Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication MCDP 5 Planning 21 July 2007 This publication describes the theory and philosophy of military planning as practiced by the U.S. Marine Corps. The intent is to describe how we can prepare effectively for future action when the future is uncertain and unpredictable. In so doing, this publication provides all Marines a conceptual framework for planning in peace, in crisis, or in war. This approach to planning is based on our common understanding of the nature of war and on our warfighting philosophy of maneuver warfare as described in Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication (MCDP) 1, Warfighting.
The U.S. Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States. In the civilian leadership structure of the United States military, the Marine Corps is a component of the United States Department of the Navy, often working closely with U.S. naval forces for training, transportation, and logistic purposes; however, in the military leadership structure the Marine Corps is a separate branch.
Paradoxical and nonsensical. 90+ pages of saying planning will be as detailed or as simplistic as the time, situation, and uncertainty allows. The least useful MCDP I've read to date.
It was a nice broad brush overview of how the Marine Corps conducts planning. I think it could be personally applied/appreciated by taking a healthier look at my own "planning" and accepting when they 'don't stand first contact' with that thing called "life". ;p