San Diego State Army ROTC
OPERATIONS ORDER
(OPORD)
San Diego State Army ROTC
5 Paragraph OPORD
1. Situation
2. Mission
3. Execution
4. Service Support
5. Command and Signal
San Diego State Army ROTC
Baseline Data
1) Operations Order # / Code Name if Used
2) References (maps, previous orders,
FRAGOs, etc)
3) Time Zone Used Throughout Order
4) Task Organization
San Diego State Army ROTC
Task Organization
- Explains how the unit is organized
for the operation
- Done by phase
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 1: Situation
1. Situation - Provides information essential
to subordinate leader’s understanding of
the mission
a. Enemy Forces
b. Friendly Forces
c. Attachments / Detachments
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 1: Situation
a. Enemy Forces – include pertinent intel / data
(1) Weather & Light Data
(2) Terrain (AOKOC)
(3) Enemy composition, disposition, & strength
(4) Enemy Capabilities
(5) Enemy Intentions
San Diego State Army ROTC
Enemy Forces:
Terrain
a. Enemy Forces
(2) Terrain – define area of operations & area of
interest, advantages / disadvantages to friendly & enemy,
impact on mission
AOKOC-
Avenues of approach
Observation and fields of fire
Key terrain
Obstacles
Cover and concealment
San Diego State Army ROTC
Enemy Forces:
Composition, Disposition, & Strength
a. Enemy Forces
(3) Enemy Composition, Disposition, & Strength important characteristics and significance, advantages /
disadvantages to friendly & enemy, impact on mission
- type of enemy unit, how it’s equipped,
designation, location, size, and strength
- current (pertinent) enemy activities
- distinguish known and templated enemy
locations
San Diego State Army ROTC
Enemy Forces:
Capabilities
a. Enemy Forces
(4) Enemy Capabilities – combat capability
-
range and orientation of direct / indirect fires
counter-attack forces
reserves
NBC
mobility / countermobility
ability to reposition
San Diego State Army ROTC
Enemy Forces:
Intensions
a. Enemy Forces
(5) Enemy Intentions
- the most probable and most dangerous
course of action
- how the enemy will react to attack / defense
- critical enemy events
San Diego State Army ROTC
Friendly Forces
b. Friendly Forces
-
higher unit missions (two levels up)
left unit and mission
right unit and mission
forward unit and mission
following / reserve unit and mission
units in support or higher supporting unit
h artillery support
h air support
h mortar support
San Diego State Army ROTC
Attachments / Detachments
c. Attachments & Detachments
(1) Attachments – who, why, when, where,
support requirements
(2) Detachments – who, why, when, where,
support requirements
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 2: Mission
2. Mission
- Who, what, where, when, why
- Concise statement of task(s) & purpose
- Derived from mission analysis
- Always stated TWICE in full
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
Commanders Intent
- Stated vision that defines purpose and
end state
- Provides clarity to overall operation &
informs subordinates which aspects are
most important
- should be used only to expand on purpose
of operation in more detail than para 2
permits
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
a. Concept of Operation
- Describes in general terms how the unit
(and others assisting in the op) will accomplish
the mission from start to finish
- IDs phases of operation (if any)
Common Phases
- Assembly area (AA), prep, passage of lines
- Move to Objective Rally Point (ORP)
- Actions on objective
- Consolidation and reorganization
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
a. Concept of Operation
- Identifies most important (mission
essential) tasks
- Identify main effort
- ID decisive point, form of maneuver /
defense, & other significant factors
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
b. Tasks to Maneuver Units
- Address all subordinate units &
attachments by name giving each its
mission in the form of task and purpose
- Can be tasked to provide any of the
following special teams / missions:
- recon & security (R&S)
- assault
-
aid & litter (A&L)
demo / breach,
pace & compass (P&C),
security (far & near)
- support
- EPW
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
b. Tasks to Maneuver Units (cont)
- Designate primary & alternate for special
teams / missions
- All other tasks must relate to main effort
- Designate On Order (O/O) and Be
Prepared (B/P) missions
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
c. Tasks to Combat Support Units - Same as
paragraph 3.b. accept it addresses units such
as mortars, artillery, engineers, ADA that are
attached or OPCON to you
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
d. Coordinating Instructions - Details
coordination and control applicable to two or
more subordinate units
(1) Order of movement, formation, &
movement techniques
(2) Routes (primary & alternate) – detail
checkpoints, withdrawal routes, & danger
areas
(3) Departure and re-entry of friendly lines
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
d. Coordinating Instructions
(4) Actions at halt
(5) Actions at danger areas (linear, small
open areas, large open areas)
(6) Actions on contact
-
Direct (sniper, ambush, air)
Indirect (artillery, mortar)
Obstacles (wire, mines)
Electronic (jamming)
Visual
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
d. Coordinating Instructions
(7) Rally points and actions at rally points
(IRP, ORP, PB, RRP, & other planned RPs)
(8) Reorganization & consolidation
instructions
(9) Fire distribution (area vs direct) &
control measures (TRPs, visual /sound
signals)
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
d. Coordinating Instructions
(10) Engagement / disengagement criteria
(11) MOPP level
(12) ADA warning (red, yellow, white) &
weapons control status (free, tight, hold)
(13) Timeline (rehearsals, back brief,
inspections, movement)
(14) Priority intelligence requirements (PIR)
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 3: Execution
3. Execution
d. Coordinating Instructions
(15) Rules of engagement (ROE)
(16) Reporting requirements
(17) Compass / pace checks
(18) Priorities of work
(19) Sleep plan
(20) Environmental considerations
(21) Safety considerations
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 4: Service
Support
4. Service Support - describes the critical
logistical information required to sustain the
unit during the operation
a. General
b. Material and Services
c. Personnel
d. Miscellaneous
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 4: Service
Support
4. Service Support
a. General
- SOPs in effect for sustained ops
- Current and proposed trains, resupply and
cache points locations and times
- Casualty and damaged equipment
collection points
- Location of decontamination points
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 4: Service
Support
4. Service Support
b. Material and Services
(1) Supply – information on the classes of
supply of interest to the platoon
- Class I: Subsistence items (food);
describes ration cycle and days of supply
basic load
- Class II: Clothing, individual equ,
tools, and tentage; describes resupply
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 4: Service
Support
4. Service Support
b. Material and Services
(1) Supply
- Class III: Petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL); details top off times and
locations
- Class IV: Construction materials;
location of barrier materials
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 4: Service
Support
4. Service Support
b. Material and Services
(1) Supply
- Class V: Ammunition and explosives;
location and basic load
- Class VI: Personal demand items
(alcohol); usually not included
- Class VII: Major end items (tanks,
planes, weapons, etc); resupply specifics
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 4: Service
Support
4. Service Support
b. Material and Services
(1) Supply
- Class VIII: Medical supplies
- Class IX: Repair parts
- Class X: Materials to support nonmilitary programs (agriculture and economic
development
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 4: Service
Support
4. Service Support
b. Material and Services
(2) Transportation – list constraints /
limitations, operating hours, distribution
methods and the manner in which supplies
are managed, handled, and distributed
(3) Services - laundry, showers
(4) Maintenance – Non SOP info on maint of
weapons and equ
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 4: Service
Support
4. Service Support
b. Material and Services
(5) Medical Evacuation – procedures for
evacuation of wounded or dead if different
from SOP
c. Personnel
– ID EPW collection points and handling
instruction not covered by SOP
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 4: Service
Support
4. Service Support
c. Personnel
- ID EPW collection points and handling
instruction not covered by SOP
- Mail
- Religious Services
- Graves Registration
d. Miscellaneous – destruction of supplies
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 5: Command and Signal
5. Command and Signal
a. Command
(1) Location of higher unit commander and CP
(2) Location of platoon / unit leader and CP
(3) Location of 2nd in command and unit CP
(4) Succession of command
San Diego State Army ROTC
Paragraph 5: Command and Signal
5. Command and Signal
b. Signal
(1) SOI index in effect
(2) Listening silence (if applicable)
(3) Visual or audio signals
(4) Methods of commo priority
(5) Emergency signals and code words
San Diego State Army ROTC
5 Paragraph OPORD
Summary
1. Situation
2. Mission
3. Execution
4. Service Support
5. Command and Signal
San Diego State Army ROTC
Questions & Comments