Pinnacle Oprep 3

Pinnacle Oprep 3 [r]: A U.S. military communications designation for operational reports (OPREP) for individual events (OPREP 3), which needs to be brought to the immediate attention of the National Command Authority, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other national-level leadership; several sub-designations for different contingencies although PINNACLE can be used alone. Differs from FLASH designation, which deals with communications precedence while PINNACLE deals with precedence of the information being communicated ^[e]

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Within the U.S. Department of Defense system for operational reporting (OPREP), OPREP 3 is a report of a specific incident; PINNACLE OPREP 3 describes an event of such importance that it needs to be brought to the immediate attention of the National Command Authority, Joint Chiefs of Staff/National Military Command Center (NMCC), and other national-level leadership. Several several sub-designations exist for different contingencies although PINNACLE can be used alone.

PINNACLE Differs from FLASH or FLASH OVERRIDE designation, which deals with communications precedence while PINNACLE deals with precedence of the information being communicated. It is unlikely, however, that any PINNACLE OPREP 3 message would not also have a FLASH or higher communications precedence.

PINNACLE subtypes

• PINNACLE OPREP 3 NUCFLASH [r]: U.S. military reporting term, a subcategory of PINNACLE, which indicates that an actual nuclear explosion, of any cause, has taken place and that the National Command Authority must be informed immediately; arguably the single most important communications label to the U.S. government ^[e] (OPREP-3PNF) is the highest-precedence of any OPREP-3 message. It variously refers to the explosion of a US nuclear weapon which may cause the outbreak of a nuclear war; it also may be used for nuclear explosions of unknown origin.
• PINNACLE OPREP 3 FRONT BURNER(OPREP-3PFB). This reports any attack on North America or harassment of North American Air Defense Command forces.
• PINNACLE BROKEN ARROW [r]: In United States of America military reporting, a serious incident, involving nuclear weapons, which does not present high risk of nuclear war (cf. PINNACLE OPREP 3 NUCFLASH; it can include a nuclear explosion or significant contamination. Term was also used in the Vietnam War as an emergency call that a U.S. ground unit was in significant danger of being overrun by enemy forces. ^[e] (OPREP-3PBA)
• EMPTY QUIVER [r]: U.S. military reporting term for the loss, theft, or seizure of a nuclear weapon capable of detonation ^[e]

Nuclear-related events

BROKEN ARROW always requires PINNACLE; EMPTY QUIVER would be likely to do so as well. These may or may not require PINNACLE.

• BENT SPEAR [r]: United States of America military reporting code for significant incidents involving nuclear weapons, but not involving detonation, significant contamination, or theft of weapons or special nuclear material ^[e] (OPREP-3BS)
• FADED GIANT [r]: Designates, in U.S. military reporting, a significant nuclear event that does not involve nuclear weapons; most often an event involving a nuclear reactor ^[e] (OPREP-3FG)
• DULL SWORD [r]: An incident involving nuclear weapons, in U.S. military reporting, which is relatively minor in that there has been no explosion, contamination, or loss of custody to outside forces ^[e]

Related U.S. Air Force OPREP3 not requiring PINNACLE

• BEELINE (OPREP-3B). This report provides information on any incident or event where United States Air Force level interest is indicated but not requiring an OPREP-3 PINNACLE report. Although the report normally remains within US Air Force channels, commanders may add other addressees, as appropriate, to avoid duplicate reporting.
• HOMELINE (OPREP-3H). This report provides information on any incident or event with Major Command (MAJCOM) level interest indicated but not requiring OPREP-3 Pinnacle or Beeline reporting. Regions may identify Homeline reporting requirements in their supplements.