text: Comprehensive Tactical Planning in Counterinsurgency
  Step 1: Receive Mission
  4-107. Receipt of a mission may occur with a written or verbal WARNORD, FRAGO, or OPORD. Due
  to the ambiguity in COIN operations, companies or platoons often start planning after identifying an
  insurgent vulnerability, receiving HUMINT, or after having a conversation with a local leader.
  4-108. Upon receipt of a mission, leaders must rapidly assess the situation using METT-TC. Leaders
  must provide additional emphasis on analyzing civil considerations by using the ASCOPE method.
  4-109. In a time constrained situation, an ongoing assessment of the AO using the operational variables
  (PMESII-PT) should provide relevant information to accomplish the mission. Based on current
  information, leaders estimate and allocate 1/3 of available time to plan and prepare for the mission,
  including time to accommodate the language barrier with HN security forces; and the remaining 2/3 of the
  available time for subordinates' planning and rehearsals. This remains relevant in a COIN environment.
  Step 2: Issue Warning Order
  4-110. Once done with the initial assessment, leaders issue the best possible WARNORDs, often called
  WARNORD 1, with the information at hand. They also draw relevant information from their ongoing
  assessment of the AO using the operational variables (PMESII-PT). Typically, three WARNORDs are
  issued. Each builds upon the previous one. Normally, a WARNORD consists of—
  • Mission.
  • Time and place of the OPORD.
  • Units participating in the operation.
  • Specific tasks.
  • Time line of the operation.
  Step 3: Make a Tentative Plan
  4-111. Once the WARNORD is issued, leaders build a tentative plan by combining mission analysis,
  COA development, COA analysis, COA comparison, and COA approval. Within companies and platoons,
  these steps are less structured and are often done mentally by the leader.
  Mission Analysis
  4-112. Leaders use the METT-TC format to conduct mission analysis as they expand on the hasty
  analysis they conducted in step one. After mission analysis is complete, an updated WARNORD,
  WARNORD 2 is issued. In a COIN environment, special consideration must be given to—
  Mission
  4-113. Units create their restated mission statement after analyzing higher headquarters’ mission
  or analyzing their particular problem. It may take multiple times of conducting mission analysis to fully
  grasp the problem.
  Enemy
  4-114. Units use the tools from Chapter 2 (elements of an insurgency, dynamics of an insurgency, the six
  insurgent strategies, insurgent tactics and the strengths and vulnerabilities of insurgents) to help further
  identify the group or groups of insurgents they may encounter. Then, define composition, disposition,
  recent activities, most probable COA, and most dangerous COA.
  Terrain and Weather
  4-115. No significant changes from FM 5-0.