TACT 3020

• Purpose/Definition
• Orders process
• Warning Order
• 5-paragraph order format
• Fragmentary Order
• Application

• A 5 Paragraph Operation order is a directive issued by a leader to his/her troops to coordinate the execution of a mission.
• Standardized format
• All five paragraphs work together to coordinate your resources into a plan on how you will reach the goal of mission accomplishment

• BAMCIS- Troop Leading Steps
B egin the planning ( METT-T )
A rrange the reconnaissance
M ake the reconnaissance
C omplete the planning
I ssue the order
S upervise

• Receipt of mission triggers cycle
• Leaders generally issue a warning order at this time to alert subordinates that a mission is imminent
• METT-T is used in this step
• Reverse planning

METT-T – Estimate of the Situation
M ission (Who, What, Where, When, Why)
E nemy (SALUTE/ TSUALE/DRAW-D)
T errain and Weather (OCOKA-W)
T roops and fire-support available
T ime (rule of 1/3)

• Unit leader gains understanding of mission
• Task Analysis – Understand all that is necessary for mission accomplishment
• Limitations or Restrictions
– Tactical Control Measures
– ROE

• Understand the enemy
• Development comes from:
– Doctrine
– Historical Data
– Current Activities
• Ideal Information
– Composition
– Disposition
– Strength

• Capabilities and Limitations
– What can/cannot the enemy do to me?
• MPCOA (Most Probably Course of Action)
– What will the enemy try to do to me?
• “The MPCOA is to withdraw to the NW (as a result of our attack) to attempt to join other enemy forces west of objective alpha”

O bservation – Influences of Terrain
C over and Concealment - Protection
O bstacles – Natural or Man-made
K ey Terrain – Terrain that offers and advantage
A venues of Approach – Movement routes to an objective
W eather

• Leader must consider # of Marines and support available
– Mental/Physical Condition of Marines
– Level of Training
– Status of Equipment
– Fire Support
– Logistics

• Drives planning and execution
• Use initial estimates to identify any critical timing such as:
– Planning time
– Movement time
– Defend-no-later-than time
– Time for preparation/rehearsal
– Time for recon
– Transportation

• What am I lacking?”
• Arrange for recon of:
– Objective
– Route
– Defensive Position
• Unit Leader Considers:
– Route
– Security
– Subordinates to Accompany
– Time Available

• Commander attempts to answer questions
• Recon will confirm plan or cause alteration
• Leaders should take as many subordinate leaders as situation requires, and leave rest to supervise preparations
• Methods
– Ground
– Imagery
– Map
– Overflights

• After updating his or her estimate of situation, must decide how to accomplish mission
• Complete operation order

• Orally issue order

• MOST IMPORTANT STEP!
• Leader ensures his/her plan is adhered to by:
– Listening to subordinate leaders as they issue orders
– Inspecting Marines/Equipment
– Observing Marines as they conduct rehearsals

• Situation
• Mission
• General instructions
– Organization
– Uniform and equipment common to all
– Weapons, ammo, and equipment
– Chain of command
– Timeline
– Information on Op Order
– Rehearsals
• Specific instructions
– To subordinate leaders
– To special purpose teams or key leaders

“ Decision making requires both the situational awareness to recognize the essence of a given
problem and the creative ability to devise a practical solution.”
MCDP 1 Warfighting -

Note: actually 6 paragraphs
O rientation
S ituation
M ission
E xecution
A dmin and Logistics
C ommand and Signal

• Use terrain model, if possible
• The introduction to the order that is used to orient subjects to their location and area of operations.
• Will Include:
– Present location
– Terrain and Weather
– Direction of attack
– Location of Objective
(Grid coordinates)
(NE, SW, etc.)
(Grid coordinates)

“ We are currently located at grid coordinate
65789818. We will be attacking in a
Northern direction to the objective located at grid coordinate 65789616. Expect hilly terrain and chances of rain. Please hold all questions until the end. ”

• Provides information concerning the enemy forces, friendly forces, and attachments or detachments to the unit.
– Enemy forces: SALUTE or TSUALE, DRAWD
– Friendly forces: HAS
– Attachments/Detachments: Att/Det

T ime last seen
S ize
U nit
A ctivity
L ocation
E quipment
D efend
R einforce
A ttack
W ithdraw
D elay

• “Approximately 1 hour ago, 3-4 CLF soldiers were seen building a SAM site on the objective. They are armed with AK-47s and
RPGs. They are expected to defend on contact”

H igher
A djacent
S upport

• Attachments and Detachments
– Are there any individuals or units temporarily attached to your unit or detached from your unit?
– If there are no attachments or detachments, you must state:
“Attachments and Detachments, None.”

“ Higher: On order, 1st platoon will attack to destroy the CLF SAM site located on the objective in order to protect US air assets.
Adjacent units, 2nd and 3rd Squad, will remain in the assembly area. Supporting units: None.
Attachments and detachments: None.”

• Main Effort
• When (On Order, OO)
• Who (1st Squad)
• What (Attack to Destroy, ATD)
• Where (Objective, OBJ)
• Why (In Order To, IOT)

“We are the main effort. On order, 1st Squad will attack to destroy the SAM site located on the objective in order to protect US air assets.”

• Contains:
– Commander’s Intent
– Concept of Operations
– Tasks
– Coordinating Instructions

• The Commander’s intent tells what the commander wants to do with the mission.
– Restate the Why
– Critical Vulnerabilities
– How to exploit
– Verbatim

Execution: Commander’s Intent
Example
“The purpose of this mission is to protect US air assets from the threat of SAMs. The enemy’s critical vulnerability is their small size and lack of heavy machine guns. We will exploit this using a squad sized frontal assault.”

• The Concept of Operations outlines the leader’s guidelines for the effective completion of the mission.
• Big picture
• Flexible- Determined by leader
• Includes:
– Scheme of Maneuver
– Fire Support Plan

• Scheme of Maneuver
– Form of Maneuver: Describes type of assault
• (Envelopment, Frontal Assault, Penetration)
– Unit formations during movement
• Assembly Area  Attack Position
– Often a formation for speed
– Ex. Squad Column, Fire Team Wedge
• Attack Position  Assault Position
– Likely chance of contact
– Ex. Squad Wedge, Fire Team Wedge
• Assault Position  Objective
– Attack Formation
– Ex. Squad On line, Fire Team Skirmishers Right
• Hasty 180 / Consolidate 360
– Defensive plans after objective
[AA  ATK]
[ATK  ASLT]
[ASLT  OBJ]

• Fire Support Plan: Restates any fire support that will be received while conducting the mission.
• If none, state “none.”

• The unit leader will assign tasks to his subordinate leaders. This is where the leader defines the mission for his/her subordinate units.
– Platoon Task  Squad Mission
– 5-W format
– Individual assignments for each lower unit
– Designates a unit as the main effort

• “1st Fire Team, you are the main effort. On order, attack to destroy the center 1/3 of the objective in order to prevent CLF forces from establishing a SAM site.
• 2 nd Fire Team - Left 1/3
• 3 rd Fire Team - Right 1/3

Execution: Coordinating Instructions
• Coordinating instructions provides tactical directions for the mission.
– Time of Attack
– Base Unit
– Order of Movement
– Tactical Control Measures
– Route to Objective
– Security Assignments

Execution: Coordinating Instructions
– Time of Attack: Time that your unit will cross the line of departure.
– Base Unit: Unit that your movements will be based off of- Main effort
– Order of Movement: Gives formations of unit for each leg of movement.
• Example:
From the assembly area to the attack position, we will move in a Squad column, Fire Team Wedge. The order of movement from front to rear will be 1 st Fire Team, 2 nd Fire
Team, 3 rd Fire Team.

Execution: Coordinating Instructions
• Tactical Control Measures: Give an 8-digit grid coordinate (or whatever grid you have) and Terrain
Feature. (Includes LOD)
– Example: The attack position is at grid coordinate
4537 3651 and is a finger.

Execution: Coordinating Instructions
• Route to Objective: For each leg of movement, an azimuth and distance will be calculated and stated with the terrain feature.
– Squad Leader’s Example: From the assault position to the objective, we will be traveling at 68° magnetic for a distance of 215 meters to a draw.

Execution: Coordinating Instructions
• Security Assignments: Tells the subordinate units their responsibilities during movement halts and after the objective is reached.
– Uses the face of a clock.
– Movements Halts
– Hasty 180° (counterattack)
– Consolidated 360°
– Example:
For stops during movement, 1 st FT will cover from 10-2, 2 nd FT will cover from 6-10, 3 rd FT will cover from 2-6.

• The Admin & Logistics paragraph dictates how to handle:
– Beans: food rations
• (Days of Supply (DOS) /MREs)
– Bullets: ammunition resupply
– Band-aids: casualties or injuries
– Bad guys: prisoners of war (EPWs)

• Squad leaders example:
– “Admin: Self-aid and buddy aid will be used. On consolidation ,take all casualties to the corpsman who will be with 2 nd Squad and all EPWs to the platoon sergeant.
– “Logistics: Each midshipman will have one MRE, two full canteens, and 30 rounds of ammunition.

• Signal: Relays which type of communication will be used during mission.
– Radio frequencies and call signs, pyrotechnics, hand and arm signals, voice commands upon contact.
• Command: States location of key personnel and succession of command.
– Location of Platoon Commander, Platoon Sergeant,
Corpsman
– Who is next in charge when the leader is incapacitated
• Where will you be?

• Comm/Signal
– Signal: HAVOC
– Comm
• PC: 1 st Sqd
• PS: 3 rd Sqd
• Corpsman: 2 nd Squad
– Succession of Comm.
• 1 st FTL, 2 nd FTL, 3 rd FTL

• Time
• Abbreviations
• Skeleton (say each section)
• First say, “Hold all questions until the end”
• Repeat grid coordinates and azimuths (use “say again” instead of
“repeat”
• Speak clearly and confidently
• Conversational speed
• When giving tasks, look at each individual when speaking to them
• Back brief
• Use note taking gear (receiving or briefing)- preferably waterproof and a pencil
“The shortest pencil will always outlast the longest memory.”

• Given when information changes from the operation order
• Abbreviated form
• Typically contains new mission and execution paragraphs
• All other info is briefed as information changes or as “no change”

“The first principle of a [commander] is to calculate what he must do, to see if he has all the means to surmount the obstacles with which the enemy can oppose him and, when he has made his decision, to do everything to overcome them.”
-Napoleon Bonaparte