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(Note) Include the full heading if attachment is distributed separately from the base order or higher-level attachment.

(Annex Title) ANNEX L (INFORMATION COLLECTION) TO OPERATION PLAN/ORDER [number] [(codename)]—[issuing headquarters] [(classification of title)]

(References) References: List documents essential to understanding Annex L

List maps and charts first. Map entries include series number, country, sheet names or numbers, edition, and scale.

List other references in subparagraphs labeled as shown.

Doctrinal references for this annex include FM 2-0 and FM 6-0.

Time Zone Used Throughout the Order: Write the time zone established in the base plan or order.

(U Mil para) Situation.

Area of Interest. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) or Appendix 2 (Operation Overlay) to Annex C (Operations).

Area of Operations. Refer to Appendix 2 (Operation Overlay) to Annex C (Operations).

Terrain. Describe the aspects of terrain that impact information collection. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) as required.

Weather. Describe the aspects of weather that impact information collection. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) as required.

Enemy Forces. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) as required.

Friendly Forces. Refer to base order, Annex A (Task Organization) and Annex C (Operations) as required.

Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Nongovernmental Organizations. Identify and describe other organizations in the area of operations that may impact the conduct of operations or implementation of information collection-specific equipment and tactics. Refer to Annex V (Interagency Coordination) as required.

Civil Considerations. Describe the critical aspects of the civil situation that impact information collection activities. Refer to Appendix 1 (Intelligence Estimate) to Annex B (Intelligence) and Annex K (Civil Affairs Operations) as required.

Attachments and Detachments. If pertinent, list units or assets attached to or detached from the issuing headquarters. State when each attachment or detachment is effective (for example, on order, on commitment of the reserve) if different from the effective time of the base plan or order. Do not repeat information already listed in Annex A (Task Organization).

Assumptions. List any information collection-specific assumptions that support the annex development.

Mission. State the mission of information collection in support of the operation—a short description of the who, what (task), when, where, and why (purpose) that clearly indicates the action to be taken and the reason for doing so.

Execution.

Concept of Operations. This is a statement of the overall information collection objective. Describe how the tasks or missions of reconnaissance, surveillance, security, intelligence operations, and so forth support the commander’s intent and the maneuver plan. Direct the manner in which each element of the force cooperates to accomplish the key information collection tasks and ties that to support of the operation with task and purpose statement. Must describe, at minimum, the overall scheme of maneuver and concept of fires. Refer to Appendix 1 (Information Collection Plan) to Annex L (Information Collection). The following subparagraphs are examples. Omit what is unnecessary for brevity.

Movement and Maneuver. Provide the scheme of movement and maneuver for collection assets and any other unit given a key information collection task, in accordance with the concept of operations in the base order (paragraph 3b) and Annex C (Operations). Describe the employment of information collection assets in relation to the rest of the force and state the method forces will enter the area of operations.

Intelligence. Describe the intelligence concept for supporting information collection. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) as required.

Fires. Describe the concept of fires in support of information collection. Identify which information collection assets have priority of fires and the coordinating purpose of, priorities for, allocation of, and restrictions on fire support and fire support coordinating measures. Refer to Annex D (Fires) as required.

Protection. Describe protection support to information collection. Refer to Annex E (Protection) as required.

Engineer. Describe engineer support, if applicable, to information collection. Identify priority of mobility and survivability assets. Refer to Annex G (Engineer) as required.

Sustainment. Describe sustainment support to information collection as required. Refer to Annex F (Sustainment).

Signal. Describe signal support to information collection as required. Refer to Annex H (Signal).

Soldier and Leader Engagement. State overall concept for synchronizing information collection with Soldier and leader engagement. Refer to coordinating instructions in Annex C (Operations).

Assessment. If required, describe the priorities for assessment for the information collection plan and identify the measures of effectiveness used to assess end state conditions and objectives. Refer to Annex M (Assessment) as required.

Tasks to Subordinate Units. State the information collection task assigned to each unit not identified in the base order. Refer to Appendix 1 (Information Collection Plan) to Annex L (Information Collection) as required.

Information Collection Support Tasks for Maneuver Units.

Tasks to Maneuver Unit 1.

Tasks to Maneuver Unit 2.

Tasks to Maneuver Unit 3.

Information Collection Support Tasks for Support Units. Direct units to observe and report in accordance with Appendix 1 (Information Collection Plan) to Annex L (Information Collection).

Military Intelligence. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) as required.

Engineer. Refer to Annex G (Engineer) as required.

Fires. Refer to Annex D (Fires) as required.

Signal. Refer to Annex H (Signal) as required.

Sustainment. Refer to Annex F (Sustainment) as required.

Protection. Refer to Annex E (Protection) as required.

Civil Affairs. Refer to Annex K (Civil Affairs Operations) as required.

Coordinating Instructions. List only instructions applicable or not covered in unit standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Time or Condition When the Plan Becomes Effective.

Priority Intelligence Requirements. List priority intelligence requirements (PIRs) here, the information collection tasks associated with them, and the latest time information is of value for each PIR.

Essential Elements of Friendly Information. List essential elements of friendly information (EEFIs) here.

Fire Support Coordinating Measures. List fire support coordinating or control measures. Establish no fire areas.

Intelligence Handover Lines with Adjacent Units. Identify handover guidance and parameters; refer to necessary graphics or attachments as required.

Limits of Advance, Limits of Reconnaissance, and Quick Reaction Force Response Instructions. Identify as required, referencing graphical depictions in attachments or instructions as needed.

Airspace Coordinating Measures. List airspace control measures.

Intelligence Coordination Measures. List information such as restrictions on international borders or other limitations and the coordination or special instructions that apply. Identify what unit is responsible for coordinating information collection activities in relation to the area of operations.

Rules of Engagement. Refer to Appendix 11 (Rules of Engagement) to Annex C (Operations) as required.

Risk Reduction Control Measures. State any reconnaissance, surveillance, and security-specific guidance such as fratricide prevention measures not included in SOPs, referring to Annex E (Protection) as required.

Environmental Considerations. Refer to Appendix 5 (Environmental Considerations) to Annex G (Engineer) as required.

Other Coordinating Instructions. List only instructions applicable to two or more subordinate units not covered in the base plan or order.

Sustainment. Describe any sustainment requirements, subparagraphs may include:

Logistics. Identify unique sustainment requirements, procedures, and guidance to support information collection. Specify procedures for specialized technical logistics support from external organizations as necessary. Use subparagraphs to identify priorities and specific instructions for information collection logistics support. Refer to Annex F (Sustainment) and Annex P (Host-Nation Support) as required.

Personnel. Identify unique personnel requirements and concerns, associated with information collection, including global sourcing support and contracted linguist requirements. Use subparagraphs to identify priorities and specific instructions for human resources support, financial management, legal support, and religious support. Refer to Annex F (Sustainment) as required.

Health Service Support. Provide information including the health threat (endemic and epidemic diseases, state of health of the enemy forces, medical capabilities of the enemy force and the civilian population), and medical evacuation routes, barriers, and significant terrain features. Refer to Appendix 3 (Health System Support) to Annex F (Sustainment) as required.

Command and Signal.

Command.

Location of the Commander and Key Leaders. List the location of the commander and key intelligence collection leaders and staff officers.

Succession of Command. State the succession of command if not covered in the unit’s SOPs.

Liaison Requirements. State intelligence collection liaison requirements not covered in the unit’s SOPs.

Control.

Command Posts. Describe the employment of command posts (CPs), including the location of each CP and its time of opening and closing, as appropriate. State the primary controlling CP for specific tasks or phases of the operation.

Reports. List reports not covered in SOPs. Describe information collection reporting requirements for subordinate units. Refer to Annex R (Reports) as required.

Signal. List signal operating instructions for intelligence collection as needed. Consider operations security requirements. Address any intelligence collection specific communications and digitization connectivity requirements. Refer to Annex H (Signal) as required.

(Acknowledge) ACKNOWLEDGE: Include only if attachment is distributed separately from the base plan or order.

(Sig Block) [Commander’s last name]

[Commander’s rank]

(Note) The commander or authorized representative signs the original copy. If the representative signs the original, add the phrase “For the Commander.” The signed copy is the historical copy and remains in the headquarters’ files.

(Official) OFFICIAL:

(Sig Block) [Authenticator’s name]

[Authenticator’s position]

(Note) Use only if the commander does not sign the original attachment. If the commander signs the original, no further authentication is required. If the commander does not sign, the signature of the preparing staff officer requires authentication and only the last name and rank of the commander appear in the signature block.

(Attachments) ATTACHMENTS List lower-level attachment (appendixes, tabs, and exhibits).

Appendix 1–Information Collection Plan

Appendix 2–Information Collection Overlay.

(Distribution) DISTRIBUTION: Show only if distributed separately from the base order or higher-level attachments.