Planning Staff

DRAFT 30 June, 1999

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Associated sections: [ Communications Control Center ] [ Commandant ] [ Corps Commander and Cmd Staff ] [ Intelligence Staff ] [ Sustainment and CSS Staff ] [ Personnel and Manpower Staff ] [ Operations Staff ] [ Personal Staff ] [ Planning Staff ] [ Theater Missile Defense Staff ]

General

The Plans and Policy Division assists the commander in long-range (96 hours out) or future planning, preparation of campaign and joint operation plans, and associated estimates of the situation. The Plans and Policy Division may contain an analytic cell that conducts simulations and analyses to assist the commander in plans preparation activities, or such a cell may be established as a special staff division or section. When the  commander does not organize a separate Plans and Policy Division, the planning functions are performed by the Operations Division." Joint planning.

The EAC Planning Staff must provide political-military oversight for all aspects of the EAC’s operations to include HNS, NEO, CA, and ROE. The following  is a list, not all-inclusive, of EAC Planning Staff responsibilities. Prepare and coordinate required OPLANs or OPORDs in support of assigned CEAC  missions. These plans or orders may exist as a coordinated part of a combatant commander’s plans or orders or as a supporting OPLAN or OPORD. OPLANs or OPORDs may be prepared in response to a combatant command’s planning directive or a directive by the CEAC. As operations are executed, the Planning Staff will prepare OPLANs or OPORDs as directed in support of future operations.

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Organization

The 1986 Corps TOE has the G3 Plans cell composed of G2, G3 and G4 standing billets working in the operations staff. Under the Corps XXI Operations and Organization Concept the G3 Plans Cell becomes the G/J35 Planning Cell still in the operations staff conducting planning 24-96 hours in advance of operations including branch plans.  The former G5 (1986 Corps TOE) now becomes the G/J5 Planning Staff (96+ hours in advance of operations including sequels) to align the corps staff structure with the joint community.  The former G5 Civil Military Operations is now a subordinate cell in the operations section.   Again this structure aligns with the joint community.  The new G/J5 also gains additional subordinate cells that further support a tactical headquarters operating as either a tactical warfighter participating in operational level actions as well as allows the corps to transition to a operational level headquarters for the C2 of EAC organizations to include sister service integration and/or participation.  This new structure is depicted below.

Transition from 1986 TOE structure to Corps XXI organization:

• The entire former G2 plans staff moves from the G2 plans cells into the Corps XXI G/J5 Plans Cell.
• Within the G/J5 Plans Cell staff select billets have the dual responsibility to form the initial army augmentation to the remaining G/J5 cells of Administration, JOPES, Policy, Strategy and together form the central planning group for the JPG.

Use this menu to jump to detailed discussions on each of these cells.
Administration, Planning Staff
Joint Operation Planning and Execution System Cell
Joint Planning Group
Plans Cell
Policy Cell
Strategy Cell

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Procedure

The CEAC will make the decision on how planning will be accomplished for the EAC.   Regardless of how it is accomplished, planning requires the full integration and synchronization of the EAC staff. The requirement for a EAC may be identified in either the deliberate planning process or the CAP process   Deliberate planning is conducted principally in peacetime to develop joint OPLANs for contingencies identified in strategic planning documents. CAP is based on current events and conducted in time-sensitive situations and emergencies using assigned, attached, and allocated forces and resources. Crisis action planners base their plan on the actual circumstances that exists at the time planning occurs. Optimally,a EAC should be established before or during CAP Phase III (course of action development) to allow the designated CEAC and staff to participate in as much of the CAP process as possible. A EAC performs joint planning functions similar to those of combatant commands for a specified mission or designated JOA  In "close-hold" planning scenarios, CEAC and key EAC staff members should be included in the planning process at the earliest opportunity. CAP begins when a significant incident or event is reported to an appropriate government agency and ends when the EAC has established fully functioning J staffs with current and future operations staffs.   Once CAP is activated, effective interaction is essential to optimize information flow and coordinate planning activities among the NCA, Joint Staff, Services, Defense agencies, combatant commands, CEAC, designated forces, and other members of the Joint Planning and Execution Community (JPEC). The CEAC staff must maintain a close relationship with the supported combatant commander’s staff during CAP Phases III-VI to ensure that planning activities are coordinated. It is important that the CEAC keeps the EAC components informed of planning initiatives — the CEAC should strive to have EAC components assigned for planning as early as feasible. For further details, see JP 5-0, "Doctrine for Planning Joint Operations."

Back to contents.   For more information on the CAP process see Joint Planning Group.

Manning

Planning Staff, Planning - To send feedback use this e-mail link Billet Feedback.

Joint Operations Planning and Execution System (JOPES), Planning - To send feedback use this
e-mail link Billet Feedback.

Plans Cell, Planning - To send feedback use this e-mail link Billet Feedback.

Policy Cell, Planning - To send feedback use this e-mail link Billet Feedback.

Strategy Cell, Planning - To send feedback use this e-mail link Billet Feedback.

Joint Planning Group (JPG)   - To send feedback use this e-mail link Billet Feedback.

If the Commander, JTF decides to establish a JPG, it should be done as early as possible in the
standup of the JTF.  The Commander, JTF must clearly indicate the desired staff relationships during planning and execution, especially between the J3 and J5. 

IAW the JTF SOP, Chapter 5, annex E, the following staffing considerations are provided: 

1.  Primarily, the JPG should consist of representatives from the J3, between Current Operations
(J33) and Future Operations (J35).

2.  The J35 is then the element responsible for the formation and leadership of the JPG. 

3.  The JPG should be composed of representatives from appropriate JTF Staff sections and
components, both functional and service, and other agencies as deemed necessary.

Awaiting feedback from the field for billet information for the following cells, sections, centers
(right column).  Wire diagram posted for reference. To send feedback use this e-mail link Billet Feedback.

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Operational Tasks

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Tactical Tasks

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DRAFT