10th Edition

A Joint Planning Primer

The purpose of this primer is to bridge the gap between conceptual planning (Operational Art/Design) and detailed planning (Joint Planning Process (JPP)). Often, discussions of operational art and JPP are treated as separate subjects when in fact they are two halves of the same whole. This artificial separation contributes to a checklist mentality resulting in a product focused planning effort with little regard to the conceptual foundations or intent of the commander. This primer also explains the linkages between the strategic, operational and tactical levels of war from a planning perspective. The purpose is to improve the understanding of the relevant considerations in operational art and detailed planning and their linkages.

This work is not authoritative or prescriptive and contains emerging ideas, techniques and best practices on the application of broad doctrinal concepts from a variety of contributors and sources.  It is meant to complement existing joint doctrine and it assumes some familiarity with joint doctrine on the part of the reader. This is not a substitute for the study of joint doctrinal publications.  Although based largely on US joint doctrine, which continually changes, some ideas presented will challenge doctrine and where this occurs it will be identified.

In COLOR

This book is a "BIG" (the size of a regular piece of paper) size - Coil binding is used to allow for easy page flipping with no binding.

This website also has this book in "mini" size (half the size of a regular sheet of paper). A popular size to carry anywhere (briefcase, large pocket, purse) but the print is large enough for easy reading.

The Color covers are laminated for weather protection.