OPORD

Question 1

What are plans and orders?

Answer 1

Plans and orders are the means by which commanders express their visualization, commanders intent and decisions

Question 2

What do plans and orders provide?

Answer 2

They focus on results the commander expects to achieve

Plans and orders form the basis commanders use to synch mil operations

Question 3

How do plans and orders encourage initiative?

Answer 3

They encourage initiative by providing the “what” and “why” of a mission, and leave the how to accomplish the mission to the subordinates

Question 4

Plans and orders permit subordinate CDRS to prepare supporting plans and orders by:

Answer 4

Focusing subordinates activities

Providing tasks and activities, constraints and coordinating instructions

Encourage agility, speed and initiative

Convey instructions in recognizable, clear, and simple format

Question 5

What is a plan?

Answer 5

A plan is a design for future or anticipated operation

Question 6

What are the 3 levels of plans?

Answer 6

Strategic plans: cover overall conduct of war

Operational or campaign plans: cover a series of related mil ops aimed at accomplishing a strategic or operational obj

Tactical plans: cover the employment of units in operations

Question 7

What is an Operation Plan?

Answer 7

OPLAN: any plan for the preparation, execution and assessment of military operations

Question 8

When does the OPLAN evolve?

Answer 8

The OPLAN becomes an OPORD when the commander sets an execution time

Question 9

Why use an OPLAN?

Answer 9

OPLANS are a tool for commanders to begin preparation for possible operations by issuing an OPLAN

Question 10

What is an OPORD?

Answer 10

OPORD: directive from commander to coordinate the execution of an operation

Question 11

What is a WARNORD?

Answer 11

Warning order: preliminary notice of an order

Question 12

What is a FRAGORD?

Answer 12

Fragmentary order: timely changes of existing orders

Question 13

What are the 5 paragraphs of an OPORD?

Answer 13

1. Situation
2. Mission
3. Execution
4. Sustainment
5. Command and signal

Sergeant Major eats sugar cookies

Question 14

What is included in paragraph 1 - Situation

Answer 14

a. Area of interest
b. Area of Operations
c. Enemy Forces
d. Friendly Forces
e. Interagency, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations
f. Civil considerations
g. Attachments and detachments
h. Assumptions

Question 15

Differentiate area of interest and area of operations

Answer 15

area of interest: area of concern to the cdr, extending into enemy territory to the obj of current or planned ops

Area of operations: defined by joint force commander, area large enough to complete the mission

• terrain
• weather

Question 16

What is included in enemy forces?

Answer 16

Enemy forces:

• 1 echelon up and 2 down
• disposition, composition, strengths and capabilities
• most likely and dangerous COAs

Question 17

What is included in friendly forces?

Answer 17

Friendly Forces

• mission, intent and concept of operations for one and two levels up
• mission of adjacent units

Question 18

What is in paragraph 2: mission?

Answer 18

This is your restated mission statement from the planning process, that clearly indicates task and purpose

Question 19

What must be included in the mission statement

Answer 19

Who
What: task
Where
When 
Why: purpose

Question 20

What is in paragraph 3: execution?

Answer 20

A. Commanders intent
B. Concept of operations 
C. Scheme of movement and maneuver
- scheme of mobility/countermobility
- scheme of battlefield obscuration
- scheme of reconnaissance and surveillance 
D. Scheme of intel
E. Scheme of fires
F. Scheme of protection
G. Stability operations
H. Assessment 
I. Tasks to subordinate units
J. Coordinating instructions

Question 21

What is in paragraph 3: execution

Answer 21

A. Commanders intent
- key tasks
- purpose
- end state
B. Concept of operations
- best COA using MDMP
- the how
- the sequence of events
- decisive, shaping, sustaining methods
- Phases
C. Scheme of movement and maneuver 
- mobility, obscuration, recon/surveillance
D. Scheme of intel
E. Scheme of fires
F. Scheme of protection
G. Scheme of operations
H. Assessment 
I. Task to subordinate units
J. Coordinating instrucitons 
- timeline is mandator
- CCIRS
- EEFIs
- fire support
- airspace
- ROE
- risk control
- personnel recovery
- environmental 
- themes and messages
- other

Question 22

How are phases of the operation differentiated in paragraph 3?

Answer 22

Designate phases as follows: 
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Etc

Question 23

What is included in paragraph 3 execution

- concept of operations

Answer 23

Directs manner in which subordinate units cooperate to accomplish the mission

Establishes the sequences of actions the force will use to achieve the end state

Uses the decisive shaping and sustaining method in the execution phase

Question 24

What is included in paragraph 3 execution

- scheme of movement and maneuver

Answer 24

1) scheme of mobility/countermobility
2) scheme of battlefield obscuration
3) scheme of reconnaissance and surveillance

Question 25

What is included in paragraph 3 execution

- tasks to subordinate units

Answer 25

Stes the missions or tasks for each maneuver unit that reports directly to the HQ issuing the order

• lists units as they appear in the task org
• place tasks that pertain to two or more units in coordinating instructions
• only list tasks not specified or implied elsewhere

Question 26

Fun facts about paragraph 3 execution

- coordinating instructions

Answer 26

• list only instructions applicable to two or more units and not covered in unit SOP’s
• always the last subparagraph in para 3
• complex instructions placed in an annex

Question 27

What is included in paragraph 3 execution

- coordinating instructions

Answer 27

1) Timeline (mandatory for OPORD)
2) Commanders critical info requirements (CCIR)
3) essential elements of friendly information
4) fire and support coordinating measures
5) Airspace coordinating measures
6) ROE
7) risk reduction control measures
8) Personnel recovery coordinating measures
9) environmental considerations
10) themes and messages
11) other coordinating instructions

Question 28

What is included in paragraph 3 execution

• coordinating instructions
  2) commanders critical information requirements

Answer 28

CCIR: elements of information required by commanders that directly affect decision making and dictate the successful execution of the operation
- “what do i need to know to win?”

Question 29

What is included in paragraph 3 execution

• coordinating instructions
  3) essential elements of friendly information

Answer 29

EEFIs: critical aspects of friendly operation that, if known by the enemy, would subsequently compromise, lead to failure or limit success of the operation

“What do i not want the enemy to know?”

Question 30

What is included in paragraph 4 - sustainment

Answer 30

A. Logistics

b. Personnel
c. Army health system

Question 31

What is included in paragraph 5: command and signal?

Answer 31

A. Command
B. Control
C. Signal

Question 32

What is included in paragraph 5: command and signal

- command

Answer 32

1. Location of commander
2. Succession of command
3. Liaison requirements

Question 33

What is included in paragraph 5: command and signal

- control

Answer 33

1. Command posts: state map coordinates for CP locations

2. Reports: required reports and formats

Question 34

What is included in paragraph 5: command and signal

- signal?

Answer 34

Include frequencies and call signs (challenge and password) and retransmission sites

Question 35

What are attachments (reference OPORD)

Answer 35

An information management tool to organize, simplify and add clarity to OPLAN/OPORD

• annexes
• appendixes
• tabs
• exhibits

Question 36

What format are the attachments written in?

Answer 36

The same 5 paragraph format (unless they are matrixes, overlays or lists)