Narrator: Assumptions are suppositions about the current situation or about future events assumed to be true in the absence of facts in order to continue planning and allow the commander to make a decision concerning a COA. They apply to both friendly and enemy situations as well as the environment. As planning continues assumptions may change. A record of assumptions should be kept to track and validate them as they are confirmed or disapproved. If possible, assumptions are forwarded to higher headquarters for validation to ensure the higher headquarters commander understands the risks that a subordinate commander is accepting. This may prompt the higher headquarters to investigate the assumption further. Assumptions are contained in Operation Plans, but not in Operation Orders, for assumptions become risk during execution.
COS: A valid assumption answers the questions you have listed there in your notebook. If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, it’s simply not a valid assumption!