5 Paragraph Order LTCOL John Cassady USMC(RET)

SMEAC  Situation  Mission  Execution  Administration and Logistics  Command and Control

4 W’s Plus H 5 Questions for Success  Who  What  When  Where  How

Situation  Describes present circumstances  Date, Time, Location, Weather  Paragraph A- Friendly Forces  Forces directly involved in the operation.  Usually a separate annex because of size  Paragraph B- Enemy Forces  Usually a separate annex because of size, omitted in JROTC  Paragraph C- Supporting Forces  Forces providing support,e.g. transportation, supplies, ETC.

Mission  A clear, concise statement of the tasks assigned to a unit  Includes Date, Time of the commencement of the operation  Lays out what each element of an operation is required to accomplish  Can include a follow-on task if success is realized by the initial task effort

Execution Intent  Commander’s Intent  Commander passes the vision he/she has for the conduct of the operation  Establishes guidelines e.g. rapid, aggressive, safe conduct of tasks  Commander states the “end state” desired based on assigned mission  Concept of Operations is a general layout of the tactical plan

Execution Tasks  Each subordinate element will have “Specified Tasks” stated in the order  “Implied Tasks” Tasks not stated in the order, but these tasks must be accomplished to complete the Specified Tasks….Important concept!  Frequently a “Specified Task” creates “Implied Tasks” which become “Specified Tasks” for subordinate units and Staffs  Subordinate Commanders develop their own orders based on the Specified Tasks  Staff tasks are placed in the Execution Paragraph  Specific staff information issued in a separate annex

Execution Coordinating Instructions  Specified Tasks applying to two or more units, march order, combat formations, control measures, and any other tasks related to the mission

Admin & Logistics  Specified Tasks drawn from the Execution Paragraph staff tasks  Separate Annexes developed addressing Admin and Logistic matters  Includes medical considerations as Appendices to Medical Annexes  Bean, Bullets, and Bandaids paragraph  Personnel accountability measures  Handling Enemy Prisioners of War  Mortuary Affairs  Other Administrative and Logistic matters

Command and Control  Contains instructions and information regarding command and communications functions  Annexes lay out the communication plans  Includes frequencies and call signs, brevity codes, challenges and passwords  Identifies chain of command and their locations before, during and after the operation

Questions?