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SMEAC - The Five Paragraph OrderShawn Stanford |
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SMEAC (or SMESC) is the mnemonic abbreviation for the standard Five Paragraph Order, or Operations Order (OPORD). It is a description of the who, what, when, where, why and how of a mission. A proper OPORD is critical for keeping everyone moving toward the same objective. The key to an OPORD is that it is always in the same format. This common format means that no matter who is giving the order, you know what kind of information you're going to get next. This common format known as SMESC or SMEAC is used to develop and deliver orders for missions of any size. There are two acronyms for the Five Paragraph OPORD. Each letter in the acronym stands for the content of that paragraph. The old acronym for the paragraphs is SMEAC:
SMESC is the exact same format with the exact same paragraphs with one slight change: rather than 'Administration and Logistics', this version uses 'Service Support'. The acronym SMEAC (pronounced 'smee ack') has no mnemonic, while SMESC has been given the mnemonic 'Sergeant Majors Eat Sugar Cookies'. Let's look at each of the parts in order. SituationSituation is a brief description of the status of the unit right now; things like where you are, who is with you, any considerations that might affect what you have to do. "Okay, we're at the barracks and we're short a man because Jones is at Sick Call for his foot. Plus, we're tasked with lugging the first aid ruck around." Situation will also include the status of any nearby enemy and friendly forces. You're not likely to have enemy forces, but terrain and weather are part of the enemy forces section, so this will take its place. You also might be told about friendly forces. "The temperature is up in the eighties now, but it's supposed to cool off to the low seventies later. Most of the headquarters staff is at the pool, and the other squad in the class is pouring concrete for the colonel's new patio." MissionMission is what needs to be accomplished. It should list the mission for the unit as well as a statement of 'commander's intent'. Commander's intent is a critical part of the mission statement, since it gives everyone an idea of the big picture and how their piece of the operation fits into that big picture. Commander's intent also provides general guidance for mission goals in case things change drastically. If you know your commander's intent, you can still drive toward accomplishing the missing when things don't go according to plan. "Our mission is to move to the colonel's quarters and clean them prior to 1800. The commander's intent is that his quarters be presentable for a party attended by high-ranking officers and their wives at that time." The mission statement should give basic specific information. Someone reading it should be able to answer who, what, when, where and why. ExecutionExecution is the nuts and bolts of how the unit is going to accomplish the mission. It includes information on how you're getting there, what you'll do when you get there, any subtasks that will need to be given out, etc. It will also tell you how to work with the other units you need to get with. "We'll jump onto the base bus when it comes by at 1400. That should put us at the colonel's house by 1430. When we arrive, Smith, you take your team and start on the kitchen; Wilson, you've got the living room and Jenkins, you guys are in the hall and bathroom. Smith, you'll have caterers in your area, so make sure you find out what they need." Administration and LogisticsAdministration and Logistics (or Service Support, in the Army version) deals with the support needed to accomplish the mission. Things like: food, transportation, equipment and so on. "The colonel's wife will give us the cleaning supplies we need. The caterers will serve us after we're done and they're set up. There's water in the kitchen. After we're done eating, the colonel's assistant will give us a ride back to the barracks in a van." Command and SignalCommand and Signal covers how you're going to communicate and what to do if there's a break in the chain of command. "You team leaders each have a radio. Set them to channel 3. Call signs will be Tango 1, 2 and 3. My call sign is Charlie. If you can't get me, Smith is my second in command, then Wilson, then Jenkins." As mentioned, the Five Paragraph OPORD format is appropriate for passing information and instructions to almost anyone, at almost any time. It doesn't matter if you're getting ready for an ELT search, planning a weekly meeting, or even getting together with some friends for dinner and a movie; SMEAC is a tool to help you make sure you say what you need to say so that everyone can accomplish the mission. Here's an example of an email I sent to my Soldiers before a drill. It's Five Paragraph format, even though all I was doing was explaining to them what was going to happen at drill. I used the Five Paragraph structure to help me organize my thoughts and to make sure I gave them all the information I had and that they needed. You got the drill letter, so you know we're going to the Gap for a MUTA-6. The ten day forecast is saying hot and wet: http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/17003. Focus for the company is the range and a retest of the PFT for those who failed (administered at the platoon level). Focus for us is CERT training, and the Guard FIST. The current plan is that we'll be on the range only on Friday (including running it for part of the day). After that, we should be cut loose to do our own thing. There's no firm plan yet, just a concept; it all depends on what happens to tie us to the company, so Semper Gumby. If there's anything you'd like to cover or feel like you need a refresher on, let me know and we'll try to get it worked in. Expect to be put in charge and cut loose to execute a simulated mission in-and-around the FtIG area. There you have it: the Five Paragraph Operations Order. That wasn't so hard, was it? Nah. Again, the key to using this format is to consistently use this format. Give a class at your unit and try to get everyone in the habit of using it. Make pocket-size copies of a skeleton and make sure all the unit leaders have them. Next time, we'll talk about Warning Orders... Here's a fully blown-out OPORD skeleton for you to use. There are a ton of variations and examples on the net.
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This is the first of what should be a short series of articles detailing some of the leadership tools used every day in the military. Our subject today is the Five Paragraph Order.
One of CadetStuff's founders, Senior Editor Shawn Stanford has worn a uniform for most of his life. He joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1977 at the age of 14, and rose to the rank of C/Capt in CTWG's Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron. He joined the Marine Corps in 1981, graduating from MCRD Parris Island in January of 1982. He was trained as a computer programmer and spent time in Okinawa, Japan; Albany, Georgia; and Kansas City, Missouri before being honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1989. In 1990, he rejoined Civil Air Patrol, specializing in Cadet Programs. He has served CAP as a Leadership Officer, Deputy Commander for Cadets and Squadron Commander in MOWG and PAWG. He joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in early 2001 as an M1 Abrams tank crewman. In 2004 he was activated and deployed to Iraq as an MP, where he was attached to the Iraq Survey Group. Since returning, he has changed units and is now an artillery Fire Support Specialist. In the spring of 2006 he joined the American Cadet Alliance and received a commission as a captain in the Army Cadet Corps. He also serves as a Training Officer in the Leadership Development Institute. He has a wife, a son and two daughters and is working on a book about his experiences in Iraq.