"Five Paragraph Order"
keyword "SMEAC"
1. Situation
1a. Enemy
1b. Time - Time of enemy intelligence.
2b. Size - Size of enemy (i.e. squad, battalion, number of enemy).
3b. Unit - Unit they are serving (i.e. Republican Guard).
4b. Activity - What the enemy is doing (i.e. Preparing position).
5b. Location - Position.
6b. Equipment - Weapons they have access to.
7b. DRAW-D – what the enemy will do upon contact (Defend, Reinforce, Attack, Withdraw, Delay).
2a. Friendly
1b. Higher - Next higher unit’s mission.
2b. Adjacent - Other units in reserve or assisting.
3b. Supporting - Supporting units.
4b. Attachments/Detachment - Lists if any units attached to your unit.
2. Mission
- A clear and concise statement of mission to be accomplished Must contain the 5 W’s (Who, What, When, Where, Why).
3. Execution
1a. Commander’s Intent - Explains what the end state of the mission/battle will look like. Specifically the purpose of the mission, enemy’s critical vulnerability, and how this critical vulnerability will be exploited.
2a. Concept of Operations
1b. Scheme of Maneuver - Explains types of formations used throughout the route to the objective.
2b. Fire Support - Explains fire support plan.
3a. Tasks - Different specific mission listed for each unit. (i.e. If it is a squad leader’s order this would explain the fire team leaders tasks).
4a. Coordinating Instructions
1b. Time of Attack - Time the unit must cross the Line of Departure.
2b. Base Unit - Sets the base unit for all formations.
3b. Order of Movement - Explains ways smaller units arranged in formation.
4b. Security - Sets security sectors throughout mission.
5b. Tactical Control Measures - Lists 8 digit grid coordinates and terrain features for different checkpoints along route.
6b. Route to Objective - Gives azimuth and distance between checkpoints.
4. Administration and Logistics
1a. Beans - Explains re-supply of chow.
2a. Bullets - Explains re-supply of ammuntion.
3a. Band-Aids - Explains where to take casualties.
4a. Bad-Guys - Explains where to take enemy POW’s.
5. Command and Signal
- Lists details of communication and location of key personnel in the chain of command. This also informs subordinates of the succession of command.
