text: Chapter 4
  4-25. The long-range plan provides a construct for a commander to describe his vision of the
  operational environment and their unit’s role over time using lines of effort. In addition to describing the
  unit’s tactical objectives and the conditions they create, the plan provides a description of major events.
  Providing a long lead time on major events can be critical to anticipating resources and identifying
  milestones, or identifying and completing a series of interrelated tasks well in advance of the event.
  Friendly forces as in a transfer of authority, the population as in elections, or the insurgency could drive the
  event as it changes in phases, strategies, or organization.
  4-26. Management of long-range plans allows the unit to synchronize its efforts with adjacent units
  and the higher headquarters. When an objective requires the cumulative effect of hundreds of company,
  platoon and squad missions to achieve the desired end state, long-range plans using lines of effort become
  the tool to ensure unity of effort across the echelons. Assessment from current operations is analyzed
  to determine if the desired effect is being achieved, then the long-range plan adjusts the activities of current
  operations to ensure that the unit’s efforts are directed towards the defined end state. Table 4-1 shows
  COIN long-range planning cycles.
  Table 4-1. COIN long-range planning cycle.
  Planning Action Planning Guidance Planning Horizon
  Division Long-Range Plan 3 months prior to start Long-range plan horizon of 1 year
  and Long-Range Calendar Calendar at least 1 year
  BCT Long-Range Plan 2 months prior to start Long-range plan horizon of 1 year
  and Long-Range Calendar Calendar at least 1 year
  Battalion/Squadron Long-Range Plan 1 months prior to start Long-range plan horizon of 1 year
  and Long-Range Calendar Calendar at least 6 months
  MID-RANGE PLANNING
  4-27. Mid-range plans are derived from the long-range plan. The long-range plan narrows the scope to a
  frame of time where objectives or milestones that support objectives can be clearly defined and operations
  planned in detail along all lines of effort. The mid-range plans therefore refine and expand upon the
  appropriate portion of the long-range plan. Mid-range planning should not exceed the unit’s capability
  to reasonably forecast events, assign resources and commit to a particular plan.
  4-28. It is the mid-range plan that analyzes the mission in detail and produces the warning, fragmentary,
  and operations orders that drive daily actions. These plans represent a commitment of resources and initiate
  preparation by subordinate units. Table 4-2 shows various mid-range planning cycles.
  Table 4-2. COIN mid-range planning cycle.
  Planning Action Planning Guidance Planning Horizon
  Division Quarterly FRAGO 6 weeks prior to start 3 months
  of quarter
  BCT Quarterly FRAGO 1 month prior to start 3 months
  of quarter
  Battalion/Squadron Quarterly FRAGO 2 weeks prior to start 3 months
  of quarter
  Company plan and calendar 1 week prior to start 3 months
  of quarter
  Quarterly assessment and backbrief Prior to start 3 months or more
  of quarter