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24 Patrolling - Operations Order

The document provides an outline for an operations order for a patrol mission. It details sections for the situation including enemy and friendly forces, the mission, execution plan including insertion, movement to the objective, and exfiltration. It emphasizes covert insertion by air at night, establishing a winding route to the objective to avoid detection, setting up concealed patrol bases, and contingency plans for contact or injuries. The order format is a suggested template to ensure all critical information is addressed to complete the mission safely.

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133 views

24 Patrolling - Operations Order

The document provides an outline for an operations order for a patrol mission. It details sections for the situation including enemy and friendly forces, the mission, execution plan including insertion, movement to the objective, and exfiltration. It emphasizes covert insertion by air at night, establishing a winding route to the objective to avoid detection, setting up concealed patrol bases, and contingency plans for contact or injuries. The order format is a suggested template to ensure all critical information is addressed to complete the mission safely.

Uploaded by

OLS
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Patrolling - Operations Order

Patrolling - Operations Order


Written by David R. Reed Now that we have an understanding of what we must be able to do, this is how I would plan our sample mission. I am tired of writing all of this so I'm going to make it brief. This is an acceptable outline to use for your operations order.

Operations Order Format


Situation Enemy Forces

Location, size, strength Capabilities, supply lines, communications, posture Probable courses of action

Indigenous People

Location, numbers, organizations Capabilities, resources, communications, hositilies, civic groups Probable courses of action Mission of parent unit Languages spoken, religious, superstitions, other cultural aspects

Friendly Forces

Mission of supporting units (air, artillery, etc.)

Missions of other patrols, defensive positions you must cross Mission Who, what, when, where (coordinates) Execution Concept of the Operation - Overall plan Coordinating Instructions

Sub-unit missions - for elements, teams, individuals times of departure & return
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Patrolling - Operations Order

Formations and order of movement Route, primary and alternate Passage of friendly front lines - out/in Rally Points and actions at rally points Actions on enemy contact Actions at danger areas Actions on objective Fire Support (if not in it's own annex) Rehearsals and inspections Debriefings - time, place, uniform, format

Annexes - mini OPORDs that cover specialty items Service & Support Supply Rations Uniforms & Equipment Arms & Ammunition Captured Material

Transportation - may be annexed Personnel

Medical Evacuation - may be annexed Prisoners of War Command & Signal Signal

Frequencies & Call signs Pyrotechnics & Signals Code words Challenge and password (sign/countersign)

Command

Commander/leader location Chain of Command

Operations Order Summary


Look at the outline. It is a suggested format and that is all. You will issue your OPORD in any

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Patrolling - Operations Order

manner you choose. Make sure it is complete, well organized, and interesting. You should use sand tables, pictures, drawings and other instructional aids. Prepare a multiple choice and true/false quiz that tests each soldier on every point in the patrol order. Every one must be able to recite in detail call signs, passwords, locations, the mission, and everything that they would need to know to complete the mission if they were the sole survivor of a firefight, plane crash, etc. If everything goes wrong you will want each man to have the knowledge he needs to complete the mission and return home safely. Friendly lines cannot be safely crossed without adequate preparation and training. Soldiers in a defensive posture are apt to fire on anything they hear, see, or think they will contact them. Break the mission down to these specifics: How you will insert

hear or see. The unit you will be passing through must know when you will be there and how you

What you will do once you are on the ground How you will move to the objective What you will do when things happen along the route How you will occupy patrol bases/ORP What you will do once there How you will get out.

Insertion
We will want to get as close as we can without our choppers being heard. If this can't be done we may want to consider an Airborne HALO insertion. Say about 20, 000 - 35-000 feet jump. You will need a few minutes worth of oxygen for your free fall. You will need enough to get down to that. Coastlines, rivers, and roads will probably be watched. If the enemy has strong AA 10,000 feet. Use your imagination, if you can think of another way to get there secretly then do capabilities, you may want to consider some other scheme. If you choose to use aircraft, create an annex for this part of the mission. Your annex will follow the same format as your patrol order, except each category will pertain to the air movement only. For instance, the mission would be to make a covert parachute jump into the enemy's rear area at 2100 hours. You will need to complete the patrol order outline with everything you need to describe this part of the mission. What air unit will you use? Aircraft? Where will you board? What flight path will be followed? Command & Signal will pertain to frequencies the aircraft use etc.

When using slicks it may be advisable to make a couple of false insertions. This may confuse any 'LZ watchers' into thinking you got out at another LZ.
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Patrolling - Operations Order

Everyone must know where to run once they are on the ground. There should be at least one alternate rally point. Once on the ground, chutes are hidden, everyone meets up, and moves off. You will need a password to recognize each other in the dark. Contingencies are: What happens if someone breaks a leg on the jump? What happens if you are fired up on the DZ or LZ? What happens if you are shot down and some of you survive?

Movement to the Objective


We will move only at night and observe during the day. Our route will follow the most difficult country we can find within reason. We don't want to tax ourselves foolishly (and make a lot of followed by a tracker, appears to lead nowhere. Our route will depend on the terrain and lessen the chance of discovery by enemy patrols. We need at least one alternate route. We will pick the one we'll use when we get there. If we studying the map and everyone will know the route before hand. Back to Training noise) but we sure can't go walking down a road or trail. We will establish a winding route that if vegetation. When we make camp during the day, it will be in a very inaccessible place. This will

have to change, we'll try to move over to our other route. This lessens the amount of time spent

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