1. SSgt. Eric J Mattison 27 March, 2007
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: SMEAC
Orientation and Five paragraphs
SMEAC
Situation
Mission
Execution
Administration and Logistics
Command and Signal

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

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

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

8. Enemy Forces 2 sections: At OCS T S U A L E (SALUTE) D-R-A-W-D
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 Adjacent Support Attachments / Detachments
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

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

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

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

14. EXECUTION Commander’s Intent Concept of Operations Tasks
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. 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

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

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 BU 1st FT AA – ATK Sqd Col / FT Wedge
1,2,3 from Front to Rear
ATK – ASLT
ASLT - OBJ
Sqd Line /
FT Skirm
1,2,3 from
Left to Right

24. Security Halts & Sectors
1st FT
2nd FT
3rd FT
Mvmt / Halts
C 1/3
L 1/3
R 1/3
Hasty 180
Cons / 360

25. Tactical Control Measures
GRID
FEATURE AA
Hilltop
ATK
Finger
LOD
Draw
ASLT
Streambed
OBJ
Saddle

26. Route to Objective AZ DIST FEATURE AA - ATK 102 170 Finger ATK - ASLT63
150
Streambed
ASLT - OBJ 43
100
Saddle

27. ADMIN & LOGISTICS Administration Logistics Beans (Chow) Bullets (Ammo)
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 Command 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 No time limit on PC’s order 25 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 10 minutes To give your operation order
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
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???