1. USSOUTHCOM J35 Organization and Functions
SCJ35 Future Operations Division
Operational Planning Group

2. Objectives
Understand organization and composition of the USSOUTHCOM Crisis Action Battlestaff Operations
Familiarize with OPG planning techniques, procedures, and products used during crisis action planning (CAP) at the operational level

3. SOUTHCOM Mission
USSOUTHCOM conducts military operations and security cooperation activities in support of the War on Terrorism to assure our allies and friends, dissuade our adversaries, deter any aggression or coercion, and if necessary, decisively defeat any adversary in order to protect and promote U.S. national interests and objectives.

4. USSOUTHCOM Regulation 10-3 Crisis Action Battlestaff Operations

5. Definition of a Crisis
An incident or situation involving a threat to the United States, it’s citizens, military forces, and possessions or vital interests that develops rapidly and creates a condition of such diplomatic, economic, political, or military importance that the commitment of U.S. Military Forces and resources and resources is contemplated to achieve National Objectives.

6. USSOUTHCOM Reg 10-3 Definitions and Terms
Joint Operations and Intelligence Center (JOIC)
Conducts 24-hour operations and is manned by rotating, seven-person watch teams. Responsible for Theater-wide Indications and Warning; monitoring daily operations within AOR; and maintaining communications with deployed forces, component and subordinate commands and the National Military Command Center.
Crisis Action Team (CAT)
Staff elements assigned to conduct planning and coordinate operations in support of crisis resolution. The SCJ35 is designated as the CAT Director. The elements of the CAT are: SCJ33’s Current Operations Group (COG), SCJ35’s Operational Planning Group (OPG), SCJ4’s Logistic Readiness Center (LRC) and Joint Movement Center (JMC) and SCJ6’s Theater C4 Coordination Center (TCCC).

7. USSOUTHCOM Reg 10-3 Definitions and Terms (Con’t)
Current Operations Group (COG)
Trained and functionally qualified J33 personnel assigned to the CAT focused on planning and executing crisis response. The COG receives plans developed by the OPG planners and executes them in accordance with the Combatant Commander’s guidance.
Operational Planning Group (OPG)
Task organized planners assigned to SCJ35. This planning cell can operate independently or be integrated into the CAT. The OPG analyzes information, prepares short range ( hours out/next phase), and submits recommendations to CDRUSSOUTHCOM to support crisis/conflict resolutions. The OPG conducts mission analysis and course of action development in support of the Commander’s Estimate.

8. Organizing the OPS Planning Group (OPG)
Staff
Coordination J2 J3
Core Planners
Component Planners
DJTFAC
Reps as required
Planning Cell J1 J2
Rep J3
Rep J4 J1
Rep J4
Rep
OPG
JTF
Comp
Comp
LNOs J5 J5
Rep
Med
Rep J6
Rep
Med
SJA
Rep PA
Rep J6
Staff
Coordination
SJA PA

9. Operational Concept Development
Steady-State and Crisis Activities
Operations Monitoring
Colombia Response Cell
In CAP:
Activities < 24 hrs
Current Ops Group (COG)
DJTFAC
FRAGOs
Theater Security Cooperation
FUNCPLAN-CONPLANs
In CAP:
Activities > 120 hrs
Sequels
Operational Concept Development
In CAP:
Activities hrs out
Crisis Action Team Chief
CDR’s Assessment
WARNORD/PLANORD
CDR’s Estimate
EXORD/Branches

10. J35/OPG

11. J35 Mission
During crisis, form core of the Operational Planning Group (OPG) in order to conduct crisis action planning to rapidly resolve situations/events occurring within the Area of Responsibility (AOR)
During deliberate planning, develop the Operations Annex / Appendices for all J5-maintained CONPLANs and FUNCPLANs in order to meet JSCP-directed Regional Taskings
In steady state, develop operational concepts and perform tasks that fall outside J5 and J33 purview in order to ensure effective coordination, planning, and execution of operations and staff activities

12. J35 Manning Chief Future Ops Division 0350 001 Vacant Deputy Chief
Developing
Chief Ops Planning Grp
LTC Murray
Amphibious Ops Officer
LtCol Jeffries
Naval Ops Officer
LCDR Savageaux
Ground Ops Officer
MAJ(P) Mundell
Transport Planner
LtCol(S) Rosenquist
Ops Officer
MAJ Padilla
Air Ops Officer
Vacant
Intel Targeting Officer
IO Targeting Officer
Mr. Sprengle

13. J35/OPG Crisis Action Planning

14. Plan Development: OPORD Evolution
Planning
TPFDD (Deployment)
TRANSCOM
Planning
Input
Mission
Analysis
COA
Development
Requirement
Build
COA
Development
Cdr’s
Guidance
COA
Development
Rough
Feasibility
COA
Analysis
Sequencing
Deployment
Estimate
COA
Comparison
Force
Refinement
Sequencing
COA
Selection
Validate
TPFDD
OPORD

15. JTF Planning CAP Documents CC JTF CJCS Warning Order Planning or
Situation
Development II
Crisis
Assessment
III
COA
Development IV
COA
Selection V
Execution
Planning VI
Execution
CJCS
Warning Order
Planning or
Alert Order
Deploy or
Execute Order
CDR’s
Assessment CC
Warning
Order
Estimate
Plan /
Alert
Deploy Order
or Execute
CJCS CC
JTF
JTF Planning
Cdr’s
Estimate
OPORD

16. CAP Processes Step 1 Mission analysis (The most critical step)
Define and analyze the operational environment
A composite of all the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect the employment of military forces and bear on the decisions of the unit commander.
IN SHORT: The factors and variables that affect where soldiers will live, work, and fight.
Must be an integrated effort across all functional areas
Imperative during HA/DR type operations

17. CAP Processes Step 1 Mission analysis (The most critical step)
Define and analyze the operational environment
Enemy
Demographics
Infrastructure
Terrain
Political influences
Local regional policies, charters, resolutions
IO/NGO considerations

18. CAP Processes Step 1 Mission analysis (The most critical step)
Specified/Implied/Essential Tasks (By functional area)
Assets available (Not just military)
Facts, assumptions, Constraints
Risk (Operational, Environmental)
Restated mission
Receive Commander’s guidance

19. CAP Processes Step 2 Course of action development (Tenants)
Centers of gravity
Capabilities, Requirements, Vulnerabilites
Define ways, ends, ways, means
Objectives, Methods, Requirements (forces)
Define C2 structure (JTF, CJTF, Components)
Operational phasing
Basing option and plan
Forces required

20. CAP Processes Step 3 Course of action analysis
Determine evaluative criteria up front
Cdr’s guidance/intent, principles of war, other
Advantages and disadvantages
Wargame
Critical events by phase
Box, belt techniques
Record results synchronization matrix

21. JTF Planning CAP Documents CDR JTF CJCS Planning Order CJCS Deploy or
Situation
Development II
Crisis
Assessment
III
COA
Development IV
COA
Selection V
Execution
Planning VI
Execution
CJCS
Planning
Order
080138Z Feb 03
CJCS
Deploy or
Execute Order
CJCS
CDR
JTF
CJCS
Warning Order
212350Z Feb 03
CDR’s
Assessment
140259Z Feb 03
CDR’s
Warning
Order #2
231804Z Feb 03
CDR’s
CONOPS
141843Z Mar 03
CDR’s
Estimate
221358Z Feb 03
CDR
Deploy Order
or Execute
Order
CDR’s
Warning
Order #1
140233Z Feb 03
Z Feb 03
CDR’s
CONOPS
282103Z Feb 03
JTF Planning
OPORD

22. Transition from Planning to Execution
Develop
Plans / Orders
Operations
Develop
TPFDD
Modify Plans / Orders
Issue / Synchronize JTF Plans / Orders
Prepare / Conduct JTF Rehearsals
Cross-walks
Backbriefs
Execute JTF
Operations
Full Force
Partial Force
Cdrs & Staff
Staff only

23. And Finally… Think Ahead Refer to Doctrine, but don’t die by it
Look around – someone probably knows something
Moderate the “Good Idea Generators”
Keep your cool

24. Useful References
CJCSM , “Joint Task Force Headquarters Master Training Guide,” March 2000
Joint Pub 3-0, “Doctrine for Joint Operations,” 1 February 1995
Joint Pub , “Joint Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Noncombatant Evacuation Operations,” 30 September 1997
Joint Pub 5-0, “Doctrine for Planning Joint Operations,” 13 April 1995
USSOCOM Integrated Survey Program
USSOUTHCOM CONPLAN 6150

25. Questions? DSN 567-3503/4/5 SCJ35 Future Operations Division
Operational Planning Group