What is the difference between Operations NCO and Plans SGT?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 23:12:46 -0400

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2022 11:16 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 23:16:34 -0400

Contact one of these three gentlemen... they are very knowledgeable in Military related questions/issues.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Aug 12 at 2022 9:24 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 09:24:00 -0400

I always looked at Operations and Plans this way...

Plans determined the What needed to be done
OPS determined the How it gets done

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2022 11:03 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:03:27 -0400

Doesn’t the Operations NCO supervise the Plans SGT?

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Aug 14 at 2022 11:43 AM

MSG Thomas Currie — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 11:43:11 -0400

The difference (IF ANY) will depend on the level of the unit and how that unit's functions are organized.

At lower levels planning is generally part of the operations section -- sometimes called "Plans and Operations" -- and only a large staff section would be likely to designate an individual for the plans role.

As you move up the chain, units are larger, staff sections are larger, and functions start to be broken into separate niches. Also, at least in peacetime, the higher levels do a lot more planning and a lot less actual operating. Thus it becomes more and more likely to designate an individual or even an entire staff section to the plans role.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 14 at 2022 12:06 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 12:06:42 -0400

At Division and up levels- the OPs NCOIC is in charge of all the G3 sections including Plans, etc.