What aspect of planning does the staff prioritize to assist the commander?

The prioritization of creating effective plans and orders is essential for assisting the commander in achieving the mission objectives. Effective plans and orders provide clear guidance on the execution of operations, ensuring that all units are aligned with the commander's intent and operational goals. This aspect of planning encompasses the comprehensive analysis of objectives, available assets, and the overall strategic environment, which is crucial for making informed decisions. By focusing on crafting coherent and actionable plans, the staff enables the commander to maintain situational awareness and facilitate coordination among various units, thereby enhancing operational effectiveness and efficiency.

While other aspects of planning, such as developing resources, mitigating risks, and coordinating timelines, are also important, they serve as support functions to the overarching goal of creating effective plans. Without well-structured plans and orders, even the best resources and risk mitigation strategies may not yield successful outcomes. Therefore, the emphasis on creating effective plans and orders underlines the fundamental role the staff plays in operational planning and execution.