Operation Plan
Any plan, except for the Single Integrated Operation Plan, for the conduct of military operations. Plans are prepared by combatant commanders in response to requirements established by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and by commanders of subordinate commands in response to requirements tasked by the establishing unified commander. Operation plans (OPLANs) are prepared in either a complete format of an OPLAN or as a concept plan (CONPLAN).
a. OPLAN
An operation plan for the conduct of joint operations that can be used as a basis for development of an operation order (OPORD). An OPLAN identifies the forces and supplies required to execute the CINC's Strategic Concept and a movement schedule of these resources to the theater of operations. The forces and supplies are identified in time-phased force de-ployment data (TPFDD) files. OPLANs will include all phases of the tasked operation. The plan is prepared with the appropriate annexes, appendixes, and TPFDD files as described in the Joint Operation Planning and Execution System manuals containing planning policies, procedures, and formats.
b. CONPLAN
An operation plan in an abbreviated format that would require considerable expansion or alteration to convert it into an OPLAN or OPORD. A CONPLAN contains the CINC's strategic concept and those annexes and appendixes deemed necessary by the combatant commander to complete plan-ning. Generally, detailed support requirements are not calculated and TPFDD files are not prepared. (Joint Pub 1-02)
