My attempt at my assignment for being a smartass

cashhighlander · Post by **cashhighlander** » June 2nd, 2006, 6:54 am

An operations order (OPORD) is necessary for all military operations. At the platoon level it is written by the 1st Lieutenant with help from his immediate subordinates, 2nd Lieutenant and Platoon Sergeant. The first paragraph is the Situation: Enemy forces, friendly situation, attachments and detachments, and assumptions. The second paragraph is the Mission; the objective for the operation. The third paragraph is the Execution: concept of operations, tasks to subordinate staff and elements, and coordinating instructions. The fourth paragraph is Service support: logistics. The fifth paragraph is Command and Signal: Command is the relationships to different commands involved; Signal is the communication between elements.

The troop leading procedures are the processes by which a leader receives, plans, and executes a mission. These are essential for every Lieutenant to learn and put into action every day.
The first procedure is: Receive the mission. The platoon commander must then conduct initial METT-T analysis. He must determine time available from mission receipt to execution, determine the useable time to both him and his subordinates, identify critical times such as rehearsals, recon, initiate movement and anticipated enemy action, do a map recon, and develop a reverse plan. METT-T is: Mission; Enemy; Terrain and Weather; Troops available; Time available.
The second procedure is Issue a Warning Order. This is designed to give advance notice of operations to come. It provides as much info as possible to allow subordinates (platoon sergeant, squad leaders) to begin parallel planning and preparation.
The third procedure is Make a tentative plan. This includes an estimate of the situation and METT-T. The platoon leader and platoon sergeant develop courses of action and analyze and compare COAs.
The fourth procedure is Start Movement. This entails the platoon leader moving the elements involved to assembly areas and synchronizing and supporting movement plans.
The fifth procedure is Conduct Reconnaissance. This recon cannot be launched without the platoon leader and his immediate subordinates determining a reconnaissance plan. When conducting this recon, he must determine if his planâ€™s benefits outweigh the risks.
The sixth procedure is Complete the Plan. The platoon leader must be prepared to adjust his tentative plan based on the results of the reconnaissance.
The seventh procedure is Issue an OPORD or FRAGO. At the platoon level this is normally oral briefings with supporting visual aids. The platoon leader needs to be precise, be brief, and be gone.
The eighth procedure is Supervise. This entails a brief back from platoon members, inspection, rehearsals, and coordination. After receipt of the WARNORD, the initial inspection is carried out by the platoon Sergeant, then by the Lieutenant.

Draco · Post by **Draco** » June 2nd, 2006, 7:59 am

You are using outdated info....

Grumble and Grunt · Post by **Grumble and Grunt** » June 2nd, 2006, 8:16 am

Noted that you did the work. I'll sit down and look it over later. From first glance I see you have the general picture but there are a couple of details that we can refine pretty easily.

We will train you up.

Endstate: Did you learn something? All new information?

One quick point though it is typically only a 1LT (PL), a SFC (PSG), and 4 SSGs (SLs) participate in this planning process.

That means there is one officer out of approx. 32 men who is directly responsible for everything the platoon does or fails to do. Sure he has lots of help and mentorship from his NCOs, it is a team and it is everyone's platoon, everyone has a vested interest in the overall success. However this 1LT is overall responsible and accountable to his commander.

Edited for clarification: I asked for this assignment to be done using the standard TOE and MTOE for a Ranger Platoon. For this topic the major difference is a standard Airborne, Air Assault, Light, or Mech platoon has one 2LT. An IN platoon in Batt. has a 1LT who has already gained experience as a PL in a conventional unit. The leadership structure and span of control remains the same and many of the lessons are directly applicable without modificiation.

cashhighlander · Post by **cashhighlander** » June 2nd, 2006, 10:00 am

Ranger Grumble and Grunt, I did learn a lot, even if some of it is outdated. I never really thought about how much responsibility a platoon leader has. Now I know. It was my best attempt and I am satisfied with it considering I had no idea about any of this before the assignment was given. Thankyou.

Grumble and Grunt · Post by **Grumble and Grunt** » June 2nd, 2006, 10:52 am

No need to thank me. Go square away JD20, he is out of his mind.

A couple of refinements if I may:

1. There is only one officer per platoon usually, a 1LT in Batt. and 2LT or 1LT everywhere else (often when 2LTs make 1LT everywhere else they move to XO) .

2. OPORD

Paragraph 0 which includes weather and light data and a terrain analysis according to Obstacles, Avenues of Approach, Key Terrain, Observation & Fields of Fire, and Cover & Concealment (referred to as OAKOC)

Paragraph 1 has a little more to it than you indicate but you have the gist. It is often very detailed and is meant to paint the picture of the battlefield so to speak. A significant thing in this paragraph is your understanding of the larger picture. Here you learn what your commander and his commander want to happen. You also learn how important your mission is in the overall scheme of manuever. For example, if 2nd PLT fails to conduct the ambush on X road, then 3rd PLT will be vulnerable to enemy vehicles while they are conducting an attack on objective Y.

Paragraph 2 is simple, it is the condensed version. Who, What, When, Where, and Why. For example:

Ranger Grumble and Grunt and accomplices conduct movement to contact in order to secure some tang, in vicinity of Scruffy Murphy's GL 12345678 downtown Columbus, no later than 0200 hours 3 Jun 2006.

Any Qs so far? Alright piss break, we will finish this later.

Draco · Post by **Draco** » June 2nd, 2006, 1:24 pm

With Ranger Grumble and Grunt's permission, I would ask the young padawan to increase his search for enlightenment to "FM 5.0 Chapter 4".

Grumble and Grunt · Post by **Grumble and Grunt** » June 2nd, 2006, 4:29 pm

That sounds like a good idea, cashhighlander is going to be one educated hooah. I would go so far as to suggest that cashhighlander get some of his buddies DEPs or other hopefuls to help out.

Runner · Post by **Runner** » June 2nd, 2006, 5:25 pm

Grumble and Grunt wrote:I would go so far as to suggest that cashhighlander get some of his buddies DEPs or other hopefuls to help out.

PM inbound Cashhighlander.

hit_it · Post by **hit_it** » June 2nd, 2006, 7:01 pm

TLP's, PLease....

LRP1 · Post by **LRP1** » June 3rd, 2006, 10:08 pm

cashhighlander...Who's time are you waisting in Arkadelphia??? OB or Henderson?? I am not that far from you so do not fuck up too bad or else I WILL pay you a visit and we will begin remedial classes .