allied command operations comprehensive operations planning

412 Pages·2012·2.26 MB·English

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SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWER EUROPE
BELGIUM
17 Dec 10
ALLIED COMMAND OPERATIONS
COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONS
PLANNING DIRECTIVE
COPD INTERIM V1.0
17 DECEMBER 2010
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COPD V1.0

PREFACE

1. Allied Command Operations Comprehensive Operations Planning Directive (COPD)
Interim Version 1.0 (V 1.0) is a complete rewrite of, and supersedes, ACO COPD trial version
issued on 25 February 2010. It is issued cognisant of the fact that there is much on-going work
which will have an influence on the COPD, such as: NATO’s Strategic Concept; NATO Crisis
Response System Manual; NATO’s Contribution to a Comprehensive Approach; policy on
operations planning with the rewrite of MC 133/3 Operational Planning System (MC133/4); MC
guidance on the use of effects in operations; and harmonisation of definitions.

2. While recognising that the COPD is not fully mature, there is a requirement for planners
to have access to up-to-date processes from which to train and work to meet current and future
operations planning needs. For example, the recent update of the ISAF OPLAN and planning
for NATO support to flood relief efforts in Pakistan used the most current version of the COPD
for their planning and gained NAC approval.

3. This version of the COPD contains significant improvements from its predecessor, such
as: better alignment with the 6 phase NATO Crisis Management Process; updated document
templates (OPLAN/CONOPS/SPD); increased terminology standardization, inclusion of more
detail on the role of StratCom; updated figures to better reflect refined processes; more
explanation of mission command, to include assigned mission and objectives to subordinate
commands; and updates to the Mission Analysis Brief to reflect changes in the process. The
COPD has been restructured to meet the requirements of an ACO Directive and the chapter on
Operational Art has been moved to an Annex with the intention of removing it completely once
relevant doctrine has been promulgated.

4. The COPD is Unclassified - Releasable to EU/PfP/ISAF so that it can be used across the
NATO international military community to provide common understanding, principles and
approach to operations planning and training. The COPD may also be useful to other actors,
subject to approval, within NATO’s contribution to a comprehensive approach for the promotion
of a common set of procedures for operations planning.(cid:1)(cid:1)Although an interim version, it is to be
used during operations, exercises and training, such as the Operational Planning Course. This
approach will further validate processes and allow improvements to be identified.

5. A final version of the COPD, as an ACO Directive, will be published once policy has been
finalized, and doctrine and process better harmonised.

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COPD V1.0

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COPD V1.0

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUBJECT PAGE(S) PARA.

Record of changes ix

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
Background 1-1 1-1
NATO’s Contribution to Comprehensive Approach 1-2 1-2
Purpose 1-3 1-3
Application 1-4 1-4
Overview of Crisis Response Planning 1-4 1-5
The COPD 1-4 1-6
Other Planning Development in COPD 1-5 1-7

CHAPTER 2 - SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND
KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT

Introduction 2-1 2-1
Knowledge Development Organisation 2-3 2-2
External Coordination 2-5 2-3
The Knowledge Development Process 2-6 2-4
Knowledge Development Impact on Planning 2-13 2-5

CHAPTER 3 - STRATEGIC LEVEL

Introduction 3-1 3-1
Organisation for Strategic Planning Direction 3-3 3-2
Strategic Process and Products 3-3 3-3

PHASE 1 - SITUATION AWARENESS

Section 1 - General
Introduction 3-5 3-4

Section 2 - Process
Maintain Global Strategic Awareness and Determine
3-10 3-5
SACEUR’s Strategic Areas of Interest
Develop System Perspective of the Area of Interest 3-11 3-6
Determine Information and Knowledge Requirements for
3-12 3-7
Area of Interest
Develop and Maintain Information and Knowledge About
3-13 3-8
the Area of Interest
Analyse Systems in the Area of Interest 3-14 3-9

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COPD V1.0

SUBJECT PAGE(S) PARA.

Establish and Maintain Common Situation Awareness 3-15 3-10
Assess Indications and Warnings 3-16 3-11

PHASE 2 - STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT

Section 1 - General
Introduction 3-17 3-12

Section 2 - Process
Initiate SACEUR’s Strategic Assessment 3-21 3-13
Develop a Strategic Appreciation of the Crisis 3-24 3-14
Analyse the Principal Actors and Their Role in the Crisis 3-25 3-15
Assess International Interests and Engagement in the
3-28 3-16
Crisis
Assess Potential Risks and Threats 3-31 3-17
Develop Necessary Assumptions 3-31 3-18
Assess the NATO End State and NATO Strategic
3-31 3-19
Objectives, and Determine Strategic Effects
Assess Alternatives for Strategic Engagement 3-32 3-20
Develop and Submit SACEUR’s Strategic Assessment
3-36 3-21
of the Crisis

PHASE 3 - DEVELOP MILITARY RESPONSE OPTIONS

Section 1 - General
Introduction 3-37 3-22

Section 2 - Process
Review Political Guidance and Direction 3-39 3-23
Develop Possible MROs 3-39 3-24
Analyse, Evaluate and Compare MROs 3-44 3-25
Coordinate SACEUR’s MROs 3-46 3-26
Submit MROs 3-46 3-27

PHASE 4A - STRATEGIC CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS (CONOPS) DEVELOPMENT

Section 1 - General
Introduction 3-48 3-28

Section 2a - Process - Strategic Planning Directive
Initiate Strategic Planning 3-51 3-29
Develop SACEUR’s Initial Strategic Intent and Guidance 3-52 3-30
Review Strategic Design 3-54 3-31
Contribute to the Implementation NATO’s StratCom 3-55 3-32

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SUBJECT PAGE(S) PARA.

Strategy
Develop and Issue SPD 3-56 3-33
Section 2b - Process - Strategic CONOPS
Initiate Development of the Strategic CONOPS 3-58 3-34
Coordinate Operational Requirements 3-59 3-35
Develop the Strategic Logistic Support Concept 3-61 3-36
Develop the Concept of Command and Control 3-62 3-37
Coordinate and Submit Strategic CONOPS 3-63 3-38

PHASE 4B - STRATEGIC OPLAN DEVELOPMENT AND FORCE GENERATION

Introduction 3-65 3-39
Review Force Requirements, Force Availability and
3-68 3-40
Possible Contributions
Coordinate NATO CRMs 3-69 3-41
Initiate Force Activation 3-69 3-42
Coordinate National Offers and Request Forces 3-70 3-43
Activate Enabling Forces for Pre-Deployment 3-71 3-44
Assess Force Contribution and Balance the Force
3-72 3-45
Package
Coordinate Integration of Non-NATO Forces 3-73 3-46
Integrate Forces with OPLAN Development 3-74 3-47
Activate Forces for Deployment 3-75 3-48

PHASE 4B (Continued) - STRATEGIC OPLAN DEVELOPMENT

Introduction 3-76 3-49
Initiate OPLAN Development 3-79 3-50
Develop International Legal Arrangements 3-82 3-51
Synchronise Military and non-Military Activities within a
3-83 3-52
Comprehensive Approach
Plan the Employment of Strategic Resources 3-83 3-53
Plan StratCom 3-85 3-54
Plan for Command and Control 3-87 3-55
Plan Force Preparation and Sustainment 3-89 3-56
Plan for Force Deployment 3-91 3-57
Plan Force Protection 3-93 3-58
Coordinate OPLAN for the Approval and Handover 3-95 3-59

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SUBJECT PAGE(S) PARA.

PHASE 5 - EXECUTION/OPERATIONS ASSESSMENT AT THE STRATEGIC
LEVEL/OPLAN REVIEW

Handover of the OPLAN 3-96 3-60

PHASE 6 - TRANSITION

Introduction 3-97 3-61

CHAPTER 4 - OPERATIONAL LEVEL

Introduction 4-1 4-1
Operational Process and Products 4-3 4-2
Organisation for Operational Planning and Execution 4-4 4-3

PHASE 1 - SITUATION AWARENESS

Section 1 - General
Purpose 4-8 4-4

Section 2 - Process
Develop a System Perspective of the Designated Area 4-11 4-5
Develop Information/Knowledge Requirements 4-14 4-6

PHASE 2 - OPERATIONAL APPRECIATION OF SACEUR’S STRATEGIC
ASSESSMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF MILITARY RESPONSE OPTIONS

Section 1 - General
Introduction 4-15 4-7

Section 2 - Process
Step 1. Appreciation of SACEUR’s Strategic

Assessment
Initiate an Operational Level Appreciation of the Crisis 4-18 4-8
Appreciation of the Strategic Context of the Crisis 4-20 4-9
Appreciate the Level and Scope of International
4-22 4-10
Engagement
Understand the Desired End State, Strategic and Military
Strategic Objectives 4-24 4-11

Step 2. Assessment of Military Response Options
Analyse Military Response Options 4-25 4-12
Provide Operational Advise 4-29 4-13

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PHASE 3 - OPERATIONAL ORIENTATION

Section 1 - General
Introduction 4-30 4-14

Section 2 - Process
Initiate Operational Orientation 4-33 4-15
Review the Strategic Concept 4-34 4-16
Understand the Operational Environment and the Main
4-35 4-17
Actors
Analyse the Mission 4-37 4-18
Analyse Centres of Gravity 4-42 4-19
Analyse Operational Objectives and Determine Criteria
4-44 4-20
for Success and Operational Effects
Develop the Operational Design 4-45 4-21
Estimate Initial Force/Capability and C2 Requirements 4-47 4-22
Conduct Theatre Reconnaissance and Coordination 4-48 4-23
Conduct MAB, Issue the Commander’s Planning
Guidance for COA Developments, Issue Operational 4-49 4-24
Planning Directive and Submit Requests to SHAPE

PHASE 4A - OPERATIONAL CONOPS DEVELOPMENT

Section 1 - General
Introduction 4-51 4-25

Section 2 - Process
Prepare for Operational CONOPS Development 4-53 4-26
Analyse Opposing COAs and Factors Influencing COA
4-54 4-27
Development
Develop own Courses of Actions 4-56 4-28
Analyse COAs 4-58 4-29
Compare COAs and Select a COA for Concept
4-62 4-30
Development
Produce the CONOPS 4-64 4-31
Develop Force/Capability Requirements 4-68 4-32
Forward the CONOPS and Requirements to SACEUR 4-69 4-33

PHASE 4B - OPERATIONAL OPLAN DEVELOPMENT

Section 1 - General
Introduction 4-70 4-34

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Section 2 - Process
Initiate Plan Development 4-73 4-35
Plan for the Employment of Joint Forces 4-75 4-36
Plan for Command and Control 4-77 4-37
Plan for Force Preparation and Sustainment 4-79 4-38
Plan for Force Deployment 4-80 4-39
Plan for the Protection of the Force 4-83 4-40
Coordinate Plan for Approval and Handover 4-84 4-41

PHASE 5 - EXECUTION, CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OPLAN REVIEW

Introduction 4-86 4-42

PHASE 6 - TRANSITION

Introduction 4-89 4-43

CHAPTER 5 – OPERATIONS ASSESSMENT

Introduction 5-1 5-1
Definitions and Use of Terms 5-1 5-2
Overview of Operations Assessment in Military
5-3 5-3
Operations
The Operations Assessment Process 5-4 5-4
Operations Assessment at the Strategic Level 5-5 5-5
Organisations, Roles and Responsibilities at the
5-5 5-6
Strategic Level
Characteristics of the Operations Assessment at the
5-6 5-7
Strategic Level
Summary - Assessment at the Strategic Level 5-9 5-8
Assessment at the Operational and Tactical Level 5-10 5-9
Organisation, Roles and Responsibilities at the
5-10 5-10
Operational Level
Operations Assessment Process at the Operational and
5-11 5-11
Tactical Level
Summary - Assessment at the Operational and Tactical
5-12 5-12
Level
Interrelations Between Levels of Command 5-13 5-13
Operations Assessment Design and Support to Planning 5-15 5-14
Measures of Effectiveness 5-16 5-15
Developing MOE 5-17 5-16
Measures of Performance 5-17 5-17
Developing Data Collection Plan 5-18 5-18
Causality; A Cautionary Note 5-19 5-19

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