Operation Order SSgt. Eric J Mattison 27 March, 2007.

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 leadersOralWritten

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 OCSDirectly 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 ForcesHigher 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 wordHigher…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 OperationsScheme of ManeuverForm of ManeuverFire Support Plan

Tasks

Coordination Instructions

Commander’s Intent

Ties the Mission and Concept of Ops togetherShould answer:What do I want to do to the enemy?

Focus:Purpose of the OperationEnemy’s Critical VulnerabilitiesHow 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: Main Effort

2nd Fire Team:

3rd Fire Team:

ME…On order…

On order…

On order…

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 OCS25 minutes after completion of PC’s order

Base Unit

Designate who will be the Base Unit

At OCS1st Fire Team will be the Base UnitTry 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

ATK – ASLT

ASLT - OBJ Sqd Line /

FT Skirm

1,2,3 from

Left to Right

Security Halts & Sectors

1st FT 2nd FT 3rd FT

Mvmt / Halts

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

AdministrationBeans (Chow)Bullets (Ammo)

LogisticsBand-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 & SIGNALSignalHand and ArmVoice (upon enemy contact)

CommandKey personnel

PC, PS, SLSuccession 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 order25 minutes

Upon conclusion of PC’s order to cross the LOD

That gives:

5 minutesTo give your operation order

5 minutesFor FT leaders to brief teams and get them in the

initial formation of Squad Column / FT Wedge10 minutes

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 objectiveMake sure that you are in control of your

squad, not someone elseKeep 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???