What must be included in the planning for military operations to ensure their effectiveness?

In military operations, a phased approach is essential for ensuring the effectiveness of the mission. This method allows planners to break down complex operations into manageable stages or phases, each with specific objectives and tasks. By organizing operations in phases, military leaders can focus on achieving incremental goals while assessing each phase's outcomes before proceeding to the next. This structured format facilitates adaptability, helps in resource allocation, and enhances coordination among different units and agencies involved in the operation.

The phased approach provides clear checkpoints and adaptability to changing situations on the ground, which is crucial in military operations where conditions can quickly evolve. It enables commanders to re-evaluate strategies based on real-time intelligence and operational feedback, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the military effort.

Contextually, while political considerations, local opinion, and international treaties are all important factors in military planning, they are not as directly foundational for the execution of military operations as the phased approach. They can influence the broader strategic environment, but the phased approach is primarily focused on operational effectiveness and execution.