Operation Order

1. Operation Order SSgt. Eric J Mattison 27 March, 2007

2. Introduction • Purpose • The Five Paragraph Order • Other types of Combat Orders • Skeleton • Template • Conclusion

3. Operation Order • Directive issued by commanders to subordinate leaders • Oral • Written • Clear, Concise guidelines for unit leader

4. Five Paragraph Order • Derived from Operation Order • Consists of: • Orientation and Five paragraphs • SMEAC • Situation • Mission • Execution • Administration and Logistics • Command and Signal

5. Terrain model Vantage point Includes: North PL Objectives Key terrain features Tactical Control Measures At OCS PL Direction of attack Objective ORIENTATION

6. Example… • Hold all questions until the end. • We are presently located at grid 12345678. We will be moving in a NorthEasterly direction until we reach the objective at grid 23456789.

7. Enemy Forces Time Size Unit Activity Location Equipment D-R-A-W-D Friendly Forces Higher Adjacent Support Attachments Detachments SITUATION

8. Enemy Forces • 2 sections: • T S U A L E (SALUTE) • D-R-A-W-D • At OCS • Directly from PLT CMDR’s enemy forces

9. Example… • About 1 hour ago, 2-3 enemy soldiers from an unknown unit (CLA) were spotted setting up a recoilless rifle position on the objective. They are armed w/ automatic and semiautomatic weapons and a recoilless rifle. • They will attack if compromised.

10. Friendly Forces • Higher • Mission of next higher (Big picture) • Always one level higher • Don’t confuse with Paragraph 2 - MISSION • Adjacent • Other squads in the platoon – 2nd and 3rd • Support • None • Attachments / Detachments • None

11. Example… • Follow the Acronyms word for word • Higher… • Adjacent… • Supporting… • A / D…

12. Precise Statement Who What When Where Why At OCS Begin w/ “On Order… End w/ …we are the Main Effort” MISSION

13. Example… • On order • 1st squad will destroy the enemy radio monitoring site located in the vicinity of grid 23456789 in order to prevent the CLA from intercepting our radio traffic. • We are the Main Effort

14. EXECUTION • Commander’s Intent • Concept of Operations • Scheme of Maneuver • Form of Maneuver • Fire Support Plan • Tasks • Coordination Instructions

15. Commander’s Intent • Ties the Mission and Concept of Ops together • Should answer: • What do I want to do to the enemy? • Focus: • Purpose of the Operation • Enemy’s Critical Vulnerabilities • How these vulnerabilities will be exploited

16. Example… • The purpose of this operation is to prevent the CLA from attacking our supply convoys. The CLA’s critical vulnerabilities are their small size and lack of supporting arms. We will exploit this by conducting squad sized attacks to destroy their forces.

17. Scheme of Maneuver Form of Maneuver  AA – ATK:  ATK – ASLT: ASLT – OBJ:  180 Consolidate / 360 Fire Support Plan  Frontal Assault Sqd Col / FT Wedge Sqd Line / FT Skirm None Concept of Operations

18. Assign Main Effort 1st Fire Team:  Main Effort 2nd Fire Team:  3rd Fire Team:  ME…On order… On order… On order… Tasks

19. Example… • 1st Fire Team, you are the Main Effort. • On order, you will attack and destroy the center 1/3 of the objective in order to prevent the enemy soldiers from ambushing our supply convoys.

20. Coordinating Instructions • Time of Attack • Base Unit • Order of Movement • Security halts & Sectors of responsibility • Tactical Control Measures • Route to the Objective

21. Time of Attack • Designated time to cross the LOD • At OCS • 25 minutes after completion of PC’s order

22. Base Unit • Designate who will be the Base Unit • At OCS • 1st Fire Team will be the Base Unit • Try to keep it the same, if possible, within your squad so there is no confusion

23. Order of Movement

24. Security Halts & Sectors

25. Tactical Control Measures

26. Route to Objective

27. ADMIN & LOGISTICS • Administration • Beans (Chow) • Bullets (Ammo) • Logistics • Band-aids (Corpsman - SL) • Bad guys (POW’s – Plt Sgt)

28. Example… • Chow and Ammo will be resupplied on the objective. • Take all casualties to the corpsman who will be with me. • All POW’s go to the Platoon Sergeant.

29. COMMAND & SIGNAL • Signal • Hand and Arm • Voice (upon enemy contact) • Command • Key personnel • PC, PS, SL • Succession of Command for squad • 1st, 2nd, 3rd FT Leaders

30. Any Questions??? • Time is now _____ . • Move out in _____ min.

31. Other Combat Orders • Warning Order • Frag Order • These will not be discussed • They are just for reference

32. SKELETON Refer to Outline

33. Template Refer to Outline

34. CONCLUSION • At OCS • 2 minutes • Given a compass and protractor, plot the grid coordinates for AA, ATK, ASLT, OBJ and give grid azimuths for each • No time limit on PC’s order • 25 minutes • Upon conclusion of PC’s order to cross the LOD

35. That gives: • 5 minutes • To give your operation order • 5 minutes • For FT leaders to brief teams and get them in the initial formation of Squad Column / FT Wedge • 10 minutes • To reach the LOD and get into Squad Line / FT Skirmishers • 5 minutes • To cross the LOD

36. Not much time • Trust your compass and pace count… • Difficult to see the objective • Make sure that you are in control of your squad, not someone else • Keep good eye contact with FT leaders at all times • Run up and down behind the squad during the attack, but be aware of your surroundings • Don’t run in front of another weapon

37. QUESTIONS???