Naval Doctrine

Naval Intelligence

Points the way for intelligence support in meeting the requirements of both regional conflicts and operations other than war.

Naval Operations

Develops doctrine to reaffirm the foundation of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary maritime traditions.

When military action is one of the potential responses to a situation threatening U.S. interests, a plan is prepared using either the joint deliberate-planning process or crisis-action procedures10. Although military flexibility demands a capability to conduct short-notice crisis planning when necessary, U.S. military strength is best enhanced by deliberate peacetime analysis, planning, and exercises. An operation plan is a commander's complete description of a concept of operation. It is based on the commander's preparation of the battlespace,11 a formal evaluation, supported by intelligence, that integrates enemy doctrine with such factors as physical and environmental conditions. From this evaluation, the commander identifies the forces and support needed to execute the plan within a theater of operations. Naval forces operation plans are integrated into the complete inventory available to the Joint Force Commander. For execution, plans become operation orders. Operation plans include: the theater strategy or general concept and the organizational relationships; the logistics plan shows ways the force will be supported; and the deployment plan sequences the movement of the force and its logistical support into the theater. Elements of planning that produce a concept of operations include the commander's estimate, deciding possible courses of action, preparation of the mission statement and its execution strategy, situation analysis, and formulation of the commander's intent. These elements are applicable up, down, and across chains of command.