The U.S. Army requires rapid and clear communication, especially within staff operations. Military correspondence must convey maximum information with minimum effort, ensuring senior leaders quickly grasp complex issues. This demand for brevity defines the Point Paper, making it the standard tool for concise communication across the force. It is a focused, preparatory document that supports the technical details and action-oriented processes driving daily operations.
Defining the Army Point Paper
The Point Paper (PP) is an informal, internal staff tool designed to consolidate essential information about a single issue. It provides key facts, statistics, positions, and background data necessary for staff officers and commanders. Its primary purpose is to capture the most salient points briefly, often acting as an outline or guide. The Point Paper is generally prepared for use within a specific headquarters and is not intended for formal external distribution.
The document assumes the intended user already understands the subject matter. Therefore, it focuses on distilling the topic down to its most relevant current details and organizational positions, rather than providing an exhaustive historical account. The structure and style prioritize immediate readability and quick absorption of information, reflecting its nature as a working document in a dynamic staff environment.
The Primary Function of a Point Paper
The primary function of the Point Paper is to equip leaders with the necessary facts and organizational positions before a meeting, briefing, or discussion. It serves as source material for verbal communication, ensuring the commander or staff principal is fully prepared to engage on a topic. The document facilitates rapid decision-making by placing pertinent information directly in the hands of the decision-maker.
Point Papers generate “talking points” or “key messages” that a leader can convey quickly and authoritatively. By providing a pre-coordinated organizational stance, the paper allows the recipient to speak with a unified voice and articulate the command’s position without hesitation. This utility is paramount in time-sensitive situations where a leader must immediately engage with stakeholders. The format is designed to be easily read and absorbed quickly, supporting a fast-paced operational tempo.
Essential Formatting and Structure
The Point Paper’s structure is highly standardized to ensure consistency and immediate comprehension across the Army. A strict constraint is its typical length of one page or less. This brevity mandate forces adherence to the “Bottom Line Up Front” (BLUF) concept, placing the most important conclusion or recommendation at the beginning. The BLUF is often a one- to three-line summary that immediately informs the reader of the issue and the command’s position.
The paper mandates the use of concise, logically arranged bullet points to present facts and discussion points. A typical structure includes a clear Subject Line, the BLUF, the Discussion/Background section, and a Recommendation or Conclusion statement. Technical elements like the originator’s office code, the date, and a Point of Contact (POC) are also required for accountability and follow-up. This emphasis on a telegraphic style and active voice ensures the document is straightforward and easily converted into a briefing narrative.
Common Use Cases for Point Papers
Point Papers are utilized across administrative and operational settings where quick, focused information is needed. They are frequently generated to prepare a senior leader for an impromptu meeting or a scheduled teleconference with higher headquarters. The paper summarizes a complicated status report, providing necessary context and current data points without requiring the leader to read a lengthy report.
Preparing Leaders for External Interaction
Point Papers provide background information for a major decision brief or prepare a commander for interaction with external agencies, such as Congressional staff or foreign military partners. In these situations, the Point Paper ensures the leader can articulate a clear, concise organizational message on a complex subject.
Staffing Issues
They are also used to staff an issue, circulating a brief document through relevant offices for quick input and coordination before a formal briefing.
How Point Papers Differ from Other Army Correspondence Types
The Point Paper is distinct from other Army correspondence due to its informal nature and primary use as a verbal aid.
Information Paper
It differs significantly from an Information Paper, which also conveys facts but is generally more formal, contains greater detail, and can extend up to two pages to explain a developing issue. While both documents inform, the Information Paper provides a detailed explanation, whereas the Point Paper focuses on easily digestible talking points.
Decision Paper and MFR
A Point Paper is also fundamentally different from a Decision Paper, which is a formal document designed to request approval or action from a senior leader, often requiring a signature block to record the final decision. Unlike a Memorandum for Record (MFR), which serves as a historical record of an event or action, the Point Paper is rarely signed or maintained as a permanent record. It is a perishable tool for immediate use, contrasting with the MFR’s function as official documentation.