An Operations Order, often abbreviated as OPORD, is an executable plan

Operations plan

Operations plan is a secret document attributed to Mariano Moreno, that set harsh ways for the Primera Junta to achieve its goals...

 that directs a unit to conduct a military operation

Military operation

Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...

. An Operations Order will describe the situation facing the unit, the mission of the unit, and what activities the unit will conduct to achieve the mission goals. Normally an Operations Order will be generated at a regiment

Regiment

A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...

, brigade

Brigade

A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...

, division

Division (military)

A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...

, or corps

Corps

A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...

 headquarters and then given to lower echelons to implement. Each lower echelon as they receive an operations order will in turn develop their own Operations Order which removes extraneous detail and adds details focused on what and how that subunit will implement the higher level OPORD. So an Operations Order at a particular level of the military organization will trigger units involved in the operation to develop their own Operations Order which will borrow from the Operations Order given them so far as the situation and mission but will then add additional details for the activities a specific unit is to conduct.

A standardized multiparagraph format is used by the United States Department of Defense

United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

's armed services and most other military forces. An OPORDER is designed to organize both generalities and specifics of a mission into five standard topics (paragraphs): Situation, Mission, Execution, Service Support, and Command and Signal. Higher level units which have extensive lists or details in a topic will move most of the material to an Annex or an Appendix to the order. This also allows an order be customized to a recipient by easily removing extraneous information for that recipient.

Variations

The OPORD is the primary order that is given for a mission however it is not the only type of order that may be issued for a mission. Other types of orders may be issued to tell units an Operations Order may be forthcoming, a Warning Order, or to inform units during the execution of an Operations Order that the situation has changed and identifying changes in situation and mission, Fragmentary Order.

A Warning Order, or WARNO, is given in advance of the OPORD to let soldiers under the command know that they may be receiving an Operations Order. The WARNO contains a few basic details of the situation and what the mission may entail however much of the pertinent information for a proper Operations Order is still forthcoming.

Once an OPORD is given the situation may change before the mission is actually begun or during the operation the situation may change so that the Operations Order must be modified. In these cases the commander will issue a Fragmentary Order, or FRAGO. The FRAGO will state exactly how the situation and/or mission has been changed and what must be done to make up for the change.

Format

OPORD [number][code name]-[issuing headquarters](place the classification and short title of the OPORD at the top of the second and any sub sequential pages.)

1. SITUATION

a. Enemy forces.

b. Friendly forces.

c. Attachments and detachments.

2. MISSION

3. EXECUTION

Intent

Intent (military)

Intent is a key capability in 21st century military operations and is a vital element to facilitate subordinates initiative , self-synchronisation Intent is a key capability in 21st century military operations and is a vital element to facilitate subordinates initiative (U.S Army 2003, para.1-69),...

:

a. Concept of operations.

(1) Maneuver

(2) Fires

(3) Reconnaissance and Surveillance

(4) Intelligence

(5) Engineer

(6) Air Defense

(7) Information Operations

b. Tasks to maneuver units.

c. Tasks to combat support units.

(1) Intelligence

(2) Engineer

(3) Fire Support

(4) Air Defense

(5) Signal

(6) NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical)

(7) Provost Marshal

(8) PSYOP

(9) Civil military

(10) As required

d. Coordinating instructions.

(1) Time or condition when a plan or order becomes effective

(2) CCIR (Commander's Critical Information Requirements)

(3) Risk reduction control measures

(4) Rules of engagement

(5) Environmental considerations

(6) Force protection

(7) As required

4. SUSTAINMENT (formerly Service Support)

a. Support concept.

b. Materiel and services.

c. Medical evacuation and hospitalization.

d. Personnel.

e. Civil military.

f. As required.

5. COMMAND AND CONTROL (formerly Command and Signal)

a. Command.

b. Control.