This is an example Army squad operations order published in GTA07-10-003. Our operations order shells were designed with this format, the most current Army doctrine in regards to small unit operations orders and leadership.
Example squad OPORD, 1st squad (main effort) seizes objective East to enable company’s movement north on Route 1. Note. An OPORD at squad level will not have some elements of the sample blank OPORD shell addressed below. An OPORD at platoon level contains more of the information presented in the blank OPORD shell.
TASK ORG: Task organization for our squad is pure.
WEATHER: (State weather facts and conclusions here.)
TERRAIN:
Obstacles. The terrain along our advance is unrestricted as it will not force us to change formations. Additionally, there is an antitank/antipersonnel (AP) minefield located to the south of the objective along the north/south running trail.
Avenues of approach. We will be traveling to the east flank of the objective. There is a platoon-sized mounted avenue of approach along an improved trail, which splits objective East and objective West. Enemy reinforcements may use this trail network to counterattack from the north.
Key terrain. The hilltop (275), where the enemy is located, is decisive terrain as its control is vital to mission accomplish-ment for the platoon. The small hill to the southeast of our objective is key terrain, as it overwatches movement from the southeast of the objective. The enemy may have patrols that extend to this terrain as part of the enemy’s security plan.
Observation/fields of fire. From the objective, the enemy can range out to 2 kilometers (km) along the trail network. The enemy’s observation is blocked to the southeast by the intervisibility line running along the small hill. Our squad can travel unobserved up to the small hill to the southeast of the objective. Once we crest that hill, we will have good fields of fire up to the hilltop on the objective target reference point (TRP) 2. We will not be able to engage anything west of TRP 2.
Cover and concealment. The small shrubs located to the east of the objective will provide some concealment. The hill to the east will provide cover.
- SITUATION.
ENEMY FORCES: The general situation is that the enemy has deployed forward outposts to provide early warning. The enemy is protecting a small village located 2 thousand (k) north where there is a weapons cache. There is another defense line around the village 1.5k to the north.
The enemy we face (composition) is a squad outpost located on hill 275. The enemy squad has five to seven infantrymen who are part of the enemy’s recon platoon. They have one machine gun, one grenade launcher, and small arms. They only have two sets of night vision goggles that will be utilized by the squad leader, and the assistant gunner for the machine gunner. They have a radio that will reach their platoon leader, located 1.5k to the north.
The enemy on Hill 275 has a mission of disrupting our forward advance, to provide time for the main defenses to complete their defense preparation. The enemy does have a reserve that can reinforce this hill within one hour of being notified. Reinforcements will approach from the north using the trail system. This reserve is mounted on a technical vehicle (.50-caliber machine gun) with 4-6 infantry.
The enemy on the objective is capable of digging in waist high trenches, and utilizing a roving patrol to the flanks. Due to the small number of Soldiers in this outpost, roving patrols will be conducted about once per hour. Patrols are expected to travel within line of site of the main positions as they do not have additional radios for communication. The enemy is capable of calling in fire missions with the platoon’s 81-milimeter mortar, but we do not expect these fires to be responsive.
The enemy’s most probable COA is as follows: This main effort is the enemy machine gun team. This machine gun team is oriented on the obstacle to the enemy’s front along the trail. The enemy squad will have a supplementary position to the flank. This machine gun team has the mission of disrupting our forces to provide time for the main defenses to complete their defensive preparation. The squad’s supporting effort is the remaining infantrymen. These will employ patrols to the flanks, and when not patrolling, be positioned to protect the flanks of the machine gun, while allowing them to provide direct fire to the obstacle. The enemy will withdraw when the enemy leader feels the squad can no longer defend its position, and has identified supplementary positions to the north. The enemy feels it can continue to halt our advance from its supplementary positions with the mounted reserve force arriving to continue the delay of our forces. This reserve force will also contain an additional technical vehicle to extract this forward squad.
FRIENDLY FORCES: Our platoon has the mission to seize (task) Hill 275 in order to (purpose) enable the company’s advance.
We are the platoon’s main effort squad and objective East is the platoon’s decisive point. Third squad (plus machine guns) will suppress the enemy on the objective, allowing our squad to maneuver to objective East. Second squad will follow behind us and seize objective West to prevent the enemy from massing combat power against us from the west.
The company mission is to destroy these outposts to enable the battalion’s advance into the village. The company’s decisive point is Hill 275; this hill controls the primary attack route of the battalion. The other platoons in the company will pass through our position and continue to destroy enemy outposts further north. The company commander’s end state is that all enemy machine gun systems be destroyed, the battalion axis of advance is clear of minefields, and our forces are postured to destroy the enemy’s counterattacks.
2. MISSION. First Squad, 1st Platoon, Company A seizes objective East not later than (NLT) 24 0630 May XX to enable the company’s advance.
3. EXECUTION.
a. Commander’s intent. Seize objective East to enable the platoon’s seize of Hill 275 that controls the primary attack route of the battalion.
b. Concept of operation: At the objective rally point, the platoon leader will conduct leader’s recon of objective, taking the entire 3rd squad as well. The platoon leader will position the support by fire, then continue recon of the objective. After return and dissemination of info, our squad will lead the remainder of the platoon along the east flank of the objective. We will approach to the objective until we reach the Hill to the southeast – this will be our assault position. From here, the platoon leader will initiate with machine guns from TRP 1 to TRP 3. Additionally, company mortars will fire TRP 2 (Hilltop 275). On order (primary frequency modulation [FM], alternate green star cluster) support by fire will shift to TRP 2; our squad will advance to the objective. Once we reach the far east of the objective (TRP 3), support by fire will lift fire (primary FM and alternate white star cluster). We will destroy the enemy and seize the objective, establishing overwatch positions to the north upon consolidation and reorganization.
c. Scheme of maneuver:
Team A will establish base of fire from east end of objective East to allow team B to advance against the enemy. Team B destroys enemy and seizes objective East to enable the advance towards objective West.
Actions on the objective. From the assault position, the squad will assume a squad bounding overwatch movement technique, fire teams on line. Team A will establish a base of fire oriented on TRP 2. Once team B reaches the far end of the objective (vicinity TRP 3), team B will establish base of fire oriented on TRP 2, team A will bound up on line with team B. I will travel with the bounding element. If we take casualties, the CCP will be located at our assault position. The platoon leader will call for and adjust direct and indirect fires as we approach. From TRP 3, our teams will utilize successive bounds – from the last covered position, I will have one fire team continue to provide suppression, while the other fire team will assault the enemy position. Enemy positions are waist deep or lower, oriented to the south. We will approach from the east. Once the first team enters the trench, we will establish local security at the entry point and on order, pass the second team into the trench. Our focus is the destruction of the machine gun position. On order, our squad will pass 2nd squad onto objective West. Upon consolidation and reorganization, we will establish overwatch positions to the north, prepared to destroy counterattack forces.
d. Scheme of fires. The platoon leader will fire target AB 1002 (suspected machine gun position) while we are in the assault position. As we continue our attack, the platoon leader will shift fires to the north (AB 1003) to suppress enemy counterattack forces. Company mortars will be firing from firing position one (vicinity company objective rally point) – our unit does not have battalion mortars or artillery support. The fire support task for the platoon is the destruction of machine gun position. The purpose of this fire is to facilitate our platoon’s maneuver onto the objective. Priority of company mortars is to our platoon, platoon leader will adjust fires as necessary. Allocation is one target (AB 1002) on the machine gun position. There are no indirect fire restrictions.
e. Task to subordinate units: List additional tasks not covered above. Highlight duties covered by SOP as necessary to insure understanding of responsibilities.
f. Coordinating instructions: List here–may be covered by SOP. Include specific responsibilities by name.
4. SUSTAINMENT.
Highlight from platoon order as necessary. At a minimum, discuss casualty evacuation plan. Ensure that obscurants, signal devices, and so forth, are cross-leveled to the Soldier responsible for execution.
5. COMMAND and SIGNAL.
Highlight from platoon order as necessary. At a minimum, discuss primary and alternate signal plans.
Army Platoon TMKs & Order Shells 