Five-Paragraph Order Sample
A sample format of a five-paragraph order is shown below:
1. SITUATION a. Enemy forces
(1) Composition, disposition, and strength (SALUTE) (2) Capabilities and limitations (DRAW-D)
(3) Enemy’s most probable course of action (within your zone) b. Friendly forces
(1) Higher (location, mission, and intent of next higher unit)
(2) Adjacent (mission and location of units having effect on your mission) (3) Supporting (nonorganic units providing fire or combat service support)
c. Attachments and detachments (nonorganic units attached and/or organic units detached) 2. MISSION (Who, what, when, where, and why)
3. EXECUTION
a. Commander’s intent (desired end-state of operation with respect to enemy and terrain) b. Concept of operations
(1) Scheme of maneuver (commander’s plan to accomplish the mission) (2) Fire support plan (how fire support complements scheme of maneuver)
c. Tasks (missions to be accomplished by each subordinate unit, to include main effort and reserves)
d. Coordinating instructions (specific instructions and tasks that tie the plan together) 4. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
a. Administration (medical evacuation plans, EPW procedures, civilian-military cooperation) b. Logistics (resupply and transportation plans)
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL
a. Signal (specific signal instructions for the operation)
b. Command (location of commander and other leaders as required, succession of command)
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MCI Course 8204 2-27 Study Unit 2, Lesson 2
Operations Order,
Continued
Orientation At the company level and below, operations orders are usually given orally.
You should begin oral operation orders with an orientation of the planned area of operation. The purpose of an orientation is not to discuss the details of the order, but rather to orient your subordinates to terrain, enemy positions, checkpoints, targets, etc. before you issue your order. Use some kind of graphic aid to assist in orienting your subordinates. This may include a terrain model, a map overlay, or an actual look at the terrain.
Presentation of the Order
After the orientation, brief the operation order in the SMEAC format. Ensure that your subordinates hold their questions until you are finished. To present a clear picture, your order should contain information that is factual, concise, and well organized. It should be a mission type order. Allow time for questions at the end. Your subordinate leaders should conduct briefbacks to you so you are sure they understand the order.
Situation and Mission
The situation and mission paragraphs of your order are derived from your estimate of the situation (METT-T), which you should have done when you first received your mission. The situation contains information on the overall status of both friendly and enemy forces. You must provide information that is considered essential to your subordinate leaders’ understanding of the current situation. The situation also includes a subparagraph on nonorganic units attached to and/or organic units detached from your unit. You must give the effective time of attachment or detachment. If there are no attachments, state “none.”
Mission
Statement
The mission statement is a clear and concise statement of what your unit is to accomplish. It is the heart of your order, which is why it stands alone with no references to other documents. The mission statement includes a task (what) and a purpose (why). The task describes the action to be taken and the purpose describes the desired result of that action. Of the two, the purpose is always predominant. While the situation may change, making the task obsolete, the purpose is more permanent and continues to guide your actions.
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MCI Course 8204 2-28 Study Unit 2, Lesson 2
Operations Order,
ContinuedExecution The execution paragraph contains the “how to” information needed to conduct the operation. It must contain your intent, your concept of operations, specific tasks for each subordinate unit, and your coordinating instructions. The intent is your vision of what you want to have happen to the enemy. It is both your goal and the desired end-state of the battlefield. At the platoon level and below, the commander’s intent is often the same as the purpose given in the mission statement.
Developing the Intent
To develop your intent, refer to your senior’s intent (what will be accomplished) and the specific mission that he or she has assigned you.
Within this framework, you look for enemy vulnerabilities and how you can exploit them. Is the enemy overly cautious and predictable? Is the enemy forced to protect a static installation? Is the enemy impulsive? If so, can you bait and draw the enemy into a trap? Have you found a gap that you can penetrate? Have you located a command post that is vulnerable to attack?
Then consider your own forces and how they can best attack these
vulnerabilities. You may decide to move offensively against the enemy or draw the enemy into your defense and then destroy him or her with a counterattack. However, at the small unit level, you will often have to take action to feel out the enemy before you can identify weaknesses.
Single Intent While changes in the situation may force you to modify or change your scheme of maneuver––for simplicity and clarity, you should have only one intent. The reason for this is obvious: your entire command must focus on accomplishing the same thing. For your intent to be fully understood, you must work hard at developing a shared way of thinking between you and your Marines.
Concept of
Operations
After you have stated the intent, give your concept of operations. This represents your plan for accomplishing your mission. The concept of operations contains your scheme of maneuver and fire support plan. Brief your scheme of maneuver in a logical sequence. Do not specifically designate which unit will accomplish what task; leave specific details for the tasks and coordinating instructions subparagraphs.
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MCI Course 8204 2-29 Study Unit 2, Lesson 2
Operations Order,
ContinuedOffensive
Scheme of Maneuver
For offensive operations, your scheme of maneuver should include a(n)
• Form of maneuver
• Planned distribution of forces
• Axis of advance from your present position through consolidation
Defensive Scheme of Maneuver
For defensive operations, your scheme of maneuver should include a
• Defensive technique
• Planned distribution of forces
• General direction of fires and location of planned engagement areas
• Security plan
Fire Support Plan
Your fire support plan should tie in directly with the scheme of maneuver.
Include organic, attached, and supporting indirect fires. Brief the purpose of your fire support plan and how it supports your scheme of maneuver. Your fire support plan should include
• Locations
• Descriptions
• Target designations of preplanned targets
• Allocations of targets
• Locations of firing units
• Permissive or restrictive control measures on the use of fires
Tasks Task statements are your subordinate’s mission statements. Give task statements in the manner of a mission statement (5 Ws). Task each of your subordinate units separately. You will also designate your main effort and any reserves in this subparagraph.
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MCI Course 8204 2-30 Study Unit 2, Lesson 2
Operations Order,
ContinuedCoordinating Instructions
Coordinating instructions are specific instructions that tie your plan together.
Include any details of control and coordination that apply to two or more of your subordinate units. If a detail only applies to one unit, give it in the task statement for that unit. To coordinate instructions, you must follow the
• Planning and execution time lines
• Order of movement and planned formations during movement
• Movement into defensive positions
• Tactical and fire control measures (checkpoints, phase lines, battle positions, etc.)
• Engagement priorities (which weapon systems engage what targets)
• Security plan (to provide early warning, preventing surprise on enemy contact)
• Consolidation, reorganization, and counterattack plans
• Modification to existing unit SOPS
• Engagement or disengagement criteria and instructions
• Priority of work (used for defensive operations)
• Reporting requirements
• Rules of engagement (if applicable)
• MOPP level (if applicable)
• Other tasks that pertain to more than one unit
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MCI Course 8204 2-31 Study Unit 2, Lesson 2
Operations Order,
ContinuedAdministration and Logistics
The administration and logistics paragraph contains all the information necessary for subordinate units to coordinate the following:
• Resupply
• Recovery of equipment
• Evacuation of wounded
• Evacuation of enemy prisoners of war (EPWs)
Four Bs The administration and logistics paragraph is often referred to as the
“Four Bs:”
• Beans (chow)
• Bullets (ammunition)
• Band-aids (medevacs)
• Bad guys (EPWs)
Command and Signal
The command and signal paragraph contains instructions and information relating to command and coordination (control) functions. You must specify signal instructions and primary and alternate signal plans for the operation:
• Callsigns and frequencies
• Signals to control the battle
• Challenge and password
• Brevity codes and code words
You must also identify your location, the locations of other leaders as required, and the succession of command.
Summary As you can see, the five-paragraph operation order can get quite lengthy.
When you have the time, issue a full operation order. Be careful to not take up all of your subordinates’ time in originating and issuing your order––the warning order helps alleviate this to some degree. You should use the “half-rule” or the “1/3 to 2/3 rule,” which means that you use no more than 1/3 of the available time on your order. This allows your subordinate units to have 2/3 of the available time to prepare, give their own order, inspect, etc.
You should provide your subordinates with as much information as you have on hand, so they will fully understand the situation and how they fit into your plan. Do not repeat very familiar information to your subordinates––if your unit is well versed in its SOPs (hasty ambush, crossing danger areas,
immediate action drills, etc.), do not discuss them in your order.
MCI Course 8204 2-32 Study Unit 2, Lesson 2