Final answer:
Operational plans (OPLANs), Operational Orders (OPORDs), and warning orders are essential components of military strategy to organize and conduct missions effectively. These documents help maintain fleet readiness and support the ability of the military to react strategically to global threats, in line with constitutional directives to maintain and regulate armed forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of Operational plans (OPLANs), Operational Orders (OPORDs), and warning orders is to organize and direct military operations. An OPLAN is a complete and detailed plan that includes all the instructions necessary for a military force to carry out a mission. An OPORD is an order issued by a commander that provides the execution guidance for an operation. A warning order is an initial notice that informs units of an upcoming operation, allowing them to begin preparatory activities before the detailed orders are completed.
These orders support military strategy by enabling efficient and effective action in service to national security, reflecting the nation's need "To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;" as per the directive for establishing military forces. Also, these processes are crucial because military bodies, while they have the ability to craft long-term strategies, primarily focus on winning conflicts and achieving strategic superiority when real threats to the global order are recognized. This is all part of maintaining fleet readiness, which is a responsibility of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).
In contrast to the military roles of CNO and the top uniformed officers, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) oversees the entire Department of Defense as a civilian and is involved in budgetary oversight, while working to ensure adequate funding is provided for the nation's defense and strategic interests.