What classification should military plans or intelligence operations information receive?

Military plans or intelligence operations information is classified as "Secret" because this classification level is designed to protect information that could cause serious damage to national security if disclosed.

The "Secret" classification is typically used for information where unauthorized disclosure could result in significant risk to national security interests. Military operations involve sensitive strategies, troop movements, and intelligence that can directly impact a nation's safety, making it crucial to restrict access to this information.

Other classification levels, such as "Confidential" and "Top Secret," serve different purposes. "Confidential" pertains to information that, if disclosed, might cause damage, but not to the same extent as "Secret." Conversely, "Top Secret" is the highest level of classification, indicating that the disclosure of such information could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security. Military plans and operational intelligence generally do not reach the level of "Top Secret" unless they involve extraordinarily sensitive details. Hence, "Secret" is the most appropriate classification for this type of information.