The Five Paragraph The Five Paragraph OrderOrder

OCS 4012OCS 4012

Purpose of the OrderPurpose of the Order

““Remember gentlemen, an order that can be Remember gentlemen, an order that can be misunderstood will be misunderstood. An order misunderstood will be misunderstood. An order should contain everything that a commander should contain everything that a commander cannot do himself, but nothing else.”--Count cannot do himself, but nothing else.”--Count Helmut Von-MoltkeHelmut Von-Moltke

At OCS, you will use a version of the five-At OCS, you will use a version of the five-paragraph operations order format specially paragraph operations order format specially adapted for use by companies, platoons, and adapted for use by companies, platoons, and squads.squads.

Five Paragraph OrderFive Paragraph Order

Form of operations order structured for Form of operations order structured for small unit leader.small unit leader.

Consists of Consists of OrientationOrientation and five and five paragraphs: paragraphs: SSituation, ituation, MMission, ission, the plan the plan and method of and method of EExecution, xecution, AAdministration dministration and Logistics, and and Logistics, and CCommand ommand and Signal and Signal information.information.

O-SMEACO-SMEAC

ORIENTATIONORIENTATION

Purpose of Orientation is to Purpose of Orientation is to simply orientsimply orient subordinates prior to the issuing of the subordinates prior to the issuing of the order. Be brief.order. Be brief.

At OCS, Orientation includes:At OCS, Orientation includes:Present Location (PL)-eight digit gridPresent Location (PL)-eight digit gridDirection of Attack (DOA)-cardinal directionDirection of Attack (DOA)-cardinal directionLocation of Objective (OBJ)-eight digit gridLocation of Objective (OBJ)-eight digit grid

1. 1. SITUATIONSITUATION

ContainsContains information on overall status and information on overall status and disposition of both friendly and enemy disposition of both friendly and enemy forces.forces.

Info that is deemed Info that is deemed essentialessential to subordinate to subordinate leader’s understanding of situation.leader’s understanding of situation.

Contains three subparagraphs: a) Enemy Contains three subparagraphs: a) Enemy Forces; b) Friendly Forces; c) Attachments Forces; b) Friendly Forces; c) Attachments and Detachments.and Detachments.

a) Enemy Forcesa) Enemy Forces

1.1. SALUTESALUTE: Obtained directly from higher : Obtained directly from higher commander’s order. commander’s order. Size Size of the enemy of the enemy force, their force, their ActivityActivity, last known , last known LocationLocation,, UnitUnit type/designation, type/designation, TimeTime enemy was enemy was last observed, and last observed, and Equipment Equipment they they possess. (possess. (T-SUALE).T-SUALE).

Include politics of situation. The more info your Include politics of situation. The more info your Marines have, the more confident they will be in Marines have, the more confident they will be in assault. Fill in the blanks for them.assault. Fill in the blanks for them.

a) Enemy Forces, cont.a) Enemy Forces, cont.

2. 2. DRAW-DDRAW-D: Highlights what courses of action the : Highlights what courses of action the enemy is capable of executing. Stands for enemy is capable of executing. Stands for DDefend, efend, RReinforce, einforce, AAttack, ttack, WWithdraw, and ithdraw, and DDelay. elay. No requirement for all info, only what is likely. No requirement for all info, only what is likely.

EMPCOA--EEMPCOA--Enemy’s nemy’s MMost ost PProbable robable CCourse ourse OOf f AAction; Determines entire plan/tactics. Created ction; Determines entire plan/tactics. Created by commander (You!).by commander (You!).

Example…Example…

b) Friendly Forcesb) Friendly Forces From higher commander’s order. Info limited to what From higher commander’s order. Info limited to what

subordinates need to know for mission subordinates need to know for mission accomplishment.accomplishment.

HAS:HAS:1.1. HigherHigher: mission of next highest order. (taken from : mission of next highest order. (taken from

higher commander’s MISSION statement)higher commander’s MISSION statement)2.2. AdjacentAdjacent: mission/location of surrounding units. : mission/location of surrounding units.

(taken from TASKS of commander’s order. (taken from TASKS of commander’s order. Importance?) The other SQUADS!!!!Importance?) The other SQUADS!!!!

3.3. SupportingSupporting: : NonorganicNonorganic units providing fire support units providing fire support or combat service support. For SULE II, state or combat service support. For SULE II, state “none”.“none”.

c) Attachments and Detachmentsc) Attachments and Detachments

Non-organic units (a unit excluded from Non-organic units (a unit excluded from basic rifle platoon) attached (+) and/or basic rifle platoon) attached (+) and/or organic units detached (-) from unit. organic units detached (-) from unit. Includes unit and time effective. Includes unit and time effective. Importance?Importance?

SULE II, simply state “none”SULE II, simply state “none”

2. 2. MISSIONMISSION

Clear, concise statement of what unit is Clear, concise statement of what unit is to accomplish. “Five W’s”--Who (unit), to accomplish. “Five W’s”--Who (unit), What (task), When (time), Where (grid), What (task), When (time), Where (grid), and Why (purpose).and Why (purpose).

Mission statement is heart of order, Mission statement is heart of order, always stated in full. Taken from TASK always stated in full. Taken from TASK section of higher commander’s order.section of higher commander’s order.

MISSION, cont.MISSION, cont.

Purpose (Why) is predominate to Task Purpose (Why) is predominate to Task (What), or the action to be taken, and (What), or the action to be taken, and always follows “always follows “in order toin order to”. ”.

If unit designated as If unit designated as Main EffortMain Effort, must state , must state so. Commander ensures success of main so. Commander ensures success of main effort with preponderance of support. ME is effort with preponderance of support. ME is unit’s bid for success.unit’s bid for success.

3. 3. EXECUTIONEXECUTION

““How to” information, including How to” information, including Commander’s Intent, Concept of the Commander’s Intent, Concept of the Operation, Tasks to subordinate leaders, Operation, Tasks to subordinate leaders, and Coordinating instructions.and Coordinating instructions.

a) Commander’s Intenta) Commander’s Intent

Expands on purpose of mission, so that in Expands on purpose of mission, so that in absence of orders, mission can be accomplished.absence of orders, mission can be accomplished.

Requires three specific items: 1) Purpose of Requires three specific items: 1) Purpose of operation, 2) enemy’s critical weakness, 3) plan operation, 2) enemy’s critical weakness, 3) plan for exploiting critical vulnerability.for exploiting critical vulnerability.

Focus on enemy’s Focus on enemy’s Critical VulnerabilityCritical Vulnerability. Provides . Provides window to enemy’s window to enemy’s center of gravitycenter of gravity..

Not required at OCSNot required at OCS

b) Concept of Operationsb) Concept of Operations

1.1. Scheme of ManeuverScheme of Maneuver: broad “paintbrush” : broad “paintbrush” conceptions w/o identifying specific units. conceptions w/o identifying specific units. Begin at present location (PL) and brief Begin at present location (PL) and brief unit’s actions through completion of unit’s actions through completion of mission. Includes mission. Includes form of maneuverform of maneuver for for each leg between control measures, and each leg between control measures, and basic plan for consolidation/ reorganization basic plan for consolidation/ reorganization (180/360).(180/360).

2.2. Fire Support PlanFire Support Plan: Complements SoM above. : Complements SoM above. For SULE II, state “none”.For SULE II, state “none”.

Scheme of ManeuverScheme of Maneuver“Cookie Cutter Answer”“Cookie Cutter Answer”

We will conduct a frontal attack. We will leave the We will conduct a frontal attack. We will leave the AA in a squad column, F/T wedge. Upon reaching AA in a squad column, F/T wedge. Upon reaching the Atk position we will transition into a Squad the Atk position we will transition into a Squad wedge, F/T wedge and cross the LOD. At the wedge, F/T wedge and cross the LOD. At the assault position, we will get into a squad online, assault position, we will get into a squad online, F/T skirmishers right to assault the obj. Each fire F/T skirmishers right to assault the obj. Each fire team will assault a different 1/3 of the obj. After team will assault a different 1/3 of the obj. After assaulting 10-20 M through the objective we will assaulting 10-20 M through the objective we will form a hasty 180. Once the threat of a counter form a hasty 180. Once the threat of a counter attack has passed, we will consolidate into a 360attack has passed, we will consolidate into a 360

c) Tasksc) Tasks

Includes specific missions to be Includes specific missions to be accomplished by each subordinate element accomplished by each subordinate element of unit listed in separate numbered of unit listed in separate numbered subparagraph.subparagraph.

Task statements are your subordinate unit’s Task statements are your subordinate unit’s mission statementsmission statements, and should be written , and should be written as such.as such.

Includes “5 W’s”; designate Main Effort.Includes “5 W’s”; designate Main Effort.

d) Coordinating Instructionsd) Coordinating Instructions Information that pertains to all.Information that pertains to all. Includes:Includes:

1.1. Time of AttackTime of Attack (ToA): Designated time to cross the (ToA): Designated time to cross the Line of Departure (LoD)Line of Departure (LoD)

2.2. Base UnitBase Unit : Main effort (Fighter-Leader Concept) : Main effort (Fighter-Leader Concept) Ex 1Ex 1stst F/T will be the ME, they will be located in the F/T will be the ME, they will be located in the middle of the formation, 2middle of the formation, 2ndnd firetam will be support, firetam will be support, they will be located in the rear of the formationthey will be located in the rear of the formation

3.3. Order of MovementOrder of Movement (OoM): Formations through (OoM): Formations through each control measure and each fireteam’s location each control measure and each fireteam’s location in them.in them.

– Assembly Area--Attack PositionAssembly Area--Attack Position– Attack Position--Assault PositionAttack Position--Assault Position– Assault Position--ObjectiveAssault Position--Objective

d) Coord Inst, continuedd) Coord Inst, continued

4. 4. Security AssignmentsSecurity Assignments during movements and during movements and halts, assigning 180/360 sectors of responsibility. halts, assigning 180/360 sectors of responsibility. Assign sectors of fire via the clock method for Assign sectors of fire via the clock method for each fire team.each fire team.

5. 5. Tactical Control MeasuresTactical Control Measures (TCM): For SULE II (TCM): For SULE II list 8 digit grid information and terrain feature for list 8 digit grid information and terrain feature for each control measure, including Line of Departure. each control measure, including Line of Departure. This information is taken directly from higher This information is taken directly from higher Commander’s TCM.Commander’s TCM.

d) Coord. Inst., continuedd) Coord. Inst., continued

6. Route to Objective (RTE): direction 6. Route to Objective (RTE): direction (azimuth in degrees magnetic), distance, (azimuth in degrees magnetic), distance, and key terrain features for each of the and key terrain features for each of the three legs between control measures. three legs between control measures. Provides Marines with idea of what to Provides Marines with idea of what to expect along the way to the objective, expect along the way to the objective, and how they will recognize control and how they will recognize control measures.measures.

4. 4. ADMINISTRATION and ADMINISTRATION and LOGISTICSLOGISTICS

Contains info for subordinate units to Contains info for subordinate units to coordinate resupply, recovery of equipment, coordinate resupply, recovery of equipment, and evacuation of wounded and prisoners.and evacuation of wounded and prisoners.

Addresses the “Four B’s”--Addresses the “Four B’s”--BBeans, eans, BBullets, ullets, BBandages, and andages, and BBad Guys.ad Guys.

Divided into two subparagraphs. Divided into two subparagraphs.

a)a) AdministrationAdministrationb) Logisticsb) Logistics

Bandages: MEDEVAC plan for wounded, Bandages: MEDEVAC plan for wounded, including location of corpsman.including location of corpsman.

Bad Guys: Enemy Prisoners of War (EPWs) Bad Guys: Enemy Prisoners of War (EPWs) handling procedures and evac plan.handling procedures and evac plan.

Beans: chow and waterBeans: chow and water Bullets: type of ammunition and quantityBullets: type of ammunition and quantity

5. 5. COMMAND and SIGNALCOMMAND and SIGNAL

Two subparagraphs, SIGNAL comes before Two subparagraphs, SIGNAL comes before COMMAND!COMMAND!

Signal: Specifies prearranged signals, Signal: Specifies prearranged signals, passwords/countersigns, radio call passwords/countersigns, radio call signs/frequencies/procedures, Emergency signals, signs/frequencies/procedures, Emergency signals, pyrotechnics, and restrictions on communications.pyrotechnics, and restrictions on communications.

Cookie Cutter answer!!!!Cookie Cutter answer!!!! SULE II: Use hand and arm signals until enemy SULE II: Use hand and arm signals until enemy

contact, then switch to verbal commands. No contact, then switch to verbal commands. No Pyro or radio.Pyro or radio.

COMMAND/SIGNAL, cont.COMMAND/SIGNAL, cont.

Command: includes your location, location Command: includes your location, location of higher commander and key leaders, and of higher commander and key leaders, and succession of command.succession of command.

SULE II, Platoon Commmander, Platoon SULE II, Platoon Commmander, Platoon Sergeant, yourself (squad leader), and Sergeant, yourself (squad leader), and succeeding fireteam leaders. succeeding fireteam leaders.

Issuing the OrderIssuing the Order

Remember audience.Remember audience. Speak in clear and confident voice at Speak in clear and confident voice at

conversational speed, or slightly faster. If conversational speed, or slightly faster. If you appear confident and knowledgeable of you appear confident and knowledgeable of the situation, you will inspire subordinates to the situation, you will inspire subordinates to follow your leadership.follow your leadership.

Begin with “Hold all question until the end.” Begin with “Hold all question until the end.” Conclude with“The time is now…, are there Conclude with“The time is now…, are there any questions?”any questions?”