Planning
Series: MCDP -- 5.; MCDP -- 5.
Publisher: U.S. Marine Corps
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Washington, D.C.]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 100
Subjects: Handbooks, manuals; Planning; Military administration; United States. Marine Corps; United States
Description: "This publication describes the theory and philosophy of military planning as practiced by the U.S. Marine Corps. The intent is to describe how we can prepare effectively for future action when the future is uncertain and unpredictable. In so doing, this publication provides all Marines a conceptual framework for planning in peace, in crisis, or in war." -- page [i].
Notes: Cover title.

"21 July 1997" -- page [i].

Includes bibliographical references (pages 93-100).

Also available online from the Internet Archive.  Address as of February 7, 2014:  https://archive.org/details/planning00unse.
Table of contents: title: 1. The nature of planning. Planning and plans defined ; The value of planning ; Categories of military planning ; Planning takes many forms ; Planning as command and control ; The functions of planning and plans ; Types of plans ; Uncertainty and time: planning for an unknowable future ; Complexity: the limits of foresight and design ; Planning misused ; Conclusion; title: 2. Planning theory. The planning process ; Analysis and synthesis ; The planning hierarchy ; Modes of planning ; Planning parameters: detail and horizon ; Decision and execution planning ; Deliberate and rapid planning ; Forward and reverse planning ; Components of a plan ; Tight and loose coupling ; Simplicity and complexity ; Conclusion; title: 3. Planning effectively. Planning in maneuver warfare ; Situational factors ; Simple plans ; Loose, modular plans ; Adaptive, flexible plans ; Timely plans ; Planning in time ; Planning as shaping ; Continuous, evolutionary planning ; Participatory planning ; Commanders and planning ; Plans and orders ; Conclusion.