text: Chapter 4
  mission ofadjacent units must be analyzed to understand how they contribute to the decisive operation
  oftheirhigherheadquarters.
  COMMANDER’S INTENT
  4-4. The ABNAF commander’s intent is a clear and concise expression of the purpose of the operation
  and the desired military end state that supports mission command, provides focus to the staff, and helps
  subordinate and supporting commanders act to achieve the commander’s desired results without further
  orders,evenwhentheoperationdoesnotunfoldasplanned(JP 3-0).ABNAFplannersreceive theABNAF
  commander’sintentas soon aspossibleafterthe mission is received.Evenifthe groundtacticalplan is not
  complete,airborneassaultplanningoftenbeginsaftertheABNAFCissueshisintent.
  CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
  4-5. Theconceptofoperations is a statementthatdirectsthe manner in whichsubordinate units cooperate
  toaccomplishthe missionandestablishesthesequence ofactionstheforcewilluse toachieve the end state
  (ADRP 5-0). The concept of operations expands on the commander’s intent by describing how the
  commanderwantsthe forcetoaccomplishthe mission. Itstatestheprincipaltasksrequired,theresponsible
  subordinate units, and how the principal tasks complement one another. Commanders and staff use the
  operationalframeworktohelpconceptualizeanddescribetheirconceptofoperation.
  4-6. The operational framework proves the commander with basic conceptual options for visualizing and
  describing operations in time, space, purpose, and resources. Commanders are not bound by any specific
  frameworkfor conceptuallyorganizingoperations, and may use one ofthree conceptual frameworkslisted
  below or in combination. These operational frameworks apply equally to both operational and tactical
  actions,andarelistedasfollows:
  (cid:122) Thedeep-close-securityframeworktodescribetheoperationintimeandspace.
  (cid:122) Thedecisive-shaping-sustainingframeworktoarticulatetheoperationintermsofpurpose.
  (cid:122) Themainandsupportingeffortsframeworktodesignatetheshiftingprioritizationofresources.
  4-7. The deep-close-security operational framework has historically been associated with terrain
  orientationbutcan beapplied to temporal andorganizationalorientationsas well.Deep operationsinvolve
  effortstopreventuncommittedenemyforcesfrombeingcommittedin a coherent manner.Close operations
  are operations that are within a subordinate commander’s area of operations. Security operations involve
  efforts to provide an early and accurate warning of enemy operations and to provide time and maneuver
  spacewithinwhichtoreacttotheenemy.
  4-8. The decisive-shaping-sustaining framework lends itself to a broad conceptual orientation. The
  decisive operation is the operation that directly accomplishes the mission (ADRP 3-0). It determines the
  outcome of a major operation, battle, or engagement. A shaping operation is an operation that establishes
  conditions for the decisive operationthrougheffects on the enemy, other actors, and the terrain(ADRP 3-
  0). A sustaining operation is an operation at any echelon that enables the decisive operation or shaping
  operationbygeneratingandmaintainingcombatpower(ADRP 3-0).
  4-9. The main and supporting efforts operational framework—simpler than other organizing
  frameworks—focuses on prioritizing effort among subordinate units. Therefore, leaders can use the main
  and supporting efforts with either the deep-close-security framework or the decisive-shaping-sustaining
  framework.Themaineffortis a designatedsubordinate unitwhose missionat a givenpointintimeis most
  critical to overall mission success (ADRP 3-0). It usually is weighted with the preponderance of combat
  power. A supporting effort is a designated subordinate unit with a missionthat supportsthe success of the
  maineffort(ADRP 3-0).(RefertoADRP 3-0 for moreinformation.)
  TASKS TO SUBORDINATES
  4-10. Taskstosubordinate unitsdirectindividualunitstoperformspecifictasks.Theyare a clearlydefined
  and measurableactivityaccomplishedbyindividualsandorganizationsandcontributetoaccomplishingthe
  ABNAFmissionorotherrequirements.Theassignmentofa taskincludes notonlythetask(what),butalso