Emergency Employment of Army and Other Resources

U.S. Army Continuity of Operations Program

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

JAMES C. MCCONVILLE
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff

Official:

KATHLEEN S. MILLER
Administrative Assistant
to the Secretary of the Army

History. This publication is a major revision.

Summary. This regulation implements continuity guidance contained in DoDD 3020.26 and DoDI 3020.42 and establishes the U.S. Army Continuity of Operations Program to ensure continuity of mission essential functions under all circumstances across the spectrum of threats. It prescribes policies, roles, responsibilities, relationships, and planning guidance for the U.S. Army Continuity of Operations Program. It establishes requirements for continuity of operations tests, training, and exercises to validate continuity of operations plans and improve readiness.

Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.

Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency, in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25-30 for specific guidance.

Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11-2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (see app B).

Supplementation. Supplementation of this regulation and establishment of command and local forms are prohibited without prior approval from the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 (DAMO-OD), 400 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0400.

Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to the Deputy Chief of Staff G-3/5/7 (DAMO-OD), 400 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0400.

Committee management. AR 15-1 requires the proponent to justify establishing/continuing committee(s), coordinate draft publications, and coordinate changes in committee status with the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, Department of the Army Committee Management Office (AARP-ZA), 9301 Chapek Road, Building 1458, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5527. Further, if it is determined that an established "group" identified within this regulation later takes on the characteristics of a committee, as found in the AR 15-1, then the proponent will follow all AR 15-1 requirements for establishing and continuing the group as a committee.

Distribution. This regulation is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.

*This regulation supersedes AR 500-3, dated 18 April 2008.

This chapter addresses responsibilities for the overarching U.S. Army COOP Program as well as for the HQDA COOP Program for the HQDA Secretariat and ARSTAF agencies. It also addresses responsibilities of the ACOMs, ASCCs, DRUs, USARUSARUnited States Army Reserve, ARNGARNGArmy National Guard, and FOAs. The chapter describes the responsibilities of installation senior commanders (SCs) in supporting the COOP programs of tenant commands and other commands that are not installation tenants but plan to relocate to the installation during a continuity event.