Corporal's Course (Tactical Planning)

There are two subparagraphs in Paragraph IV SMEAdministaration and logisticsC:

-Administration The unit leader will explain the plan for all administrative issues in this subparagraph that are not covered in SOPs. The leader will specify locations and points of contact for all wounded in action (WIA), killed in action (KIA), and enemy prisoners of war (EPWs) during the operation. and -Logistics In this subparagraph, the unit leader presents the plan for all logistics issues. In addition, any required preparations for receiving equipment for the operation are identified. Future resupply issues are also briefed, such as time/location and priority of units.

There are two subparagraphs in this section of SMEACommand and signal.

1. Signal This subparagraph clarifies the signal plan. Using what is available and considering the desired effect, signals should be: •Original - This avoids confusion with other signals. •Appropriate - This is the ability to convey the desired action to the receiving unit within the environment (For example, the maneuver element's use of a whistle blast to shift or cease machine gun support by fire would not be appropriate because it is too likely that the blast could not be heard from the support by fire position over the sound of the machine guns.). •Redundant - Always have a back-up to account for Murphy's Law (Remember: Friction makes the seemingly easy, become difficult.). The location of a copy of the Communications/Electronic Operational Instructions (CEOI) should also be briefed. 2. Command Within this subparagraph, there are two sections: •Location of key personnel - The unit leader specifies the location of each key individual throughout the operation. If the location of various key personnel is to change due to the determined scheme of maneuver, identify this and disseminate the information to the subordinate units. •Succession of command - The unit leader determines the succession of command among subordinate unit leaders. This should be somewhat dependent upon the scheme of maneuver. (For example, the first squad leader is normally your senior squad leader and will be higher in the succession of command than the other squad leaders; however, for a specific scheme of maneuver, if the third squad leader is the main effort squad, he may be higher in the succession of command.)

SMEAC

1. Situation 2. Mission 3. Execution 4. Administration and Logistics 5. Command and Signal

Fragmentary Order

A fragmentary order, or frag-o, is an abbreviated form of an operation order, usually issued on a daily basis, eliminating the need to restate information contained in a base operation order. A frag-o is issued after an operation order to change or modify that order, or to execute a branch or sequel to that order. •Fragmentary orders are often necessary due to enemy action. Remember: "No plan survives contact with the enemy." Frequently, the information changed pertains to enemy situation, mission, and execution of the plan. •Fragmentary orders can only be issued if a complete combat order (known as a base order) has been previously issued. Fragmentary orders should only cover the information that has changed since the issuance of the base order.

Space is

A leader must know and understand the area of operations (AO). •Identify tactical control measures (TCM) and fire support coordination measures (FSCM) within your AO as applicable. •Consider the geometry of fires and develop a plan to de-conflict converging forces.

Tasks (subparagraph of SMExecutionAC)

A leader provides specific direction to each subordinate unit in this subparagraph. •Subordinate leaders use their task from higher as the primary input for their mission analysis when they are conducting their estimate of the situation. •A tasking statement should include all the same criteria as for a mission statement, including the answers to the "5 W's": Who, What, When, Where, and Why. As a team leader, you typically don't have any subordinate units. Your tasks will consist of any special assignments to your individual Marines.

mission

A mission statement is composed of two parts: a task and its purpose. •This mission statement must include the answers to the "5 W's": Who, What, When, Where, and Why. •The "Why" provides the purpose and is the most important part of the statement because it informs subordinates of the reason the task must be accomplished. As a team leader issuing an order to your Marines, the mission statement will normally be identical to the task statement issued to you by your squad leader. Example: At 0330 (WHEN?), 3rd fireteam (WHO?) will attack to clear (WHAT?) enemy LP at 862779 (WHERE?) in order to prevent interference with the squad attack on Platoon Objective 2 (WHY?).

Time is

A solid understanding of time required versus time available is vital to all operations; it drives planning and execution. The unit leader gets an indication of time available from the commander. •The amount of time a unit has to prepare for an operation determines the plan's level of detail. Reverse planning is the method by which leaders should establish a successful and accurate timeline that will uphold the assigned mission. •Critical times to consider include planning time, time to cross the line of departure (LD), movement time (helo, vehicular, foot-mobile, etc.; both opposed and unopposed rates of movement should be considered), defend-no-later-than time, time to receive higher's order, time to issue your order, time available to prepare and rehearse the attack or defense, and time available for reconnaissance.

What is an advantage of issuing orders in a five-paragraph order format?

A standard format provides subordinates with a predictable, smooth flow of information from beginning to end.

Visual Aids (Deliver the Order under Combat Orders)

A terrain model is generally the best means by which to issue an order to your Marines. •If it is not possible to construct a terrain model, then make use of any other available assets, like a sand table or whiteboard. •It is most important to visually convey your plan to your unit, regardless of what method is used.

Warning Order

A warning order is a preliminary notice of an impending order or action. A warning order is: •Issued by the leader upon receipt of an order from higher. It is issued at the outset of the troop leading steps (i.e., the "B" in BAMCIS) to allow subordinate leaders and Marines to maximize their preparation time. •At the conclusion of your initial planning, a warning order can be re-issued or updated. •Don't delay issuing a warning order because you don't have all the information you would like to have. Once more information is received, you can publish a second warning order or update the previously issued warning order.

Speed Over Technique

According to MCDP 5, Planning, "The more urgent the situation, the greater need for brevity and simplicity." •Ensure that your orders reach your Marines in time to affect their actions. •Orders must be executed in a timely manner. General Patton observed, "...that a good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week." •Do not develop long, complicated orders. Speed is more important than technique.

Warning order is

An abbreviated set of instructions to inform of an impending action

Operation Order

An operation order is a directive issued by a leader to subordinate leaders for the purpose of coordinating execution of an operation. •Operation orders are used by leaders at every level and can be issued orally or in writing. •Small unit operation orders are often referred to by the action they intend to produce. For example: - Squad attack order - Team patrol order - Platoon attack order - Platoon defense order - Convoy order

Coordinating Instructions (subparagraph of SMExecutionAC)

Any instructions that are not included in tasks and that pertain to two or more subordinate units are included in this subparagraph. •List the details of coordination and control applicable to two or more units. •Some items may include: -Timeline -Reporting requirements -Priority of rehearsals -Go/No go criteria

For attachments and detachments you identify

Assets (if any) that will detach from your unit Units or assets that have been attached to your unit How will this affect your ability to achieve mission success?

OCOK-Avenues of Approach

Avenue of approach is any relatively unobstructed ground route that leads to an objective or key terrain.

The Troop Leading Steps are

Begin planning Arrange for reconnaissance and coordination Make reconnaissance and coordination Complete the planning Issue the order Supervise

In the disorder of combat, simplicity is strength. When issuing your order, avoid unnecessary detail. However, clarity and completeness should not be sacrificed in the interest of __________.

Brevity

Characteristics of Effective Combat Orders

Clarity Completeness Brevity Authoritative Expression Use of the affirmative form Avoidance of qualified qualified directives Recognition of subordinate leader's prerogative Timeliness

Technique in the five paragraph order

Clarity, simplicity, and timeliness are essentials of an operation order. Clear, concise sentences are most easily understood. •In the interest of simplicity, commanders and leaders at each echelon should closely evaluate and issue only those facts received from higher headquarters that are pertinent to their own subordinate unit leaders. •If possible, the leader issues the order to subordinate leaders from a vantage point overlooking the objective or on the defensive terrain. When this is not possible, they should use a terrain model or sketch. •The order must be issued in a timely fashion, sufficiently in advance of the time of execution to permit subordinate planning. •Oral orders should be delivered in positive, direct, and confident tones using forceful and aggressive language.

4 main subparagraphs of execution:

Commander's Intent Concept of Operations Tasks Coordinating Instructions

Identify the subparagraph that is a clear, concise statement of the conditions the unit must meet to succeed. Understanding of this subparagraph, more than any other, allows us to exercise initiative in harmony with the leader's desires and to act in a changing environment and in the absence of additional orders.

Commander's intent

Commander's Intent (subparagraph of SMExecutionAC)

Commander's intent is a clear, concise statement of what the unit must do and the conditions the unit must meet to succeed; it is a vision provided to subordinates that enables them to act in a changing environment and in the absence of additional orders. •Commander's intent endures beyond first contact with the enemy. •This subparagraph is described in terms of three components: - purpose of the operation - method of explotation - endstate desired As a team leader, your commander's intent will typically be a simple restatement of the purpose (Why?) from your mission statement. For example, "My intent is to ensure the enemy LP does not interfere with the squad's attack on Platoon Obj 2." "Understanding the intent of our commander allows us to exercise initiative in harmony with the commander's desires.... A clear expression and understanding of intent is essential to unity of effort." —MCDP 1

O-Cover and Concealment-OKA

Cover is protection against enemy fire, both direct and from shelling. Concealment is protection from enemy observation and surveillance, including features that protect both horizontally and vertically.

DRAW-D

Defend Reinforce Attack Withdraw Delay

estimate of the situation

Detailed analysis conducted before mission execution will increase the speed and accuracy of decisions as the situation changes at the point of friction.

For fire and support avaliable

Identify locations, azimuths of fire, contact information, employment (general support [GS], direct support [DS], or attached [(ATT]), and any priority of fires of indirect fire support agencies. In addition, identify any available air assets. What weapons will they bring to the fight? What are the capabilities of their fires? When and how long are they on station?.

Know Your Order (Command Presence under Combat Orders)

In issuing your order, you are ordering your Marines to execute your scheme of maneuver. •While they will execute because they are good Marines, you must sell your Marines to not just execute the plan, but also to believe in the plan. •It is common to refer to notes while issuing your order, but do not read it to your Marines. This undermines the confidence your Marines will have in your plan.

Brevity

In the disorder of combat, simplicity is strength. Avoid unnecessary detail, but clarity and completeness should not be sacrificed in the interest of brevity. •Communicate key ideas in concise phrases. •Avoid adjectives and adverbs. •Issue single-sentence mission and tasks. •Use precise doctrinal terms. "An order should contain everything a subordinate must know...and only that." -- Truppenfuhrung (German Army Field Manual), 1936.

Use of the Affirmative Form

In the interest of simplicity and clarity, the affirmative form of expression is used throughout all combat orders. •Phrasing such as, "the assault section 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 the assault section is not indicated. •The proper affirmative form is, "assault team will follow in trace of first fireteam."

SMEAdministaration and logisticsC

In this paragraph, the unit leader identifies the administrative and logistical information necessary for the operation to be successful. Within this paragraph, provide information to your unit specifying the required information addressing: •Beans (chow and water) •Bullets (ammunition) •Band-aids (CASEVAC information, locations and points of contact for WIA and KIA) •Bad guys (locations and points of contact for collecting EPWs during the operation) •Batteries (plan to meet power requirements, battery management and sustainment) There are two subparagraphs in Paragraph IV: ---Administration and Logistics

Interact with Recipients (Command Presence under Combat Orders)

Interact with the order recipients. •While notes are often needed for referral, do not read your order. •Focus on the Marines, for they are to be sent into harm's way to execute your decisions. •You must present the order as if you have absolute confidence in its success. •You will experience difficulty inspiring confidence in your decision if you convey uncertainty, lack of familiarity, or doubt.

Recognition of Subordinate Leader's Prerogative

Issue mission type orders. Orders should not limit the initiative of subordinate leaders. •Mission orders assign what must be done without saying how it will be done. •Assume competence; train yourself and your Marines to operate with mission orders. •Do not trespass on subordinate independence. - Respect their authority and prerogatives. - The ability to act on one's own initiative creates enthusiasm for the task and joy of responsibility.

Be Succinct (Command Presence under Combat Orders)

Keep orders short and to the point. Planning (MCDP 5) states, "Directives should be as clear, simple, and concise as each situation permits. Elaborateness and extreme detail are not generally characteristics of effective plans and orders.... Short sentences are easily understood. Superfluous, trite, or trivial phrases weaken an order and create ambiguity." •Keep in mind that combat is extremely stressful, and your Marines will be exhausted, anxious, and uncomfortable. Their attention span will be short; they will not listen to orders that are too long or complicated. •Avoid excessive formality or informality when issuing orders. Use a natural conversational tone; however, do not allow your orders to degenerate into casual dialogue. •Your order should convey confidence and authority, leaving all who hear little doubt that you are giving an order.

Areas

Key civilian areas are localities or aspects of the terrain within an AO that have significance to the local populace.

OCO-Key Terrain-A

Key terrain is any ground that must be controlled to achieve military success.

Avoidance of Qualified Directives

Limit information to what is necessary. Ensure your words have meaning. •Avoid meaningless expressions and clichés such as "attack vigorously" and self-evident information like "avoid casualties." •Remove expressions such as "try to hold" and "as far as possible" that lessen responsibility. •Avoid micromanagement—train your Marines prior to issuing your order. The order is not the place to tell your radio operator to carry a spare battery.

Logistics is

Logistics sustain operations. Without appropriate logistical planning, units will reach their culminating point before ever reaching a decisive point. A leader must be able to identify: •Required resources to accomplish the mission from crossing the LD through consolidation •Critical resource shortfalls •A realistic plan to fulfill shortfalls that is formulated, prioritized, and built into the timeline before departure

provides a logical sequence for analyzing all relevant factors

METT-T analysis

METT-T

Mission Enemy Terrain and Weather Troops and Fire Support Time, Space and Logistics

Take Charge (Command Presence under Combat Orders)

Never permit sleeping, talking, eating, or any other distraction during your order. •Ensure that key personnel are present before beginning the order, and position your subordinate leaders. •Require note-taking among order recipients. When issuing an order, the leader must remember, you may be ordering your Marines to engage in violent actions which are inherently dangerous and filled with chaos and confusion. •The unit leader must inspire confidence and motivation. The leader that fails to do so puts their Marines at an immediate mental disadvantage.

OCOKA

Observation and Fields of Fire Cover and Concealment Obstacles Key Terrain Avenues of Approach

Observation and Fields of Fire-COKA

Observation is the ability to see friendly and enemy forces and key aspects of the terrain to judge strength, prevent surprise, and respond to threats. Field of fire is an area with a direct line of sight that weapons may cover/fire upon effectively from a given position.

OC-Obstacles-KA

Obstacles are natural or manmade terrain features that prevent, restrict, divert, or delay military movement.

When receiving a combat order, it is useful to develop shorthand writing skills. Who needs to be able to understand your shorthand?

Only you need to understand your own shorthand and be able to effectively communicate it to others.

Troops and Fire Support Avaliable (Estimate of the Situation)

Organic Fire and support avaliable Attachments and detachments Higher and adjacent units

SALUTE

Size Activity Location Unit Time Equiptment

Supervise in the five paragraph order

Supervision is continuous and occurs throughout the entire combat orders process. •The unit leader for that mission is ultimately responsible and accountable for mission accomplishment. •"Inspect what you expect."

Transfer of Information

Team leaders must generate an order primarily from the information provided by the squad leader's order. •While some items transfer directly (e.g., orientation), other elements need to be modified to make them relevant to a particular team. •For example, the task to first team in the squad leader's order becomes that team's mission.

These aspects are identified in the acronym OCOKA.

Terrain Analysis

Concept of Operations (subparagraph of SMExecutionAC)

The concept of the operations describes how the leader visualizes the execution of the operation from beginning to end. The two components within this subparagraph of SMExecutionAC are: Scheme of maneuver and Fire support plan.

Purpose of combat orders

The essential purpose of the combat order is to convey a mission and a plan to accomplish that mission. All combat orders are derived from the five-paragraph order which is structured to meet the needs of a small unit leader. The five-paragraph order is: •Structured for verbal presentation and can be used at all levels of command •Primarily used at the company level and below

execution

The execution paragraph contains the leader's plan for accomplishing the unit's mission. It includes four main subparagraphs.

Weather Analysis is when

The leader determines how the weather will affect visibility, mobility, and survivability of friendly and enemy units by considering the military aspects of weather.

For visibility

The leader identifies conclusions about visibility factors such as light data (begin morning nautical twilight [BMNT], sunrise [SR], sunset [SS], end evening nautical twilight [EENT], moonrise [MR], moonset [MS], and percentage of illumination), fog, and smog, and about battlefield obscurants such as smoke and dust.

Clarity

The order must be thoroughly understandable. To achieve clarity: •Use doctrinally established military terminology and symbols that clearly convey identical meaning to all subordinate elements that receive the order. •Train your Marines to recognize doctrinally established terminology.

Authoritative Expression

The order reflects the commander's intention and will. •Indecisive, vague, and ambiguous language indicate indecision and lead to uncertainty and lack of confidence by subordinates. •Effective leaders tell subordinates in direct and unmistakable terms exactly what is desired.

Completeness

The order should contain all the information and instruction necessary to coordinate and execute the operation. The order must: •Convey the purpose or intent of the leader so that subordinates and subordinate leaders will be able to accomplish their mission without further instructions. •Include sufficient detail so that all subordinate leaders know what adjacent and supporting units are doing.

BAMCIS overview

The troop leading steps are meant to aid leaders in making tactically sound decisions, formulating plans, coherently communicating those plans, and Turing those decisions into action.

When doing task analysis

The unit leader must identify and understand all that is required for the successful accomplishment of the mission. This includes tasks received in the unit's task statement and coordinating instructions from the higher commander's operations order.

Limitations

These are restrictions on the freedom of action of the friendly force; these prohibit the commander from doing something specific. Tactical control measures, rules of engagement (ROE), and the statements, "Be prepared to...," "Not earlier than...," "On order...," are some examples of limitations.

SMEACommand and signal

This paragraph concentrates on the unit commander's plan for command and control during the operation. There are two subparagraphs in this section: signal and command.

Attachments/Detachments

This subparagraph of SituationMEAC identifies any unit that a higher command has attached to your unit or direction to detach a part of your unit to some other function. Attached personnel must be included in your administrative reports and supported with chow, water, etc. Attached units should be tasked by you in paragraph three: execution. Since the fireteam is the smallest unit in the Marine Corps, units will rarely be attached to, or detached from, a fireteam.

Friendly Situation

This subparagraph of SituationMEAC provides information concerning friendly forces that should directly affect the actions of your Marines. These forces include those whose presence on a flank or other adjacent area is of interest. Include information on such forces that Marines need to know to accomplish their tasks. This includes the mission and intent of the higher unit. If you are a fireteam leader issuing an order to your Marines, you should include the following in this paragraph: •The squad's mission and the squad leader's intent (typically the "why" of the squad mission) so that all actions of your Marines properly nest within your guidance and the squad leader's intent •The tasks assigned to the other teams of your squad and other friendly units operating adjacent to your team •Any available fire support assets and their priority of fires

Enemy Situation

This subparagraph of SituationMEAC provides information concerning the enemy's composition, estimated strengths, identification, disposition, current location, anticipated movement, and capabilities, along with an assessment of intentions. If you are a fireteam leader issuing an order to your Marines, include the following in this paragraph: •The assets that the enemy brings to the fight and what they are currently doing •The enemy capabilities and the conditions needed to achieve these actions •Most importantly, the enemy's most likely current course of action and their action upon contact with your unit

Timeliness

Timely issuance of orders allows subordinate leaders sufficient time for planning and preparation. •Timely orders help generate tempo. •Concurrent planning saves time.

The receipt of a mission

Triggers the troop leading steps

Active Voice and Direct Language (Deliver the Order under Combat Orders)

Use active voice and direct language that conveys confidence. In the disorder of combat, simplicity is strength. Avoid vague terms, qualifiers, or gratuitous phrases. Terms such as "conduct a rehearsal, if you can manage it," "attack vigorously," and "radiomen shall maintain radio communication" only serve to dilute the clarity and energy of your order. •Use inclusive language: "You are moving with me." •Avoid qualified statements: "As far as possible..." •Avoid conditional statements: "If you make it..." •Avoid needless adverbs: "Attack vigorously..." •Avoid non-doctrinal statements: "Crush in a vice of fire..." •Use precise doctrinal terms, avoid micromanagement and restating the obvious.

Technique in the five paragraph order

Use of the standard five-paragraph order format: •Promotes clarity and brevity •Presents information and instruction in a logical, easily assimilated manner •Serves as a checklist to help ensure that no important information has been overlooked

As an NCO, you will primarily use three types of combat orders:

Warning Order Operation Order Fragmentary Order

When analyzing the enemny's capabilities and limitations you should ask these questions:

What can the enemy do? How will the enemy use each available element of combat power?

Enemy anaysis questions

What is the enemy trying to accomplish? How will the enemy use each available element of combat power?

What must be answered by a mission statement?

Who, what, when, where, and why with why being the most important.

Deliver the Order (Combat Orders)

Writing and issuing good combat orders is as much art as it is science. Not only must you concisely convey your mission and your plan to accomplish the mission, but you must also inspire your Marines who will be evaluating your competence and confidence in the plan.

Questions (Deliver the Order under Combat Orders)

You will want the order recipients to be clear on the orientation, so allow them the opportunity to ask questions before you begin your actual order. •Before briefing the situation, instruct the group to hold all their questions until the end of the order. This will eliminate questions that interrupt the flow of your order or may be answered later in the order. •Once you finish delivering your order, field questions from the audience. •As time allows, conclude by asking questions of subordinates and require back-briefs from key subordinate leaders to ensure full comprehension.

DRAW-D serves as

a reminder of the minimum factors to be considered for the enemy analysis of their cpablilties and limitations

A terrain model is

a scaled-down model of the battlespace that the unit leader uses while issuing an order. An effective terrain model will allow your Marines to visualize: •The battlespace in which they will be operating •The enemy they are engaging •The scheme of maneuver being executed

Shorthand is a method of

abbreviating orders that makes quickly recording key information relatively easy. •Use common shorthand abbreviations or develop your own system. •All that matters is that you understand your shorthand and that you can effectively communicate it to others.

People is a general term describing

all nonmilitary personnel that military forces encounter in the AO. This includes those personnel outside the AO whose actions, opinions, or political influence can affect the mission.

The estimate of the situation of terrain and weather must

always be conducted from the friendly and enemy perspectives.

estimate of the situation

are revised continuously as factors affecting the operation change, as new facts are recognized, as assumptions are replaced by facts or rendered invalid, or as changes to the mission are received or indicated.

When issuing a combat order to your Marines, establishing helps to establish confidence in your plan and in you as a leader.

command presence

The information used to analyze the enemy situation includes

composition, disposition, and strength capabilities and limitations

Command presence is the demonstration of

confidence, assertiveness, expertise, and overall leadership capability. Establishing command presence helps to establish confidence in your plan and in you as a leader.

The essential purpose of the combat order is to:

convey a mission and a plan to accomplish taht mission

Analyzing a structure involves

determining how its location, functions, and capabilities can support operations.

SALTUE is used when

developing and organizing composistion, disposition, and strength (analyzing the enemy situation)

Cloud Cover affects

ground operations by limiting illumination and the solar heating of targets. Heavy cloud cover can degrade many target acquisition systems, infrared-guided munitions, and general aviation operations.

For higher and adjacent units you identify

higher and adjacent units' schemes of maneuver and what influence they will have on your scheme of maneuver. Consider their effect on the following: •Geometries of fire •Reinforcement •Contingency plans

For organic you

identify the capabilities and limitations of the assets your organic unit will bring to bear on the enemy during the conduct of the mission.

Enemy anaysis input comes from

many sources including enemy doctrine, current enemy activities indicated in higher's order, units that have previously operated in the area, and the unit's intelligence section.

The first step in the estimate is

mission analysis

Organizations are

nonmilitary groups or institutions in the AO. They influence and interact with the populace and each other.

estimate of the situation

normally used in solving tactical problems, it is applicable to other military activities. It's as thorough as time and circumstances permit.

Enemny analysis is conduted to

not only know what assets the enemy has, but also to understand what the enemy is doing.

Extremes of temperature and humidity reduce

personnel and equipment capabilities and may require the use of special shelter or equipment.

Winds of sufficient speed can

reduce the combat effectiveness of a force as the result of blowing dust, smoke, sand, or precipitation. Windblown sand, dust, rain, or snow can reduce the effectiveness of radar and other communication systems. Strong winds can also limit aviation operations.

Events are

routine, cyclical, planned, or spontaneous activities that significantly affect organizations, people, and military operations.

Precipitation affects

soil trafficability, visibility, and the functioning of many electro-optical systems.

Capabilities can refer to

the ability of local authorities—those of the host nation or some other body—to provide a populace with key functions or services.

Time, space, and logistics (Estimate of the Situation) is

the ability to appreciate the aspects and effects of time and space is one of the most important qualities in a leader. A leader must be able to identify resource shortfalls and have a plan to rectify them.

Terrain Analysis analyzes

the connection between the terrain and tactics while considering the military aspects of terrain.

When analyzing the enemny's capabilities and limitations you analyze

the enemy's ability or inability to conduct various operations against your unit under any reasonably foreseeable situation.

Civil considerations (human terrain) include

the influences of man-made infrastructure; civilian institutions; and the attitudes and activities of civilian leaders, populations, and organizations within an AO, with regard to the conduct of military operations.

mission analysis is

the means for the unit leader to gain an understanding of the mission

The purpose of the estimate of the situation is

to collect and analyze relevant information for developing, within the time limits and available information, the most effective solution to a problem.

Upon receiot of a new mission, the leader should issue a(n)

warning order to allow his Marines to begin preperations as the leader continues the troop leading steps. The leader will then issu a(n) operation order, to coordinate execution of the plan to accomplish the mission. Subsequently, a(n) fragmentary order, may be issued to execute a branch or a sequel.

One of the Principles of War is "Simplicity."

•A short, simple order that efficiently conveys your will is superior to a lengthy, complicated order that invites ambiguity. •Do not allow your decision to become lost in a series of paragraphs, subparagraphs, alpha-numerics, and acronyms. •As it clearly states in Planning (MCDP 5), "...content, clarity, and conciseness are more important than format."

The two components within the Concept of Operations subparagraph of SMExecutionAC are:

•Scheme of maneuver - Describes the plan by which the unit leader has decided to exploit the enemy's key weakness. This plan should be: -Anonymous - To prevent the potential for subordinate leaders to isolate their attention to solely their role rather than an understanding of the entire plan -Sequential - To create a chronological structure to the operation which translates into clarity among subordinates and order recipients -Thorough - To provide all required information but not to belabor details •Fire support plan - Identifies how fires will integrate with maneuver to accomplish the unit's mission. It should include: -Task (suppress, neutralize, or destroy) and purpose ("in order to...") of the fire support plan -Indirect fire asset(s) that will support the operation -Targets that support the operation by target number, the target description, the respective fire support agency

The orientation is a general overview that serves two purposes.

•To define and describe the battlespace where the unit will operate. Much of this information comes from the analysis of terrain and weather gleaned from the leader's estimate of the situation. •To orient Marines to the medium by which the order will be issued—whether it is a terrain model, a whiteboard, a sand table, etc. This facilitates subordinate understanding during delivery of the order. To accomplish these goals, there are several critical elements of information included in the orientation: current location, direction of north, key terrain, tactical control measures within the area of operation, weather, illumination, visibility, a local history of the area/population, enemy positions, and direction of attack.