Platoon Operations Order

I. Field Manualsa. FM 3-0 Operationsb. FM 1-02 Operational terms and Graphicsc. FM 5-0 Army Planning and Orders Productiond. FM 3-21.8 The Infantry Platoon and Squad

II. Combat Ordersa. Capture the commander’s battlefield visualization, intent, and decisions.b. Focus on an end state operation (what the commander expects to achieve).c. Subordinate leaders must know

i. How to interpretii. Extract relevant information

iii. Communicate plans to implement action to support mission accomplishmentIII. Definition of an order

a. A written or an oral communication directing actionb. Orders are based on

i. Plans or receipt of missionIV. Categories of Orders

a. Administrative orderi. Covers normal administrative operations in garrison or in the field.

1. General, specific, and memorandum orders2. Court-martial orders3. Bulletins, circulars, and other memoranda

b. Combat orderi. Means by which the Platoon leader receives and transmits information from the

earliest notification that an operation will occur through the final steps of execution.

ii. Critical to mission successV. Types of Orders

a. Warning Orderi. Preliminary notice of actions or orders that are to follow

ii. Gives subordinates maximum time to prepareiii. Usually issued upon restatement of mission statementiv. Amount of detail depends on information and time available

b. Operation Orderi. Directives a commander issues to subordinate commanders to coordinate the

execution of an operation. ii. Always specify an execution time and date.

iii. Five paragraphs1. Situation2. Mission

3. Execution4. Sustainment (service and support)5. Command and Signal

c. Fragmentary Orderi. Provides timely changes to existing orders to subordinate and supporting

commanders.ii. Provides notification to higher and adjacent commands

iii. Only addresses those parts of the original OPORD that have changed.1. All five-paragraph headings are used.2. After each heading, state either “no change” or the new information

a. This ensures the recipients know that have received that entire FRAGO.

iv. Can be either oral or writtend. Service and Support Order

i. Directs service and support of operations1. Includes administrative movements

ii. Can be issued either with an OPORD or separately when the commander expects the CSS situation to apply to more than one operation plan or order.

e. Movement Orderi. A stand-alone order that facilitates an uncommitted unit’s movement.

ii. Normally occur in the communication zoneiii. Typically administrative

1. Troops and vehicles are arranged to expedite their movement when no interference is expected except by air.

VI. Troop Leader Proceduresa. Make a tentative plan is based on Estimate of the Situation

i. Estimate of the Situation1. Mission analysis2. Analyze the situation develop courses of action

a. METT-TCi. Mission, Enemy, Terrain (Weather) – Ocoka, Troops,

Time, and Civilian considerations 3. Compare courses of action4. Analyze COA5. Decision

b. Reconnaissance is conducted based on the tentative plan.c. Information discovered during the reconnaissance is plugged into METT-TC and Estimate

the Situation.i. Can cause a change in plan or mission

VII. Task Organization of the Operations Ordera. Annex “F” of FM 5-0 describes two formats

i. Outlined format

1. Lists all units under the headquarters to which they are allocated or they support.

ii. Matrix format1. Displays in terms of unit type and relationship to subordinate

headquarters.2. Advantages

a. Displays and command and support relationships for subordinate units and the force as a whole.

b. Conserves time and eliminates redundancy by not listing organic units of a parent organization.

c. Show organization for combat of combat support and combat service support elements.

VIII. Situationa. Enemy Forces ( Annex B, intelligence)

i. Dispositionii. Composition

iii. Most likely Course of Actionb. Friendly Forces

i. List missionii. Commander’s intent

iii. Concept of operation for HQ one and two levels upiv. Subparagraphs mission of flank units and other units having an effect on issue

1. Left and right unitsIX. Course of Action (A step in -Estimate of the Situation- which is utilized form a tentative plan)

a. COAs should be developed when time allows and after receiving i. Restated mission

ii. Commander’s intentiii. Commander’s planning and guidance

b. COAs should meet the following criteriai. Feasible

1. Accomplish the mission within available time, space, and resourcesii. Acceptable

1. Tactical and operational advantage gained must justify the cost in resources.

iii. Suitable1. Accomplish the mission and comply with the commander’s planning and

guidance.iv. Distinguishable

1. Differ significantly from othersv. Complete

1. Must show how to a. Decisive op accomplishes the mission

b. Shaping ops create and preserve conditions for success or decisive operations

c. Sustaining ops enable shaping and decisive opsX. Mission Statement

a. Platoon leader uses mission statement to summarize the upcoming missionb. Written based on 5 Ws

i. Who – unitii. What – task (measurable)

1. Tactical task – specific activities performed by the unit while it is conducting a form of tactical operation or a choice maneuver.

a. Examplesi. Retain – Ensures a terrain feature controlled by friendly

force remains free of enemy occupation.ii. Secure – Preventing a unit, facility, or geographical

location from being damaged or destroyed as a result of enemy action.

iii. Seize – tactical mission task involves taking possession of a designated area using overwhelming force.

iv. Support-by-fire – a maneuver force moves to a position where it can engage the enemy by direct fire in support of another maneuvering force.

iii. When – date-time groupiv. Where – grid location or geographical reference for the AO or objectivev. Why – purpose

c. The platoon leader must ensure that the mission is understood one and two echelons down.

XI. Executiona. Commander’s intent

i. Purpose and End Stateb. Concept of operation (Annex C, Operations Overlay)

i. Maneuver (phases may be used to logically break mission)ii. Fires ( Annex F)

1. Priority of fires2. Employment authority

iii. Counter Air Ops (Annex G, Air Defense )iv. Intelligencev. Others as needed

c. Tasks to maneuver unitsi. Fire Support

1. Air support2. Chemical Support3. Field Artillery support

4. Fire support coordinating measuresii. Engineer Support

iii. Military Policeiv. Chemical

d. Tasks to combat support unitse. Coordinating instructions

i. Commander’s Critical Information Requirements (CCIR)1. Essential elements of friendly information2. Friendly force information requirements3. Priority intelligence requirements

XII. Service & Supporta. Support conceptb. Materials and servicesc. Medivac Pland. Personnele. Civil Militaryf. As required

XIII. Command and Signala. Command

i. Location of commands postsii. Succession of command

b. Signali. SOI index in effect (frequencies, call signs).

ii. Method of communication by priority (usually FM and then runner) iii. Pyrotechnics and signals, to include arm and hand signals (go over all important

signals like lift/shift fire, assault onto the OBJ, withdraw from OBJ, etc.) iv. Codewords (like red, white, and blue in the example in paragraph 3) v. Challenge and password (behind friendly lines)

vi. Number combination (forward of friendly lines) vii. Running password.

viii. Recognition signals (near/far, day/night). ix. Special instructions for RTOs.

Army Organization

I. Preamble to the Constitutiona. We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish

Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.

II. Continental Congressa. Created national Army on June 14, 1775b. The congress under the Articles of Confederation provided the first roles and missions

for the militia.i. Articles of Confederation

1. Made clear the intent to rely primarily on a militia to “provide for the common defense.”

2. Did not envision a requirement to establish a permanent standing army.a. The legal basis and framework for a military establishment

charged with the “common defense” were set forth in subsequent sections of the Constitution after the Revolutionary War.

III. 1787 – Constitution a. Established civilian control over armed forcesb. Congress

i. Exclusive power to raise and support armies (and provide for a Navy)ii. To declare war

iii. To make rules concerning captures on land and waterc. The President (Commander-in-Chief – stated in Article II Section 2)

i. Authority to make treatiesii. Appoint federal officers to the armed forces

d. Civilian officials in both the legislative and executive branches of the federal Government

i. Constitutionally responsible for providing for the nation’s defense (common defense) through the armed forces of the United States.

IV. National Security Act of 1947a. Prior to 1947

i. The Constitution recognized the need for armed forces to protect the nationii. The Constitution did not establish a system or define how the nation is to be

protected.iii. The only military departments were the Department of War and the

Department of the Navy.b. The National Security Act of 1947 established the current structure for national defensec. The purpose was to promote unity coordination in the armed servicesd. Established

i. National Security Council (NSC)ii. The Department of the Air Force

iii. The National Military Establishment (NME)iv. The Secretary of National Defense (co-equal with secretaries of Army, Navy, and

Air Force).v. The organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (OJCS)

vi. Other organizations related to national security (including CIA)e. Amendments to National Security Act of 1947

i. 1949 created the position of the “Secretary of Defense”1. Head of Department of Defense (DOD)2. SECDEF is Principal assistant to the President in all matters pertaining to

the (DOD)3. SECDEF is positioned between the President and the war fighting

commanders in the operational chain of command. 4. Department of Defense includes

a. Department of the Army (formerly Dept. of War)b. Department of the Navy (includes Marine Corps)c. Department of Air Force

ii. National Command Authorities (NCA)1. The President and Secretary of Defense2. Only the NCA not uniformed military officers may direct military action

or military deployments.f. Historic Basis for Army Rules and Function – reflects the evolution of the roles and

missions of the Army as the Nation’s historical distrust of a standing army was balanced against the need to defend the republic and support expansion.

i. 1775 – Articles of Confederation1. Established principal of “provide for common defense”

ii. 1784 – Resolution to Articles of Confederation1. Protec the Northwestern frontiers; guard stores

iii. 1787 – Constitution1. Ensure domestic tranquility2. Provide for the common defense3. Article I, Section 8: The militia would be used for

a. Execution of lawb. Suppression of insurrectionc. Repelling of invasion

iv. 1789 – Authority delegated to the President1. Call Militia into federal service (to protect frontier inhabitants)

v. 1824 – Nation building functions1. Basis for Army Corps of Engineers2. Harbor development3. Improvement of river navigation

4. Explorationvi. 1862 – Military government function

1. War Department General Order 100 to provide military government of occupied territories.

2. Basis of civil affairs function.vii. 1930 – Supervision of civil works projects

1. Organization and command of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)V. Roles, Functions, and Missions

a. Historic progression of roles i. Began to get complicated when Army and Navy discovered the usefulness of air

power. By WWII, both the Navy and Army had significant aviation elements. The Army had the Army Air Corps and the Navy had carrier-based aviation.

ii. In 1958, services retained roles as established by law, but missions were assigned on a geographical or functional basis to field commanders.

iii. In 1987, Congress established the new combatant command the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) – assumed role similar to other services.

b. Roles ( Congress assigns ) – board enduring purposes for which the military services were established by law.

i. Army1. Organize, train, and equip forces for prompt and sustained combat

incident to operations on land.ii. Navy

1. Organize, train, and equip forces for prompt and sustained combat incident to operations on and from the sea.

iii. Marine Corps1. Organize, train, and equip forces for service with the fleet in the seizure

or defense of advanced naval bases, and the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the prosecution of a naval campaign.

iv. Air Force1. Organize, train, and equip forces for prompt and sustained offensive

and defensive air operations.v. Special Operations Command

1. Organize, train, and equip forces for special operations activities or missions involving special operations forces from all the services.

c. Functions – Specific responsibilities assigned by the President and Secretary of Defense to enable the services to fulfill their legally established roles.

d. Missions- Specific tasks assigned by the President or Secretary of Defense to combatant commanders in chief (CINCs).

e. The services supply the forces to the Combatant Commanders in Chief (CINCs) who in turn, direct and employ the forces in war operations or operations other than war.

VI. National Command Structurea. 9 Unified Joint Commands

i. U.S. Pacific ii. U.S. European

iii. U.S. Atlanticiv. U.S. Southernv. U.S. Central

vi. U.S. Spacevii. U.S. Special Operations

viii. U.S. Strategic ix. U.S. Transportation

b. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff is not in the chain of command.c. Functions of the Department of Defense

i. Support and Defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic

ii. Ensure, by timely and effective military action, the security of the United States of America, its possessions, and areas vital to its interests.

iii. Uphold and advance the national policies and interests of the United Statesd. Functions of Department of the Army

i. Organize, train, and equip forces for the conduct of prompt sustained combat operations on land-specifically. Forces to defeat land forces and to seize, occupy, and defend land areas.

ii. Develop airborne doctrine common to Army and Marinesiii. Support and conduct special operations and psychological operationsiv. Furnish forces for the occupation of territories abroadv. Conduct authorized civil works

vi. Train forces to interdict enemy sea and air power and communications through operations on land

VII. The Army Staffa. Chief of Staff Army – the executive component of the Army

i. Vision: The world’s best Army – a full spectrum force – trained and ready for victory.

1. Values based organization2. Integral part of Joint team3. Modern Weapons and equipment4. Responds to nation’s needs5. Changing to meet the challenges of today, tomorrow, and the 21st

Century.b. Vice Chief of Staff – Director of the Army Staffc. Four primary staffs to chief of staff

i. Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel (G1)1. Man the total Army with quality people, provide and maintain a

properly trained and motivated individual for each task.2. Key functions – Sustain, distribute, separate, train, acquire, structure

ii. Deputy Chief of Staff Intelligence (G2)1. Policy formation, planning, programming, budgeting, management, staff

supervision, evaluation, and oversight for intelligence activities of the Department of the Army.

2. Includes censorship, threat validation, security, meteorological activities, topographical activities.

iii. Deputy Chief of Staff Operations and Planning (G3)1. Advise the Chief of Staff Army (CSA) on Army strategy, political aspects

of international affairs, Army position on joint matters, force integration and force development, mobilization and planning, training, and arms control policy.

2. Represent CSA as Army Operations Deputy to Joint Chief of Staff3. Includes mobilization, readiness reporting, leader development, foreign

area officer program.iv. Deputy Chief of Staff Logistics (G4)

1. Policy formation, planning, programming, budgeting, management, staff supervision, evaluation, oversight, and information system support for logistics activities of the Department of the Army

2. Key functionsa. Supply, Maintenance, Readinessb. Material & integrated logistics supportc. Troop Support & Energyd. Transportation and Mobility

d. Six special staffs to chief officeri. Chief of Engineers

ii. Chief of Chaplainsiii. Chief National Guard Bureauiv. Chief Army Reservev. Chief Army Surgeon General

vi. Judge Advocate Generale. Asst. Chief of Staff of Installation Management

VIII. Total Army todaya. 4 Corps, 18 Divisions, 15 Enhanced Brigadesb. The Army’s size has decreased from 28 divisions in 1989 to 18 divisions in 1997c. Twelve Major Commands (CONUS)

i. Forces Commandii. Training and Doctrine Command

iii. Army Material Commandiv. Information Systems Commandv. Corps of Engineers

vi. Military Traffic Management Commandvii. Special Operations Command

viii. Criminal Investigations Commandix. Medical Commandx. Intelligence and Security Command

xi. Military District of Washingtonxii. Space & Strategic Defense Command

d. Four Major Army Overseas Commands – consist primarily of major forces assigned as the ground force components of the United States unified commands. These components are under the operational control of the Commanders in Chief of the unified commands who report to the Secretary of Defense

i. US Army Europe (USAREUR) – European Commandii. US Army Pacific (USARPAC) – US Pacific Command

iii. Eighth US Army(EUSA) –US Forces Korea (sub-unified command of U.S. Pacific Command)

iv. US Army, South (USARSO) – US Southern Commande. Other key component commands

i. Third US Army (USARCENT) – US Central Commandii. US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) – US Atlantic Command

1. HQ Fort McPherson, GA (no permanently assigned forces)IX. Types of Forces

a. Airborneb. Air Assaultc. Light Infantryd. Armore. Special Ops

i. Special Forces, Army Rangers, Psychological Operations, Civil Affairs, Special Operations.

X. Three Major Army Commandsa. Combat Arms (Infantry, Armor, Artillery)b. Combat Support (Engineering, Signal, Chemical)c. Combat Service Support (Medical, Transportation, Maintenance)

XI. Active Component (AC)a. Provides a variety of capabilities with which to tailor a rapidly deployable crisis response

force.XII. Reserve Component (RC)

a. Provides essential capabilities not found in AC. Increasingly important role in peacekeeping, humanitarian work, and civil assistance operations, while continuing to respond to domestic emergencies.

b. Organizationi. Ready Reserve – Army National Guard, Army Reserve Units, Individual

Mobilization Augmentees, Active Guard/Reservists, Individual Ready Reserve, and member of Inactive National Guard.

ii. Standby Reserve – Individuals who have completed active duty and reserve training requirements, or are unable to maintain membership in units.

iii. Retired Reserve- Individuals who have completed 20 years of qualifying service for retirement.

XIII. Army National Guarda. Lineage traced to militias formed during the French and Indian Wars in 1700sb. Provides primarily Combat and Combat Support unit reinforcements as well as some

combat service support for active Army.c. Provides combat reinforcement capability with 15 enhanced readiness brigades, trained

and equipped to reinforce deployed AC forces within 90 days.d. Two roles

i. Allegiance to the State Governor (State Mission)ii. Allegiance to the President (Federal Mission)

XIV. Army Reservea. Formed in 1908b. After WWI the National Defense Act of 1920 established the Organized Reserve Corps.c. The Army Reserve is not under state controld. Provides the bulk of combat support and combat service support for the Total Army.

Staff Organization

I. Referencesa. FM 3-0 – Army Operationsb. FM 1-02 Operational Terms and Graphicsc. FM 5-0 Army Planning and Orders Productiond. FM 3-21.20 The Infantry Battalion

II. Command – the authoritative act of making decisions and ordering actionIII. Control – the act of monitoring and influencing the actionIV. Staff Organization and Responsibilities

a. The activities of the staff focus on the function of assisting the Commander in making decisions.

b. The Staff supports the commander byi. Coordinating plans, activities, and operations

ii. Advising the Commander in professional, technical or functional areasiii. Continuously collecting, collating, analyzing, and disseminating information

gathered from all available resources.iv. Preparing plans and orders and supervising the execution of orders issued by, or

in the name of, the Commander.v. Provides the Commander (and subordinate Commanders) with “Situational

Awareness.”c. Staff Officer common duties and responsibilities

i. Advise and provide informationii. Prepare, update, and maintain estimates

iii. Make recommendationsiv. Prepare plans and ordersv. Monitor Execution

vi. Process, analyze and disseminate informationvii. ID and analyze problems

viii. Preform risk managementV. The Battalion Staff

a. Coordinating Staff – aid the Commander by coordinating the plans, activities, and operations of the command (Responsible directly to the BN XO).

i. Battalion XO1. Is 2nd in Command2. XO coordinates and synchronizes the staff3. During combat the XO synchronizes Battlefield Operating Systems (BOS)

and anticipates problems.4. Supervises Combat Service Support

ii. S1 – Personnel (Adjutant)1. Responsible for all personnel matters2. Supervises medical, legal, safety, and civil affairs3. Operates from the Combat Trains Command Post (CTCP)

a. Shares supervision of logistics with the S4iii. S2 – Intelligence

1. Responsible for intelligence collection and dissemination2. Performs Intelligent Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) with the

Commander.3. Normally operates from the main Command Post (CP).

iv. S3 – Operations and Training Officer1. Commander’s primary assistant in coordinating and planning the battle.2. Coordinates, plans for, and integrates all Battlefield Operating Systems

(BOS) assets.3. Prepares operations estimates and orders

v. S4 – Logistics Officer1. Determines Combat Service Support (CSS) requirements and priorities2. Develops Combat Service Support plans in concert with the tactical plan3. Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Battalion Combat Trains4. Primary coordinator for logistical staff

vi. S6 – Signal Officer1. Advises the commander and staff on all communication matters

including communication maintenance and Electronic Warfare (EW).2. Assists S3 in determining locations for Command Posts.3. Prepares, writes the signal annex of the OPORD.

vii. (S5) – Civil Military Operations Officerb. Special Staff – Aids the Commander in professional, technical, or other functional areas.

i. Headquarter Company (HHC) Commanderii. Fire Support Officer (FSO)

iii. Chemical Officeriv. Recon Platoon Leaderv. Mortar Platoon Leader

vi. Anti-Armor Platoon Leadervii. Engineer

viii. Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Platoon Leaderix. Surgeonx. Support Platoon Leader

xi. Medical Platoon Leaderxii. Forward Air Controller (FAC) / Air Liaison Officer (ALO)

xiii. Commander of any Combat Support (CS) or Combat Service Support (CSS) unit that is attached, under operational control (OPCON), or that provides direct support to the battalion.

c. Personal Staffi. Command Sergeant Major (CSM)

ii. Chaplain

Operational Terms and Graphics

I. FM 1-02 covers Operational Terms and GraphicsII. Graphics information describes: who, where, what and how.

a. When done properly, graphic overlays are stand-alone.III. Colors

Blue / (Cyan computer generated) FriendRed HostileGreen NeutralYellow UnknownBlack Friendly Graphic Control Measures

IV. A unit symbol (who) is composed of a. Frame

i. Basic symbol framesb. Colorc. Icon, branch, or functional symbolsd. Text of other graphic modifiers

V. Location (Where)a. A headquarter unit has the location extension drawn on the bottom left side of the

frame. A normal unit has the location extension drawn on the center of the frame.b. A unit with no location extension positions the frame center mass on the location.c. Unit locations can also be grouped within a bracket or joined via the location line to

show a common location for all indicated units.

VI. Weapons and Obstacles (What)VV

VII. Control Measures, Boundaries, Lines, Areas, Routes, Fire Planning, and other actions (HOW)a. Control Measures (Points)

i. Directives given graphically or orally by the Commander to subordinates commands to assign responsibilities, coordinate fires and maneuver, and control combat operations.

ii. In general all control measures should be easily identified from the ground.

b. Boundaries i. A line that delineates surface areas for the purpose of facilitating coordination

and to resolve confliction of operations between adjacent units, formations, or areas.

ii. The following example shows boundaries separating 1st and 2nd PLT, A and B Company, and 1-11th Battalion and 2-502nd Battalion respectively.

c. Lines i. Forward Line of Own Troops (FLOT) – Indicates the most forward positions of

friendly troops at a specific time. Indicated by line that makes contiguous side-ways humps. Top of the humps face the enemy.

i. Phase Line (PL)- A line used for control & coordination of military operations, usually an easily defined feature in the operational area.

ii. Limit of Advance (LOA) – A phase line used to control forward progress of the attack. The limit of advance for 6th Infantry Division (Light), 7th Infantry Division, and 10th Mountain Division is phase line Glass.

iii. Line of Contact (LC) - A general trace delineating the locations where friendly and enemy forces are engaged. Phase line Tin is the line of contact for 101st Air Assault Division, 2nd MAR Division, and 2nd Armor Division.

iv. Line of Departure (LD) – A line designated to coordinate the departure of attack elements. Phase line paper is the Line of Departure for 3rd Armor Division, 1st Cavalry Division, and 82nd Airborne Division.

v. Probable Line of Deployment (PLD) - Phase line that a CDR designates as the location where he intends to completely deploy his unit into assault formation before he begins the assault. Indicated by a dotted line. Phase line lead is the probable line of deployment for 1st Armor Division, 9th Infantry Division, and 5th Infantry Division Mechanized.