text: Planning
  the deception story. Employing various conduits in a timely and believable manner is of the utmost
  importance. This dynamic clearly underscores the value and importance of the IO officer in the deception
  process.
  Executable
  2-61. A supported commander has the resources and authority to execute a deception story and the time
  available. Time, and echelon when it is employed, may limit the scope and depth of the deception story,
  which is why planners continually assess the synchronization and deception event schedule.
  Believable
  2-62. A believable deception story corresponds to the deception target’s perceptions of the friendly force’s
  mission, intentions, and capabilities. An enemy will likely discount notional plans or forces that grossly
  distort actual friendly capabilities. An enemy often meets unverifiable deception with suspicion and doubt.
  Additionally, enemies will not believe stories that closely copy past and already exposed deception
  operations. The deception story must be believable both in its parts and as a whole. If one or more of the
  parts do not fit into the complete picture, they may create enough suspicion to reveal the deception.
  Consistent
  2-63. An effective deception story matches the target’s understanding of actual friendly doctrine, historical
  force employment, campaign strategy, tactics, current operational situation, and conditioned patterns of
  friendly activity. The deception element must have as complete a picture as possible of the deception target’s
  level of knowledge and belief in these areas.
  Step 6—Develop the Deception Event Schedule
  2-64. A deception event is a deception means executed at a specific time and location in support of a
  deception operation (JP 3-13.4). The deception event schedule is the tool used to sequence deception events
  for a logical progression of the deception story and to synchronize the deception with the broader plan. This
  schedule requires identifying when the MDO employs specific deception events. The schedule aims to
  influence the deception target’s perceptions in time and space so the target completes the desired action (the
  deception objective) at the most operationally advantageous moment. The deception event schedule captures
  what will occur, when it will take place, where it will occur, and who will control the execution. Each planned
  deception event has a unique number to facilitate coordination and execution tracking. It is imperative that
  MDOs synchronize and deconflict the deception event schedule with the unit’s operations synch matrix.
  Figure 2-1 on page 2-12 depicts the steps leading up developing the event schedule.
  2-65. Deception events are activities conducted through deception means at a specific time and location to
  convey the deception story to the target. Deception events build observables that create desired perceptions.
  The observables and desired perceptions are two key elements of the deception story. To convey the story,
  the enemy needs to sense and observe the events. If the enemy’s intelligence system can see, sense, or detect
  the deception event, then it can collect the information it needs to piece together the deception story. The
  systematic, yet seemingly random, projection of deception story elements by multiple means at varied times
  also makes the deception more believable. The MDO carefully ensures that information appears as
  legitimately collected. The enemy usually suspects important military information that is too easy to obtain.
  2-66. Based on the commander’s final decision as to how to portray the story, the MDO develops the
  deception event schedule in a time-ordered sequence. This schedule captures all friendly actions (deception
  events), executing elements, and execution reporting and coordination requirements involved in the deception
  operation. It also directly supports the tasking of friendly resources, coordination with other staff elements,
  and identification of administrative and logistics requirements. MDOs consider the following factors when
  building the deception event schedule:
  * The overall plan.
  * The timing of actual friendly activities in the operations synch matrix.
  * The time required for friendly forces to conduct the deception activity.