Five paragraph order

The five paragraph order is an element of United States Marine Corps and United States Army small unit tactics that specifies instruction to a unit based upon an METT-TC Analysis (Mission, Enemy, Terrain & Weather, Troops & Fire Support, Time, and civilian) using the BAMCIS process (Begin the Planning, Arrange Recon, Make Recon, Complete Planning. Issue Order, Supervise) (i.e. fireteam, squad, platoon, company, etc.) prior to potential enemy engagement. It provides a structure for the unit to be able to understand and execute the mission of the unit leader. It is different from other instruction from higher authority in that it is given orally, instead of being issued as written orders. Officers and non-commissioned officers also use it informally in order to communicate relevant information prior to a non-combat movement (e.g. administrative travel/convoy, field exercise movements, weapon requalification, liberty, etc.).

Outline of five paragraph order:

O-SMEAC

OrientationThe purpose of Orientation is to simply orient subordinates prior to the issuing of the order. Be thorough but concise.

I. Situation
*A. Enemy Forces
*# Enemy Situation (SALUTE) Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time (observed), Equipment
*# Enemy's Capabilities/Limitations (DRAW-D) Defend, Reinforce, Attack, Withdraw, Delay
*# Enemy's Most Probable Course Of Action (EMPCOA)
*B. Friendly Forces
*# Higher's Mission & Intent
*# Adjacent Units
*#* North/South/East/West
*#* Same Echelon
*# Supporting
*C. Attachments/Detachments

II. Mission
Who, What, Where, When, and (most importantly) Why?

III. Execution
*A. Commander's Intent
*# Center of Gravity
*# Critical Vulnerability
*# Exploitation Plan
*# Desired Endstate
*B. Concept of the Operation
*# Scheme of Maneuver
*# Fire Support Plan
*C. Tasks
*D. Coordinating Instructions

IV. Administration/Logistics (Service Support in the Army version)
*A. Administration - "Bad Guys & Bandages": EPW & Casevac Plans
*B. Logistics - "Beans, Bullets, & Batteries": Chow, Ammo, Supply, Comms, Pyro, etc.

V. Command/Signal
*A. Location of Key Leaders
*B. Succession of Command

TIME HACK.

Since Marines and soldiers work in small teams, it is important that each member know and understand the order in its entirety so as to be aware of which parts of the order apply directly to them and the subordinate unit to which they belong without being exceedingly aware of minute details provided for general situational awareness.

Variants

The British Army and Australian Army also use SMEAC as a template for most types of briefings; the British version differs only slightly from the American one in that "Mission" - a brief and simple summary of what needs to be done, covered in detail in "Execution" - is given twice for emphasis. A and C are also different in the British version, standing for "Any Questions?" and "Check Understanding" respectively. "Any Questions" is to allow the members of the unit to cover any matters they feel may have been missed out, and "Check Understanding" is an opportunity for the person giving the briefing to ask a series of questions regarding key points of the activity to be undertaken, often following the "Pose, Pause, Pounce" method of questioning.

In Season 2, Episode 3 ("Fragged") of Battlestar Galactica (reimagining), a Five Paragraph Order is given by an overwhelmed Colonial Fleet officer (call sign "Crashdown") for an impromptu ground attack. Humorously, the officer actually draws graphs in the dirt. [ [http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/battlestar_galactica/fragged.php?page=7] , Television Without Pity episode summary.]

"Crashdown: This briefing will outling a plan of attack in five graphs. Graph o­ne: Situation. Our situation is that we are stranded o­n Kobol with a group of five Cylons who plan to use an AAu to destroy any SAR craft sent to find us. There are no friendly forces present"."

"Baltar: What's all this graph business?"

"Tyrol: It's a five-paragraph order. It's a basic command tool. It's taught at officer candidate school. It's just not usually used this... literally in the field". [ [http://www.bsg.cz/files/download/trans/203.txt] , Fragged Episode Transcript Courtesy of the SadGeezers Guide to Battlestar Galactica.]

References

* Field Training Manual - Student Handout, United States Marine Corps.
* Air Training Corps Field Leadership Cadre, Browndown Training Camp, April 2007.

ee also

*Operations order