The Five Paragraph Field Order: Can a better Format be Found to Transmit Combat Information to Small Tactical Units?
Abstract
This monograph attempts to determine whether the current US five paragraph field order is the best format to use when transmitting the commander's intentions, combat information and tasks to battalions of smaller tactical units. Historical research was conducted concerning the current US five paragraph field order to determine its foundation, how the format evolved throughout the 20th century, the formats' key points, and the lesson learned concerning order formats. After completing the historical research, additional research was conducted to identify current order formats used by other nations and to determine their strengths and weaknesses. The formats researched are those used in Israel, the Soviet Union and the Federal Republic of Germany. The final part of the study compared formats with the aim of determining if a better format exists that could be synthesized. This study concludes that a better than the current US format is not in use and that a better format can be synthesized from the strengths of all the formats studied. This synthesized format is developed and presented in Section 4 of this study. Also, this study finds that the entire order process needs to be sped up and that a mission-type order format for use by high speed armor and cavalry units needs to be developed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 29, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA210966
Entities
People
- Matthew L. Smith
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College