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Military

Example of Risk Management Integration in OPORD


1. SITUATION:

a. Enemy forces. This subparagraph contains information describing the enemy's most probable course of action. This information is expressed in terms of one enemy echelon below the level of the unit preparing the order. A sketch of the enemy course of action is provided in lieu of verbiage. The potential terrorist threat is addressed if appropriate. This paragraph also contains an assessment of terrorist activities directed against US government interests in the area of operations.

Hazards that may adversely affect the mission may also be listed in this subparagraph. The probability of occurrence (if known) and level of risk associated with each hazard should be included. The cumulative affect of multiple hazards should also be addressed (several low risk level hazards may create a high risk level for the mission).

b. Friendly forces. This subparagraph includes--

-The mission of the higher unit, the higher commander's intent, level of risk acceptance authority, and the concept of operation.

-Additional subparagraphs which state the missions of the units to the immediate left and right and other critical units whose actions have a significant bearing on the issuing headquarters.

-Additional instructions for minimizing exposure to fratricide, specifically, actions that units must take which are not inherent in existing C2 measures.

c. Attachments and detachments. Do not repeat information already listed under task organization. Strive to put all information in task organization. State when attachment or detachment is to be effective if different from when the OPORD is effective. Use the term "remains attached" when units will be or have been attached for some time.

2. MISSION.

Clearly, concisely state the mission. The WHO does WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY. This should result from essential tasks derived during mission analysis. There are no subparagraphs.

3. EXECUTION.

Intent: Intent (the commander's stated vision) defines the purpose of an operation; the end state with respect to the relationship of the force, the enemy, and the terrain; the accepted risks, and briefly, how the force as a whole will achieve the end state. Briefly state the HOW using appropriate doctrinal terms.

a. Concept of operation. (Operation Overlay). This statement expands the commander's intent, particularly his vision of HOW he will conduct the operation and WHO he will assign to perform it. The concept of operations should be the COA statement from the deliberate decision-making process. It should address close, deep, rear, security, force protection, and reserve operations as well as describe the overall form of maneuver and designate the main effort. The commander uses this subparagraph when he feels he must supply sufficient detail to ensure appropriate action by subordinates in the absence of additional communications or further instructions.

After the concept of operation statement, include any subparagraphs needed to clarify the concept and to ensure synchronization. Control measures selected to reduce the risk of identified hazards should be included in these paragraphs. Phase the operation only if required. If phased, be sure subsequent paragraphs clearly outline what is to happen during each phase. The sequence of subparagraphs follows.

(1) Maneuver. Provide a clear, concise narrative of the scheme of maneuver from the beginning to the successful end of the operation. As required, choose items that show the total synchronized battle (which consists of deep, close, rear, and force protection operations) in a sequence that promotes clarity. Designate the main effort and identify when it changes. Address the elements of the battlefield framework. Be sure this paragraph is consistent with the operations overlay, each adding to the clarity of, rather than duplicating or contradicting, the other. Do not duplicate information to be incorporated into unit subparagraphs or coordinating instructions.

(2) Fires. Clarify "scheme of fires" to support the overall concept. Designate which maneuver unit has priority of fires ("main effort"); priority use of low-density munitions; priority as to type of fires for GS units; preparatory fires; and use of illumination, if required. Establish priority of AF support. If the FS support annex is the only one referenced, show it after "(2) Fires". Counter fratricide measures unique to fires may be included in this paragraph.

(3) Counter air operations. Clarify overall concept of counter air operations in support of the scheme of maneuver, if necessary. Include consideration of potential AF counter air support as well as the actual contribution of dedicated AD units. Establish priority of air defense for GS units and provide AD weapons status and warning status. Address counter fratricide control measures.

(4) Intelligence. Clarify effort to support overall concept. Establish priorities of organic collection effort to support scheme of maneuver.

(5) Electronic warfare. Establish priority of collection and jamming as to type of targets required to support the scheme of maneuver.

(6) Engineer. Clarify effort to support overall concept. Indicate priority of support ("main effort"), and provide priority of mobility and survivability aspects as appropriate for GS units. Establish priority of FASCAM support as appropriate. Establish counter fratricide control measures as appropriate and address force protection control measures related to mobility and counter mobility efforts. Delegate or withhold authority to emplace obstacles.

(7) Deception. Clarify effort to support overall concept. State WHO and WHAT would aid the deception effort to help the unit successfully accomplish the mission in accordance with the commander's intent. Also state WHERE, WHEN, HOW, and WHY support units will give aid. Indicate priority of support.

(8) Others as needed. Each subparagraph contains the appropriate control measures selected to reduce risk.

b. Tasks to maneuver units. List all maneuver units that report directly to the headquarters issuing the order in the same sequence as in the task organization, including reserves. Use a separate subparagraph for each maneuver unit. Clearly, concisely state the missions or tasks that each maneuver element of the command is to accomplish, including the aviation maneuver element, if applicable. Only state the tasks that are necessary for comprehension, clarity, and emphasis (to include responsibility for control measures selected to reduce risk to the force). Place tactical tasks that affect two or more units in subparagraph 3d (Coordinating instructions).

c. Tasks to combat support units. Use these subparagraphs only as necessary. However, when using them, list CS units in subparagraphs in the same order as they appear in the task organization. Use CS subparagraphs to list only those specified tasks (responsibility for control measures selected to reduce the risk of identified hazards) that CS units must accomplish and that are not specified or implied elsewhere. Include organization for combat if not clear from task organization.

(1) Fire support.

(a) Air support. Air support includes allocation of CAS sorties, AI mission sorties or nominations. Show tactical air reconnaissance (TAR) sorties here or in the intelligence annex. Also include nonstrategic nuclear weapons target nominations (corps only).

(b) Chemical support.

(c) Field artillery support.

1. General material.

2. Organization for combat.

(d) Naval gunfire support. Counter fratricide measures require special attention during joint operations.

(e) Fire support coordinating instructions. Force protection measures not addressed elsewhere may be included here.

(2) Air defense. Address the following for organic and attached AD units:

-Organization for combat, if not stated in the task organization.

-Missions.

-Priorities for protection, if not clear in the counter air operations subparagraph.

-Counter fratricide measures, if not clear in the counter air operations subparagraph.

(3) Chemical (NBC defense). Address functions or support roles of organic or attached chemical units if not clear in the task organization. Establish priority of decontamination. Assign responsibility for hazard control measures as appropriate.

(4) Combat engineer or engineer support. Be sure support relationships for maneuver units agree with the scheme of maneuver. Do not repeat it if it is in the task organization. When appropriate, assign priorities of work and responsibility for hazard control measures.

(5) Intelligence and electronic warfare. Address the function or support roles of organic or attached combat electronic warfare intelligence (CEWI) or MI units, if not clear in task organization.

(a) Intelligence.

(b) Electronic warfare.

(c) Unmanned aerial vehicle. Designate any special (non-SOP) use on UAVs. Designate where you will place remote video terminals, in not designated in the SOP.

(6) Military police.

(7) Others as needed. Address only tactical tasks not in the SOP or responsibility for hazard control measures not addressed elsewhere. Do not list CSS units unless they have been assigned a tactical task.

d. Coordinating instructions. This is always the last subparagraph in the paragraph.

3. List only instructions applicable to two or more units. Include the following subparagraphs:

a. Time or condition when an order becomes effective.

b. CCIR.

(1) PIR.

(2) EEFI.

(3) FFIR.

c. Antiterrorist actions.

d. Air defense weapons status.

e. MOPP.

f. OEG.

g. Troop safety criteria

h. Vehicle recognition signals (daylight and periods of limited visibility).

i. Any necessary descriptions of phase lines.

j. Counter fratricide measures (actions in addition to C2 symbology) not covered elsewhere in the order.

k. Force protection measures (hazard controls) not addressed elsewhere in the order.

l. Others as needed.

4. SERVICE SUPPORT.

Clearly, concisely state the concept of logistical support. Address service support in the areas shown below and then only as needed to clarify the service support concept. Do not cover SOP actions if the SOP supports the concept of operation. Address only those hazard control measures affecting service support not covered elsewhere in the order. Subparagraphs include the following:

a. Support concept. This paragraph provides an overall visualization of the concept of support to include the acceptance of risk and impact of selected control measures. Its intent is to provide non-CSS commanders and their primary staffs a visualization or word picture of how the operation will be logistically supported. If the information pertains to the entire operation, include it in this subparagraph. If it pertains to more than one unit, address it here and change it in the ensuing subparagraphs when needed. This could include: (1) A brief synopsis of the support command mission. (2) Support command headquarters and/or support area locations, including locations of the next higher logistics bases, if not clearly conveyed in the CSS overlay. (3) The next higher level's support priorities and where the unit fits into those priorities. (4) Priorities, if they remain the same throughout the operation. (5) Units in the next higher CSS organization supporting the unit. (6) Significant and/or unusual CSS issues that might impact the overall operation. (7) Any significant risks, the command level with authority to accept the risks, the selected control measures designed to reduce the level of the risks.

(1) Before phase.

- Priorities.

-- By unit.
-- For personnel replacements.
-- Maint and/or recovery and evac priorities (by unit and equipment type).
-- Route use.

- Manning.

- Arming.

- Fueling.

- Fixing.

- Moving. (Priorities should be by unit and commodity.)

(2) During phase. If there are any differences or changes, state them in this paragraph. Use the same subparagraphs listed for the "before phase" with the addition of "critical decision points" after "moving".

(3) After phase. If there are any differences or changes from the before and during phase, state them here. Use the same subparagraphs as "before phase" adding the following after "moving".

- Reconstitution.

- Weapons system replacement operations (WSRO).

- Preparing for future operations.

b. Material and services. Hazards and controls unique to material and services operations are identified and addressed here.

c. Medical evacuation and hospitalization.

d. Personnel.

e. Civil-military cooperation.

f. Miscellaneous.

5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL.

a. Command. State the map coordinates for the TAC, MAIN, REAR, and alternate CP locations and at least one future location for each CP.

b. Signal. List signal instructions.

ACKNOWLEDGE: (Include a statement directing the recipient to acknowledge receipt and understanding.)


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