Operation Order
SSgt. Eric J Mattison
27 March, 2007
Introduction
Purpose
The Five Paragraph Order
Other types of Combat Orders
Skeleton
Template
Conclusion
Operation Order
Directive issued by commanders to
subordinate leaders
Oral
 Written

Clear, Concise guidelines for unit leader
Five Paragraph Order
Derived from Operation Order
Consists of:

Orientation and Five paragraphs
SMEAC





Situation
Mission
Execution
Administration and Logistics
Command and Signal
ORIENTATION
Terrain model
Vantage point
Includes:





North
PL
Objectives
Key terrain features
Tactical Control
Measures
At OCS



PL
Direction of attack
Objective
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.
SITUATION
Enemy Forces

Time
Size
Unit
Activity
Location
Equipment

D-R-A-W-D





Friendly Forces





Higher
Adjacent
Support
Attachments
Detachments
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
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.
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
Example…
Follow the Acronyms word for word
Higher…
 Adjacent…
 Supporting…
 A / D…

MISSION
Precise Statement





Who
What
When
Where
Why
At OCS

Begin w/


“On Order…
End w/

…we are the Main
Effort”
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
EXECUTION
Commander’s Intent
Concept of Operations
Scheme of Maneuver
 Form of Maneuver
 Fire Support Plan

Tasks
Coordination Instructions
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

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.
Concept of Operations
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
Tasks
Assign Main Effort
1st Fire Team:

ME…On order…
2nd Fire Team:

On order…
3rd Fire Team:

On order…

Main Effort
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.
Coordinating Instructions
Time of Attack
Base Unit
Order of Movement
Security halts & Sectors of responsibility
Tactical Control Measures
Route to the Objective
Time of Attack
Designated time to cross the LOD
At OCS

25 minutes after completion of PC’s order
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

Order of Movement
BU
1st FT
AA – ATK
Sqd Col /
FT Wedge
1,2,3 from
Front to Rear
Sqd Line /
FT Skirm
1,2,3 from
Left to Right
ATK – ASLT
ASLT - OBJ
Security Halts & Sectors
1st FT
Mvmt /
Halts
2nd FT
3rd FT
C 1/3
L 1/3
R 1/3
Hasty 180 C 1/3
L 1/3
R 1/3
Cons / 360 C 1/3
L 1/3
R 1/3
Tactical Control Measures
GRID
FEATURE
AA
12345678
Hilltop
ATK
23456789
Finger
LOD
34567890
Draw
ASLT
45678901
Streambed
OBJ
56789012
Saddle
Route to Objective
AZ
DIST
FEATURE
AA - ATK
102
170
Finger
ATK - ASLT
63
150
Streambed
ASLT - OBJ 43
100
Saddle
ADMIN & LOGISTICS
Administration
Beans (Chow)
 Bullets (Ammo)

Logistics
Band-aids (Corpsman - SL)
 Bad guys (POW’s – Plt Sgt)

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.
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
Any Questions???
Time is now _____ .
Move out in _____ min.
Other Combat Orders
Warning Order
Frag Order
These will not be discussed
They are just for reference
SKELETON
Refer to Outline
Template
Refer to Outline
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
That gives:

5 minutes


5 minutes


For FT leaders to brief teams and get them in the
initial formation of Squad Column / FT Wedge
10 minutes


To give your operation order
To reach the LOD and get into Squad Line / FT
Skirmishers
5 minutes

To cross the LOD
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

QUESTIONS???