text: Planning
  PARTICIPATE IN COMMANDER’S INITIAL ASSESSMENT
  4-21. Initial assessment primarily focuses on time and resources available to plan, prepare and begin
  execution of an operation. The IO officer assesses readiness to participate in ADM and MDMP, as well as
  what external support might be necessary to ensure effective IO planning.
  4-22. During the initial assessment, the IO officer establishes a battle rhythm, including locations, times,
  preparation requirements, and the anticipated schedule. Upon receiving a new mission, the IO officer begins
  gathering planning tools, including a copy of the higher command OPLAN or OPORD, maps of the area of
  operations, appropriate references, and the running estimate. During initial assessment, the IO officer also
  coordinates with organic, assigned, and available IRCs and subordinate units to gauge their planning
  readiness.
  4-23. Initial time allocation is important to IO because some operations and activities require significant time
  to produce effects or for assessment. The time available may be a limiting factor for some IRCs. The IO
  officer identifies activities for which this is the case and includes these limitations in estimates and
  recommendations.
  4-24. The commander determines when to execute time-constrained MDMP. Under time-constrained
  conditions, the IO officer relies on existing tools and products, either his or her own or those of higher
  headquarters. The lack of time to conduct reconnaissance requires planners to rely more heavily on
  assumptions and increases the importance of routing combat information and intelligence to the people who
  need it. A current running estimate is essential to planning in time-constrained conditions.
  PROVIDE INPUT TO THE COMMANDER’S INITIAL GUIDANCE
  4-25. Commanders include IO-specific guidance in their initial guidance, as required. Examples include
  authorized movements of IRCs, initiation of information collection necessary to support IO, and delineation
  of IRs.
  PROVIDE INPUT TO THE INITIAL WARNING ORDER
  4-26. A WARNORD is issued after the commander and staff have completed their initial assessment and
  before mission analysis begins. It includes, at a minimum, the type and general location of the operation,
  initial timeline, and any movements or reconnaissance that need to be initiated. When they receive the initial
  WARNORD, subordinate units begin parallel planning.
  4-27. Parallel planning and collaborative planning are routine MDMP techniques. The time needed to
  achieve and assess effects in the information environment makes it especially important to successful IO.
  Effective parallel or collaborative planning requires all echelons to share information fully as soon as it is
  available. Information sharing includes providing higher headquarters plans, orders, and guidance to
  subordinate IO officers or representatives.
  4-28. Because some IRCs require a long time to plan or must begin execution early in an operation, follow-
  on WARNORDs may include detailed IO information. Although the MDMP includes three points at which
  commanders issue WARNORDs, the number of WARNORDs is not fixed. WARNORDs serve a purpose in
  planning similar to that of a fragmentary order (FRAGORD) during execution. Commanders issue both, as
  the situation requires. Possible IO officer input to the initial WARNORD includes:
  * Tasks to subordinate units and IRCs for early initiation of approved IO actions, particularly for
  military deception operations and MISO.
  * Essential elements of friendly information (EEFIs) to facilitate defend weighted efforts and begin
  the OPSEC process.
  * Known hazards and risk guidance.
  * Military deception guidance and priorities.