Occupation plan (based off terrain to gain advantage)
Operations plan (patrol base needs to support operations)
Security plan (100 percent, 50 percent, or less?)
Alert plan (early warning devices, radio, and verbal)
Priorities of work (enforced by team leaders)
Evacuation plan (predesignated rally point that is defendable)
Alternate patrol base (primary, unsuitable, or compromised)
4. Service Support
Water plan (resupply)
Maintenance plan (ongoing with inspections)
Hygiene plan (medic supervises slit trench trash, checks soldiers)
Chow plan (security not compromised)
Rest plan (where, when, and how long)
5. Command and Signal
Command:
Location of patrol command post (CP); Location of patrol leader (PL); Location of assistant patrol leader (APL); Location of radio operator (RTO)
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Call signs and frequencies; Code words and passwords; Emergency signals
Linkup Annex
1. Situation
Enemy forces (recent activity in the vicinity of linkup)
Friendly forces
Attachments and detachments
2. Mission
Who; What (task); Where; When; Why (purpose)
3. Execution
Concept of the operation:
Maneuver; Fires
Tasks to combat units:
Security teams; Surveillance teams (AFO/low vis); Linkup element
Tasks to combat support units
Coordinating instructions:
Time of linkup; Location of linkup site (primary and alternate); Rally points; Actions upon enemy contact; Actions at the linkup site; Actions following linkup; Rehearsals; Restrictive fire lines; Time schedule
4. Service Support
Liaison officer to facilitate passage of lines
Emergency resupply if needed
5. Command and Signal
Command:
Location of patrol leader (PL) and assistant patrol leader (APL); Location of patrol headquarters
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Call signs and frequencies; Spares and code words (Far recognition signal, Near recognition signal, Linkup complete signal)
Posting authentication (verbal)
Brevity code
Identification of friendly forces (IFF)
Emergency signals
Abort criteria
OVERLAYS
An operation overlay is a tracing of graphic control measures on a map. It shows boundaries, phase lines, unit positions, routes, objectives, and other control measures and helps to clarify and control the battlespace. Higher headquarters use the overlay to de-conflict battlespace during ongoing operations. It is a fratricide reduction measure that must take place and is an essential part of the coordination checklist.
FRAGMENTARY ORDERS
A fragmentary order (FRAGO) is a short operations order that can be issued to update the existing OPORD, thus saving time by not having to brief the entire order.
The field FRAGO is issued after an OPORD to change, modify, or re-focus that order or to execute a branch or sequel, such as “Follow on targets.” It should take no longer than forty minutes to issue, with the focus (approximately thirty minutes) of actions on the objective.
Below is a general planning guide to follow:
Paragraph 1 (Situation) and 2 (Mission)—five minutes
Paragraph 3 (Execution)—twenty–thirty minutes (focus of the FRAGO)
Paragraph 4 (Service Support) and Paragraph 5 (Command and Signal)—five minutes
The FRAGO should focus on the actions on the objective. The platoon leader should use subordinate leaders to prepare Paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 in addition to the routes and the fire support coordination plan. Subordinates should brief the portions of the FRAGO that they were responsible for in order to cut down on preparation time and to clarify any specific issues that arise.
It is critical that leaders use maps, imagery, sketches, and a terrain model to allow for rapid understanding of the operation or FRAGO.
The key to success of any operation is rehearsal, particularly with the constrained planning model of the field FRAGO. Rehearsals used in conjunction with the FRAGO reduce preparation time and allow the platoon leaders more time for movement and reconnaissance.
Fragmentary Orders Format (Frago)
The elements of a FRAGO are listed in the following order:
Number/code name
Time zone used
Task organization
High Temp
Moonrise
Sunrise
Low Temp
Moonset
Sunset
Wind Speed
Moon Phase
EENT (ending evening nautical twilight)
Wind Direction
% Illumination
BMNT (begin morning nautical twilight)
Prayer Times
Wake Times
Sleep Times
Terrain (effect on the new operation)
OAKOC + water:
Obstacles; Avenues of approach; Key terrain; Observation/fields of fire; Cover/concealment; Water (sources)
1. Situation
Include any changes from that base order or prudent factors to restate.
Enemy situation:
Composition, disposition, strength, morale; Capabilities/weapons; Recent activities; Most likely course of action; Most dangerous course of action
Friendly situation:
Higher unit’s mission; Adjacent patrols (task/purpose); Adjacent unit objectives and routes
2. Mission
Who (unit performing mission); What (task); Where (description, location, and grid); When (NLT date/time); Why (purpose)
3. Execution
Concept of the operation:
General scheme of maneuver
Mission-essential task
Main effort and focus
Supporting efforts
Maneuver:
Task/purpose for squads/elements; Actions on the objective in detail from ORP-OBJ-ORP; Use a terrain model and all available imagery or sketches
Fires:
Time/how it will support the mission (type); What purpose fires will perform; Allocation; Restrictions; Fires planned during movement; Fires planned on objective
Tasks to maneuver units:
List all tasks that apply to each squad
Coordinating instructions:
Timeline (backwards plan):
Hit time; ORP time; Movement from patrol base; Final inspection; Platoon rehearsal; Squad rehearsal; FRAGO brief complete
Movement plan (use sketch, maps, and imagery to brief):
Route (primary/alternate); Order of movement (OOM); Formations; Movement technique/means
Priority intelligence requirements (PIR) specific to mission
Rehearsal plan (sand table, rock drill, map, diagrams, etc.)
Patrol base plan (if not in accordance with SOP):
Teams; Occupation plan; Operations plan (security plan or alert plan); Priorities of work
Air assault plan:
Number of aircraft; Type; Weight/size of cargo limit; PZ grid; PZ posture time; Load time; Lift time; Flight time and number of lifts and composition; Air checkpoints en route (time hacks); HLZ grid; HLZ time; Actions at HLZ (dismounted posture); Actions if contact at HLZ
Linkup plan (if applicable):
Time of linkup; Location of linkup site (grid/description); Stationary element (checkpoint, overwatch, LP/OP, etc.); Moving element (patrol, convoy, leader recon, etc.); Rally points; Actions at linkup point; Near and far recognition signals (day/night)