Which order is a planning directive that provides essential planning guidance and directs the initiation of plan development after the directing authority approves a military course of action?

• A. Alert Order
• B. OPLAN
• C. Concept of Operations
• D. Operation Plan

Answer: (A)

The Alert Order is the planning directive that kicks off planning after a directing authority approves a military course of action. It provides essential planning guidance—such as initial tasks, priorities, constraints, and timelines—and directs the staff to begin plan development immediately, setting the direction for how the concept will be shaped into a formal plan. The other options are mature plan products, not the initiating directive: an Operation Plan is the comprehensive plan produced after planning is complete, a Concept of Operations is a high‑level description of how the operation will be conducted within the plan, and an OPLAN is a full plan that results from the planning process rather than the trigger to start planning.