OPERATIONS ORDER

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OPERATIONS ORDER (OPORD)
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5 Paragraph OPORD

1. Situation
2. Mission
3. Execution
4. Service Support
5. Command and Signal

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Baseline Data

• Operations Order / Code Name if Used
• References (maps, previous orders,
• FRAGOs, etc)
• 3) Time Zone Used Throughout Order
• 4) Task Organization

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Task Organization

• Explains how the unit is organized for the
  operation
• Done by phase

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Paragraph 1 Situation

• Situation - Provides information essential to
  subordinate leaders understanding of the mission
• a. Enemy Forces
• b. Friendly Forces
• c. Attachments / Detachments

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Paragraph 1 Situation

• Enemy Forces include pertinent intel / data
• (1) Weather Light Data
• (2) Terrain (AOKOC)
• (3) Enemy composition, disposition, strength
• (4) Enemy Capabilities
• (5) Enemy Intentions

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Enemy Forces Weather

• Enemy Forces
• (1) Weather Light Data - advantages /
  disadvantages to friendly enemy, impact on
  mission
• (a) Precipitation
• (b) Temperature
• (c) Other Weather Conditions (wind, dust,
  fog)
• (d) Light Data
• BMNT__________ Sunrise_________
• Sunset_________ EENT___________
• Moonrise_______ Moonset________
• Percent Illum___________

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Enemy Forces Terrain

• Enemy Forces
• (2) Terrain define area of operations area
  of interest, advantages / disadvantages to
  friendly enemy, impact on mission
• A - Avenues of approach
• O - Observation and fields of fire
• K - Key terrain
• O - Obstacles
• C - Cover and concealment

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Enemy Forces Composition, Disposition, Strength

• Enemy Forces
• (3) Enemy Composition, Disposition, Strength
  - important characteristics and significance,
  advantages / disadvantages to friendly enemy,
  impact on mission
• - type of enemy unit, how its equipped,
• designation, location, size, and strength
• - current (pertinent) enemy activities
• - distinguish known and templated enemy
• locations

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Enemy Forces Capabilities

• Enemy Forces
• (4) Enemy Capabilities combat capability
• - range and orientation of direct / indirect
  fires
• - counter-attack forces
• - reserves
• - NBC
• - mobility / countermobility
• - ability to reposition

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Enemy Forces Intensions

• Enemy Forces
• (5) Enemy Intentions
• - the most probable and most dangerous
• course of action
• - how the enemy will react to attack / defense
• - critical enemy events

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Friendly Forces
b. Friendly Forces - higher unit missions
(two levels up) - left unit and mission -
right unit and mission - forward unit and
mission - following / reserve unit and
mission - units in support or higher supporting
unit h artillery support h air support h
mortar support
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Attachments / Detachments
c. Attachments Detachments (1) Attachments
who, why, when, where, support
requirements (2) Detachments who, why, when,
where, support requirements
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Paragraph 2 Mission

• Mission
• - Who, what, where, when, why
• - Concise statement of task(s) purpose
• - Derived from mission analysis
• - Always stated TWICE in full

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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution Commanders Intent - Stated
vision that defines purpose and end state -
Provides clarity to overall operation informs
subordinates which aspects are most
important - should be used only to expand on
purpose of operation in more detail than para 2
permits
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution a. Concept of Operation -
Describes in general terms how the unit (and
others assisting in the op) will accomplish the
mission from start to finish - IDs phases of
operation (if any) Common Phases
- Assembly area (AA), prep, passage of lines
- Move to Objective Rally Point (ORP) -
Actions on objective - Consolidation and
reorganization
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution a. Concept of Operation -
Identifies most important (mission essential)
tasks - Identify main effort - ID
decisive point, form of maneuver / defense,
other significant factors
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution b. Tasks to Maneuver Units
- Address all subordinate units
attachments by name giving each its mission in
the form of task and purpose - Can be tasked
to provide any of the following special teams /
missions - recon security (RS) -
assault - aid litter (AL) - support
- demo / breach, - EPW - pace
compass (PC), - security (far near)
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution b. Tasks to Maneuver Units
(cont) - Designate primary alternate
for special teams / missions - All other
tasks must relate to main effort - Designate
On Order (O/O) and Be Prepared (B/P) missions
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution c. Tasks to Combat Support
Units - Same as paragraph 3.b. accept it
addresses units such as mortars, artillery,
engineers, ADA that are attached or OPCON to you
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution d. Coordinating Instructions -
Details coordination and control applicable to
two or more subordinate units (1) Order of
movement, formation, movement
techniques (2) Routes (primary alternate)
detail checkpoints, withdrawal routes, danger
areas (3) Departure and re-entry of
friendly lines
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution d. Coordinating Instructions
(4) Actions at halt (5) Actions at
danger areas (linear, small open areas, large
open areas) (6) Actions on contact -
Direct (sniper, ambush, air) - Indirect
(artillery, mortar) - Obstacles (wire,
mines) - Electronic (jamming) - Visual
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution d. Coordinating Instructions
(7) Rally points and actions at rally
points (IRP, ORP, PB, RRP, other planned
RPs) (8) Reorganization consolidation
instructions (9) Fire distribution (area vs
direct) control measures (TRPs, visual /sound
signals)
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution d. Coordinating Instructions
(10) Engagement / disengagement
criteria (11) MOPP level (12) ADA warning
(red, yellow, white) weapons control status
(free, tight, hold) (13) Timeline
(rehearsals, back brief, inspections, movement)
(14) Priority intelligence requirements (PIR)
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Paragraph 3 Execution
3. Execution d. Coordinating Instructions
(15) Rules of engagement (ROE) (16)
Reporting requirements (17) Compass / pace
checks (18) Priorities of work (19) Sleep
plan (20) Environmental considerations (21)
Safety considerations
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Paragraph 4 Service Support

• Service Support - describes the critical
  logistical information required to sustain the
  unit during the operation
• a. General
• b. Material and Services
• c. Personnel
• d. Miscellaneous

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Paragraph 4 Service Support

• Service Support
• a. General
• - SOPs in effect for sustained ops
• - Current and proposed trains, resupply and
  cache points locations and times
• - Casualty and damaged equipment collection
  points
• - Location of decontamination points

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Paragraph 4 Service Support

• Service Support
• b. Material and Services
• (1) Supply information on the classes of
  supply of interest to the platoon
• - Class I Subsistence items (food)
  describes ration cycle and days of supply basic
  load
• - Class II Clothing, individual equ, tools,
  and tentage describes resupply

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Paragraph 4 Service Support

• Service Support
• b. Material and Services
• (1) Supply
• - Class III Petroleum, oils, and lubricants
  (POL) details top off times and locations
• - Class IV Construction materials
  location of barrier materials

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Paragraph 4 Service Support

• Service Support
• b. Material and Services
• (1) Supply
• - Class V Ammunition and explosives
  location and basic load
• - Class VI Personal demand items (alcohol)
  usually not included
• - Class VII Major end items (tanks, planes,
  weapons, etc) resupply specifics

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Paragraph 4 Service Support

• Service Support
• b. Material and Services
• (1) Supply
• - Class VIII Medical supplies
• - Class IX Repair parts
• - Class X Materials to support non-military
  programs (agriculture and economic development

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Paragraph 4 Service Support

• Service Support
• b. Material and Services
• (2) Transportation list constraints /
• limitations, operating hours, distribution
• methods and the manner in which supplies
• are managed, handled, and distributed
• (3) Services - laundry, showers
• (4) Maintenance Non SOP info on maint of
  weapons and equ

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Paragraph 4 Service Support

• Service Support
• b. Material and Services
• (5) Medical Evacuation procedures for
• evacuation of wounded or dead if different
• from SOP
• c. Personnel
• ID EPW collection points and handling
  instruction not covered by SOP

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Paragraph 4 Service Support

• Service Support
• c. Personnel
• - ID EPW collection points and handling
  instruction not covered by SOP
• - Mail
• - Religious Services
• - Graves Registration
• d. Miscellaneous destruction of supplies

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Paragraph 5 Command and Signal
5. Command and Signal a. Command (1)
Location of higher unit commander and CP (2)
Location of platoon / unit leader and CP (3)
Location of 2nd in command and unit CP (4)
Succession of command
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Paragraph 5 Command and Signal
5. Command and Signal b. Signal (1) SOI
index in effect (2) Listening silence (if
applicable) (3) Visual or audio
signals (4) Methods of commo priority (5)
Emergency signals and code words
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5 Paragraph OPORD Summary

1. Situation
2. Mission
3. Execution
4. Service Support
5. Command and Signal

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Questions Comments