118. Marine Corps Planning Process

Question 1

What is the strategic level of war?

Answer 1

Level of war at which a nation, often as a member of a group of nations, determines national or multinational (alliance or coalition) strategic security objectives and guidance, and develops and uses national resources to achieve these objectives.

Question 2

What is the operational level of war?

Answer 2

The level of war at which campaigns and major operations are planned, conducted, and sustained to achieve strategic objectives within theaters or other operational areas.

Question 3

What is the tactical level of war?

Answer 3

The level of war at which battles and engagements are planned and executed to achieve military objectives assigned to tactical units or task forces.

Question 4

Discuss the role, organization and function of an Operational Planning Team.

Answer 4

Task-organized planning element that supports the commander and his staff’s decision-making process. Helping the commander understand the true nature of the problem as a basis for devising practical solutions. Providing a common venue (the OPT) for the sharing of information. · Integrating the planning efforts of the battle staff and subject matter experts (SME) across the MAGTF · Coordinating planning activities across the warfighting functions and echelons of command, and throughout the battlespace to facilitate unity of effort in support of mission accomplishment.

Question 5

What are the steps of the MCPP?

Answer 5

1. Problem Framing
   • Formal: response to indications and warnings
   • Informal: orders or directive including the HHQ mission and tasks to subordinate command
2. Course of Action:
3. Development:
   • one or more options for how the mission and the commanders intent might be
   accomplished in accordance with the commanders understanding as a result of the design
   effort that began during problem framing
4. War-games:
   • To improve the plan. Examines and refines options in light of adversary capabilities and
   potential actins/reactions as well as other factors
5. Comparison/Decision:
   • The commander evaluates each friendly COA against established criteria / compares them
   with each-other and selects best COA to achieve mission
6. Orders Development:
   • Translate decision into oral, written, and graphic communication to guide implementation
7. Transition:
   • Shift from planning to execution; may involve briefs, drills, or rehearsals

Question 6

Describe Time-Phased Force and Deployment Data.

Answer 6

The JOPES database portion of an operation plan; it contains time-phased force data, non-unit-related cargo and personnel data, and movement data for the operation plan including: In-place units, Units to be deployed to support the operation plan, Routing of forces to be deployed, Movement data associated with deploying forces, Estimates of non-unit-related cargo and personnel movements to be conducted concurrently with the deployment of forces, Estimate of transportation requirements that must be fulfilled by common-user lift resources as well as those requirements that can be fulfilled by assigned or attached transportation resources

Question 7

Define Operational Plan.

Answer 7

1. Any plan for the conduct of military operations prepared in response to actual and potential contingencies.
2. In the context of joint operation planning level 4 planning detail, a complete and detailed joint plan containing a full description of the concept of operations, all annexes applicable to the plan, and a time-phased force and deployment data.

Question 8

Define Functional Plan.

Answer 8

Plans that cover specific types of functions or activities such as aviation, logistics, comms, disaster relief, national assistance, etc

Question 9

What are the three tenets of MCPP?

Answer 9

1. Top down planning – the commander drives the process and is not just a participant.
2. Single Battle Concept – the battlespace is an indivisible entity.
3. Integrated planning – a disciplined approach that is systematic, coordinated and thorough using all of the warfighting functions.

Question 10

Define Concept Plan.

Answer 10

An operation plan in an abbreviated format that may require considerable expansion or alteration to convert it into an OPLAN or OPORD. It includes a base plan with annexes required by the JFC and a supported commander’s estimate of the plan’s feasibility