(O Heading) Copy ## of ## copies

Issuing headquarters

Place of issue

Date-time group of signature

Message reference number

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

(Annex Title) ANNEX H (SIGNAL) TO OPERATION PLAN/ORDER [number] [(code name)]—[issuing headquarters] [(classification of title)]

(References) References: List documents essential to understanding the attachment.

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 signal support to operations include FM 6-0, FM 6-02.40, FM 6-02.43, FM 6-02.53, FM 6-02.70, and FM 6-02.71.

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

(U Mil Para) Situation. Include information affecting signal operations that paragraph 1 of the OPLAN or OPORD does not cover or that needs expansion.

Area of Interest. Describe the area of interest as it relates to signal support to operations. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) as required.

Area of Operations. Describe the area of operations as it relates to signal support to operations. Refer to Appendix 2 (Operation Overlay) to Annex C (Operations).

Terrain. Describe the aspects of terrain that impact signal support to operations. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) as required.

Weather. Describe all critical weather aspects that impact signal support to operations such as rain, flooding, windstorms, and snow, that also may impact network availability or reliability in the area of operations. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) as required.

Enemy Forces. List known and templated locations and activities of enemy units for one echelon above and two echelons below. List enemy maneuver and other area capabilities that will impact friendly signal support to operations. State expected enemy courses of action. Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) as required.

Friendly Forces. Briefly identify the signal mission of friendly forces and the objectives, goals, and missions of civilian organizations that impact support to operations. Refer to Annex A (Task Organization) and Annex C (Operations) as required.

Higher Headquarters’ Signal Operations Mission. Identify and state the signal mission of the higher headquarters.

Signal Support Operations Impact of Adjacent Units. Identify and state the missions of adjacent units and other units whose actions have a significant impact on the issuing headquarters’ support to operations.

Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Nongovernmental Organizations. Identify and state the objectives or goals and primary tasks of those non-Department of Defense organizations that may impact the conduct of support to operations or implementation of signal-specific equipment and tactics in the area of operations. Refer to Annex V (Interagency Coordination) as required.

Signal Support to Cyber Electromagnetic Activities. List considerations related to the planning, integration, coordination, and synchronization of network operations and defense functions with other cyber electromagnetic activities.

Civil Considerations. Describe the critical aspects of the civil situation that impact voice and data network operations using the memory aid ASCOPE (areas, structures, capabilities, organizations, people, and events). Refer to Annex B (Intelligence) and Annex K (Civil Affairs Operations) as required.

Attachments and Detachments. List units attached or detached only as necessary to clarify task organization that impact signal support to operations. Refer to Annex A (Task Organization) as required.

Assumptions. List key assumptions that pertain to support to operations which support development of the annex.

Mission. State the mission of signal in support of the base plan or order.

Execution.

Scheme of Signal Support to Operations. Describe how signal support to operations supports the commander’s intent and concept of operations described in the base plan or order. Establish the priorities of support to units for each phase of the operation. Refer to Annex C (Operations) as required.

Scheme of Defensive Cyberspace Operations. Describe how defensive cyberspace operations supports the commander's intent and concept of operations described in the base plan or order. Outline defensive cyberspace operations that protect against, monitor for, detect (find), analyze (fix), and respond (finish) to cyber threats on Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network, SECRET Internet Protocol Router Network, and Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. Refer to Appendix 1 (Defensive Cyberspace Operations) to Annex H (Signal) as required.

Scheme of Network Operations. Describe how the commander’s intent and concept of operations are supported through actions taken to gain and maintain access to the cyber domain via the execution of resource allocation, configuration, continuous monitoring of performance and effectiveness, event handling, and security functions that operate and sustain the Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network, SECRET Internet Protocol Router Network, and Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. Refer to Appendix 2 (Network Operations) to Annex H (Signal) as required.

Scheme of Voice, Video, and Data Routing. Describe how the routing and movement of voice, video, and data network traffic via primary and alternate routes support the commander’s intent and concept of operations described in the base plan or order. Establish the priorities of support to units for each phase of the operation. Provide a detailed network diagram including the internet protocol scheme of the network being established. Refer to Appendix 3 (Voice, Video, and Data Network Diagrams) to Annex H (Signal) as required.

Scheme of Satellite Communications. Describe how satellite communications support the commander’s intent and concept of operations described in the base plan or order. Establish the priorities of support to units for each phase of the operation. Provide a chart for all required frequencies, access times, access dates, and in the case of IP-based satellite communications systems, provide the internet protocol scheme for the modem, as well as the Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network and SECRET Internet Protocol Router Network routers. (This subparagraph will serve as a reference to units along with attachments.). Refer to Appendix 4 (Satellite Communications) to Annex H (Signal) as required.

Scheme of Foreign Data Exchanges. Describe how foreign data exchanges support the commander’s intent and concept of operations described in the base plan or order. Outline procedures to prevent unauthorized disclosure and release of classified information on the SECRET Internet Protocol Router Network and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. Outline the information to be disclosed to, released to, or received from foreign entities and the planned approach, including safeguarding steps to be taken. Refer to Appendix 5 (Foreign Data Exchanges) to Annex H (Signal) as required.

Spectrum Management Operations. Describe how spectrum management operations support the commander’s intent and concept of operations described in the base plan or order. Outline the effects the commander wants to achieve while prioritizing tasks for spectrum management operations. List objectives and the primary tasks to achieve those objectives. Refer to Appendix 6 (Spectrum Management Operations) to Annex H (Signal) as required.

Scheme of Information Services. Describe how information services on Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network, SECRET Internet Protocol Router Network, and Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System will be provided and integrated to support the commander’s intent and concept of operations as described in the base plan or order. Explain how information will be staged and the dissemination of that information controlled to facilitate data collection, processing, storage, discovery, and access by the user. Refer to Appendix 7 (Information Services) to Annex H (Signal) as required.

Tasks to Subordinate Units. List signal support to operations tasks assigned to subordinate signal units not contained in the base order. Each task must include who (the subordinate unit assigned the task), what (the task itself), when, where, and why (purpose). Include tasks for supporting interagency, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental organizations. Use a separate subparagraph for each unit. List units in task organization sequence. Place tasks that affect two or more units in paragraph 3c (Coordinating Instructions).

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

Sustainment. Identify priorities of sustainment for signal support to operations key tasks and specify additional instructions as required in the paragraph below. Refer to Annex F (Sustainment) as required.

Logistics. Use subparagraphs to identify priorities and specific instructions for signal logistics support. Refer to Annex F (Sustainment) and Annex P (Host-Nation Support) as required.

Personnel. 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. Identify availability, priorities, and instruction for medical care. Refer to Annex F (Sustainment) as required.

Command and Signal.

Command.

Location of the Commander and Key Leaders. State the location of the commander and key signal unit commanders and staff officers.

Succession of Command. State the succession of command if not covered in the unit’s standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Liaison Requirements. State the signal liaison requirements not covered in unit SOPs.

Control.

Command Posts. Describe the employment of signal command posts (CPs), including the location of each CP and its time of opening and closing.

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

Signal. List signal operating instructions for signal support to operations as needed, as well as primary and alternate means of communications with both military and nonmilitary organizations conducting signal support to operations. Consider operations security requirements.

Describe the networks to monitor for reports.

Address any support to operations communications or digitization connectivity requirements or coordination necessary to meet functional responsibilities (consider telephone listing).

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

(Sig Block) [Commander’s last name]

[Commander’s rank]

(Note) Include only if attachment is distributed separately from the base order.

(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). If a particular attachment is not used, place “not used” beside the attachment number. Unit SOPs will dictate attachment development and format. Common attachments include the following:

(Attachments Listings) Appendix 1–Defensive Cyberspace Operations

Appendix 2–Information Network Operations

Appendix 3–Voice, Video, and Data Network Diagrams

Appendix 4–Satellite Communications

Appendix 5–Foreign Data Exchanges

Appendix 6–Spectrum Management Operations

Appendix 7–Information Services

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

(Distro List) HQ XYZ Command

HQ ABC Command