FIVE PARAGRAPH ORDER
FMST 0207
02 Nov 99

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

Count Helmut von Moltke
Field-Marshall and 
Chief Of Staff of German Army

 TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Given a combat environment (day and night), and individual combat gear, execute a five paragraph order.  (FMST.02.07)

 ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Without the aid of reference materials, select the purpose of the combat order, per the student handout.  (FMST.02.07a)

2. Without the aid of reference materials, select from a list of terms, the characteristics of a combat order, per the student handout.  (FMST.02.07b)

3. Without the aid of reference materials, select the types of combat orders, per the student handout.  (FMST.02.07c)

4. Without the aid of reference materials, select the acronym that defines the five (5) paragraphs of the combat order, per the student handout.  (FMST.02.07d)

5. Without the aid of reference materials, select the five (5) questions answered in the mission paragraph of the combat order, per the student handout.  (FMST.02.07e)

OUTLINE

 A.     INTRODUCTION 

1. The essential purpose of the combat order is to convey a mission and a plan to accomplish that mission.

2. All combat orders are derived from the operations order which is structured to meet the needs of a small unit leader.  The combat order is structured for oral presentation.  The operation order is structured for written presentation. 

3. Combat orders range from simple “follow me” shouted by the lowest fire team leader, to the sophisticated approach required to plan and execute the operations of a MAGTF.  Without orders, a unit has no direction.  Without direction, a unit can not fight effectively.

B.     CHARACTERISITICS OF ORDERS.  Effective combat orders are characterized by:

1. Clarity.  Use doctrinally established military terminology and symbols that clearly convey identical meaning to all subordinate elements that receive the order.

2. Completeness.  The order should contain all the information and instruction necessary to coordinate and execute the mission.

3. Brevity.  Unnecessary detail should be avoided.  However, do not sacrifice clarity and completeness in the interest of brevity.

4. Recognition of subordinate leader’s rights.  Issue mission type orders.  Orders should not infringe on the initiative of subordinate leaders by prescribing intricate details of execution.

5. Use of the affirmative form.  In the interest of simplicity and clarity, the affirmative form of expression is used throughout all combat orders.  Wording such as “1^st squad will not accompany the company” is improper for two reasons:  first, the intent of the order depends on the word “not”; second, the actual location of 1^st squad is not indicated.  The proper affirmative form is “1^st squad will remain in the assembly area.”

6. Avoidance of qualified directives.  Avoid meaningless expressions and cliches such as “try to hold” and “as far as possible” that lessen responsibility.

7. Authoritative expressions.  The order reflects the unit leader’s intention and will.  Indecisive, vague, and ambiguous language indicates indecision and leads to uncertainty and lack of confidence by subordinates.  The effective leader tells his subordinates in direct and unmistakable terms exactly what he wants them to do.

8. Timeliness.  Timely issuance of orders allows subordinates sufficient time for planning and preparation.

C.     TYPES OF COMBAT ORDERS. 

1. Warning order.  Issued at all levels to allow the unit to prepare for the oncoming order.

2. Operations order.  Delivered by the Battalion or higher.

3. Five paragraph order.  Delivered by the Company and lower.  Information for the Five paragraph order comes from the Operations order.

4. Fragmentary order (FRAGO).  Delivered by the Company and lower.  Allows quick adjustment to the Five paragraph order while the unit is on the move.

D.     FIVE PARAGRAGH ORDER.  A five paragraph order gives subordinates the essential information needed to carry out the operation.  It sets forth the Situation, the Mission, the plan and method of Execution, Administration and Logistics, and Command and Signal information.  This format is commonly referred to and remembered by the acronym SMEAC.

1.      Orientation.  Prior to issuing the order, the unit leader orients his subordinate leaders to the planned area of operation using a terrain model or operational graphics.  The purpose of the orientation is not to discuss the details of the order or terrain model, but rather to simply orient subordinates to their map and the terrain model prior to the issuance of the order.

2. Situation.  The situation paragraph contains information on the overall status and disposition of both friendly and enemy forces.  The situation paragraph contains three subparagraphs: 

a.       Enemy Forces.  This subparagraph contains essential information concerning the enemy’s composition, disposition, location, capabilities, limitations, and recent activities of the enemy.  Use the acronym SALUTE:

1)      Size – enemy squad, platoon, ...

2)      Activity – enemy digging in, bivouacking, …

3)      Location – six digit grid if possible.

4)      Unit – 3^rd Centralian Infantry, 7^th Iraqi Armor, …

5)      Time – when the enemy was last observed.

6)      Equipment – Soviet small arms, machine guns, mortars, …

b.      Friendly Forces.  This subparagraph contains essential information concerning the mission of the next higher unit, location and mission of adjacent units, and mission of non-organic supporting units.  Information in this subparagraph can be remembered with the acronym HAS:

1)      Higher

2)      Adjacent

3)      Supporting

c.       Attachments and Detachments.  Non-organic units attached (+) and/or organic units detached (-) from the unit.

3.      MISSION.  This paragraph provides a clear and concise statement of what the unit is to accomplish.  The mission statement is the heart of the order and should answer the following five questions (the five W’s):

a.       Who

b.      What

c.       When

d.      Where

e.       Why

4. EXECUTION.  The execution paragraph contains the information needed to conduct the operation.  The paragraph is divided into three subparagraphs:

a.       Concept of Operations.  This is a general explanation of the tactical plan.  It includes a brief scheme of maneuver from start to conclusion, type of attack, and fire support plan.

b.      Tasks.  The specific missions to be accomplished by each subordinate element of the unit will be listed in a separate numbered subparagraph.  It is the subordinate’s unit mission statements.

c.       Coordinating Instructions.  The specific instructions and tasks that apply to two of more units.  Information given includes order of movement, planned combat formations, tactical and fire control measures (i.e., phase lines, checkpoints), and any other tasks that pertain to the mission.

5. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS.  This paragraph contains information or instructions pertaining to rations and ammunition; location of the distribution point, corpsman, and aid station; handling of prisoners of war; and other administrative and supply matters.

6. COMMAND AND SIGNAL.  This paragraph contains instructions and information relating to command and communications (control) functions.  It contains two subparagraph:

a.       Signal.  Gives signal instructions for the operation such as frequencies, call signs, pyrotechnics, challenge and password, and brevity codes.

b.      Command.  Identifies the chain of command and their location (including the corpsman) before, during, and after the operation.

REFERENCE:

Marine Rifle Squad, FMFM 6-5

Field Medical Service School
Camp Pendleton, California

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