located two spaces under the classification marking. Include the number (or letter) designation of
the plan, the issuing headquarters. For example, OPLAN 09-15–23d AD (U) (base plan identification) or
Annex B (Intelligence) to OPLAN 09-15–23d AD (U) (annex identification).
NUMBERING PAGES
12-67. Use the following convention to indicate page numbers:
� Number the pages of the base order and each attachment separately beginning on the first page
of each attachment. Use a combination of alphanumeric designations to identify each
attachment.
� Use Arabic numbers only to indicate page numbers. Place page numbers after the alphanumeric
designation that identifies the attachment. (Use Arabic numbers without any proceeding
alphanumeric designation for base order page numbers.) For example, the designation of the
third page to Annex C is C-3. Assign each attachment either a letter or Arabic number that
corresponds to the letter or number in the attachment’s short title. Assign letters to annexes,
Arabic numbers to appendixes, letters to tabs, and Arabic numbers to exhibits. For example, the
designation of the third page to Appendix 5 to Annex C is C-5-3.
� Separate elements of the alphanumeric designation with hyphens. For example, the designation
of the third page of exhibit 2 to Tab B to Appendix 5 to Annex C is C-5-B-2-3.
ATTACHMENTS (ANNEXES, APPENDIXES, TABS, AND EXHIBITS)
12-68. Attachments (annexes, appendixes, tables, and exhibits) are an information management tool. They
simplify orders by providing a structure for organizing information. The organizational structure for
attachments to Army OPLANS and OPORDs is in Table 12-2.
12-69. Attachments are part of an order. Using them increases the base order’s clarity and usefulness by
keeping it short. Attachments include information (such as sustainment), administrative support details, and
instructions that expand upon the base order.
12-70. Commanders and staffs are not required to develop all attachments listed in Table 12-2. The
number and type of attachments depend on the commander, level of command, and complexity or needs of
14 September 2011 ATTP 5-0.1 12-9