scope:

PURPOSE. This Instruction establishes policies, procedures, roles, and responsibilities for the Coast Guard Standard Operational Planning Process (SOPP) to achieve the following objectives: a. Standardize the core operational planning products currently in use at Headquarters, Areas, Districts, and Sectors; b. Represent a sufficient set of products to meet the intent of regular operational planning, especially distributing regularly scheduled guidance and tasking down the chain of command and providing status and assessments back up the chain; c. Allow adequate alignment and sequencing of planning processes and products vertically and horizontally across organizational layers; d. Translate and communicate strategic intent, through planning guidance and direction, influence mission execution; e. Collect and communicate feedback from mission execution to measure mission performance; and f. Inform subsequent strategic, budgetary, readiness, and operational planning efforts.

APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE. Operational planning as described in this Instruction refers to the annual cycle of planning for routine Coast Guard operations and does not specifically address strategic, budget, crisis action, or contingency-related planning. However, the information generated from the SOPP will serve to inform these other planning processes.