THIS IS AN INSTRUCTIONAL WALKTHROUGH. FOR CLASSROOM USE IN CRAWL PHASE TLP TRAINING.

Paired OPORD: 014 Deliberate Attack (Detailed) Reference: TLP Instructional Slides | LTA Grid Reference

Purpose. This walkthrough applies the 8 Troop Leading Procedures to OPORD 014 step-by-step. Use it during the CRAWL phase of TLP training to demonstrate what a candidate should do at each step when they receive an order. Have printed copies of both the OPORD and this walkthrough in hand. Pause at each step for discussion and questions.

PRACTICAL EXERCISE: APPLYING TLPs TO THIS ORDER

INSTRUCTOR GUIDE

The following section walks through each of the 8 Troop Leading Procedure steps as applied to the OPORD above. Use this during the crawl-phase class to demonstrate what a candidate should do at each step when they receive an order. Pause at each step for discussion and questions.

Reference: TLP Instructional Slides

Step 1: Receive the Mission

Reference: TLP Slides — "Step 1: Receive the Mission," HOPE-W, 1/3-2/3 Rule

When you receive this order, you need to immediately begin extracting critical information. You are not just listening — you are analyzing. Here is what you should capture:

Extract the mission statement (the 5 W's):

Understand higher's mission and intent:

• A Company's mission: Attack to destroy REAPER command and control nodes in AO COTTO to disrupt enemy operations and enable follow-on offensive action.
• Commander's intent: Destroy the REAPER forward CP at OBJ HERRERA to eliminate their ability to coordinate operations in AO COTTO. Seize any intelligence materials found at the CP.

Conduct initial time analysis (HOPE-W):

• H — Higher: What is A Company's timeline? When is H-hour?
• O — Operational: How long will movement, actions on objective, and consolidation take?
• P — Planning & Preparation: When do I issue my WARNORD? When do I issue my OPORD? When are rehearsals and PCC/PCI?
• E — Enemy: Does the enemy have a timeline that affects us? Can they reinforce?
• W — Weather: Light data — when is BMNT, sunrise, sunset, EENT?

Apply the 1/3-2/3 Rule: If you have 75 minutes to plan, you use no more than 25 minutes for your own analysis before issuing your WARNORD. Your squads get the remaining 50 minutes to prepare.

Step 2: Issue a Warning Order

Reference: TLP Slides — "Step 2: Issue Warning Order," Gen Mattis quote: "What do I know? Who needs to know? Have I told them?"

Issue your WARNORD immediately after initial analysis. Do not wait until you have a complete plan. Your subordinates need time to prepare.

Minimum WARNORD content from this OPORD:

1. Type of operation: Deliberate attack on enemy command post
2. General location: OBJ HERRERA, vic MP 0602 1565, AO COTTO
3. Initial timeline: SP time, H-hour (fill in when given time hack)
4. Reconnaissance to initiate: PL will conduct leader's recon from the ORP
5. Movement to initiate: Begin movement to assembly area
6. Preparation instructions: Draw ammunition, conduct PCC/PCI, prepare for dismounted movement

Step 3: Make a Tentative Plan

Reference: TLP Slides — "Detailed METT-TC Analysis," OAKOC, Enemy Analysis, AGADAP, SAFDC

This is the longest step. You conduct a detailed METT-TC analysis and develop your course of action using AGADAP.

METT-TC Analysis Applied to This OPORD

M — Mission:

• Specified tasks: Attack to destroy REAPER CP at OBJ HERRERA; disrupt REAPER C2; conduct hasty SSE; report findings to higher upon consolidation.
• Implied tasks: Establish ORP; conduct leader's recon; establish support by fire; consolidate and reorganize on the objective; treat and evacuate casualties; collect and safeguard captured intelligence materials.
• Essential task: Destroy the REAPER CP at OBJ HERRERA — this goes into your mission statement.

E — Enemy:

• Composition: 6-8 personnel — CP staff (2-3) with radios, maps, planning materials; security element (4-5) with small arms in fighting positions.
• Disposition: CP at the Bradenton Ave / Jacksonville St junction (MP 0602 1565). Security oriented south and southwest along roads; CP element north of junction with antenna equipment. Limited observation into woodlines on all sides.
• MPCOA: Security defends while CP staff destroy sensitive materials and displace north with comms equipment. If assault is rapid, materials may be captured intact.
• MDCOA: Reinforcements counterattack from the north through the woodline. CP staff transmit warning and destroy materials before being overrun.
• Ask yourself: How does the enemy's orientation affect my scheme of maneuver? Where are his blind spots? The enemy can see down the roads but NOT into the dense woods — exploit this. Additionally: how do I prevent CP staff from destroying intelligence materials? Speed of assault is critical.

T — Terrain and Weather (OAKOC):

• O — Observation and Fields of Fire: Enemy has fields of fire south along Bradenton Avenue and east-west along Jacksonville Street. Dense woods throughout the AO limit observation to under 50 meters off the improved roads. Bradenton Avenue south of the junction provides a cleared lane of fire for the SBF.
• A — Avenues of Approach: Bradenton Avenue from the south (enemy oriented this way — use for SBF, not assault). Woodlines west of Bradenton Ave provide a concealed dismounted avenue of approach for the assault element. Jacksonville Street from the east is observable by the enemy — avoid.
• K — Key Terrain: The road junction of Jacksonville Street and Bradenton Avenue at OBJ HERRERA — whoever controls it controls movement through AO COTTO.
• O — Obstacles: Dense underbrush and pine forest slow dismounted movement off improved roads. Low-lying areas may restrict movement after rain.
• C — Cover and Concealment: Dense woods on all sides of the junction provide excellent concealment for approach from any direction off the roads. Hasty fighting positions provide cover for enemy. No significant elevation changes — terrain is flat throughout.

T — Troops Available:

• 3 rifle squads, PL, PSG. No attachments. Standard infantry platoon weapons.

T — Time Available:

• Apply backwards planning from H-hour. Account for movement, ORP establishment, leader's recon, issuance of order, rehearsals, and PCC/PCI.

C — Civil Considerations:

• Civilians may be present. ROE requires PID before engagement. Avoid collateral damage.

COA Development (AGADAP)

A — Analyze Relative Combat Power:

• Friendly: 3 squads (~27 personnel), small arms, automatic weapons. Advantage in numbers (roughly 3:1 to 4:1).
• Enemy: 6-8 personnel (CP staff + security), small arms, prepared positions. Advantage in prepared defense and knowledge of terrain. CP staff are not primarily fighters but will defend if cornered.
• Exploit: Numerical superiority, enemy blind spots into the woodlines — particularly to the west. Mitigate: Enemy prepared positions by suppressing with SBF from the south along Bradenton Ave.

G — Generate Options:

• The enemy is oriented south along Bradenton Ave and east-west along Jacksonville St, with limited observation into the woodlines. A flank attack from the west using the dense woods for concealment is the most suitable form of maneuver, with a support-by-fire position south on Bradenton Ave to fix the enemy in place.

A — Array Forces:

• Decisive operation: 2nd Squad (assault from the west through the woodline)
• Shaping operation: 1st Squad (SBF south of OBJ on Bradenton Ave)
• Reserve/security: 3rd Squad (ORP security, reserve)

D — Develop Concept of Operations:

• Movement from assembly area to ORP (MP 0586 1552) in the woodline west of Bradenton Ave. Leader's recon confirms enemy positions at the junction. 1st Squad moves east to SBF position on Bradenton Ave (MP 0601 1552). 2nd Squad moves north through the woods to an assault position west of OBJ. On signal, 1st Squad suppresses north along Bradenton Ave. On order, 2nd Squad assaults east through OBJ. 3rd Squad secures ORP and is prepared to reinforce. Consolidate on objective.

A — Assign Responsibilities:

• 1st SL: SBF element — move east to Bradenton Ave, suppress enemy positions north on signal
• 2nd SL: Assault element — move north through woodline, assault east through OBJ on order
• 3rd SL: ORP security and reserve — blocking position or reinforce on order
• PSG: Hasty SSE of CP site upon seizure, consolidation, casualty collection, resupply coordination

P — Prepare COA Statement:

"The purpose of this operation is to destroy the REAPER command post at OBJ HERRERA and disrupt enemy C2 in AO COTTO. Decisive to this operation is 2nd Squad's assault through OBJ HERRERA from the west. This is decisive because it destroys the CP and eliminates the enemy's ability to coordinate operations. We will accomplish this by conducting a flank attack — SBF fixes the enemy from the south along Bradenton Avenue while the assault element maneuvers through the woods and strikes from the west, exploiting the enemy's limited observation into the woodlines. Speed is critical — the assault must overrun the CP before staff can destroy intelligence materials. We will assume risk by committing 3rd Squad to ORP security rather than the assault. We will mitigate this risk by suppressing the enemy with 1st Squad's support by fire before the assault begins."

COA Screening (SAFDC)

Step 4: Initiate Movement

Reference: TLP Slides — "Steps 4-6 are Interchangeable"

While you complete planning, your subordinates should already be preparing based on your WARNORD. Movement tasks at this step may include:

• Squads conduct initial weapons and equipment checks
• PSG coordinates ammunition and water distribution
• Squads rehearse battle drills (react to contact, break contact)
• Element begins movement toward the assembly area or line of departure

Key point: Steps 4, 5, and 6 are interchangeable. You may initiate movement before completing your recon or finishing the plan. Do not wait until everything is perfect — time is your most valuable resource.

Step 5: Conduct Reconnaissance

Reference: TLP Slides — "Step 5: Conduct Reconnaissance," GOTWA

Before leaving for leader's recon, issue a GOTWA briefing to your PSG:

During recon, confirm or deny your assumptions:

• Is the enemy where the OPORD says they are? (North side of Jacksonville St at the Bradenton Ave junction, vic MP 0602 1565)
• Are fighting positions oriented south along Bradenton Ave and along Jacksonville St as expected?
• Does Bradenton Avenue south of the junction provide a clear lane of fire for the SBF?
• Does the woodline west of the objective actually provide a concealed approach for the assault element moving north from the ORP?
• Are there obstacles, structures, or terrain features not shown on the map — particularly between the ORP and the objective?

If recon changes the situation, modify your plan. This is what makes TLPs a dynamic process, not a checklist.

Step 6: Complete the Plan

Reference: TLP Slides — "Step 6: Complete the Plan," Terrain Model Checklist

Update your tentative plan based on what you found on recon. Prepare your briefing aids.

Build your terrain model. Required elements:

• North seeking arrow
• Scale (1 pace = X meters)
• Current location / Assembly Area
• ORP location (MP 0586 1552, in woodline west of Bradenton Ave)
• OBJ HERRERA with grid (MP 0602 1565, north side of Jacksonville St / Bradenton Ave junction)
• Jacksonville Street (east-west road) and Bradenton Avenue (north-south road)
• Enemy positions (north side of junction, oriented south and along roads)
• Dense woodlines surrounding the junction on all sides
• Phase lines (if used)
• Primary and alternate routes through the woodline
• SBF position (MP 0601 1552, Bradenton Ave south of OBJ, oriented north)
• Assault route (north through woodline from ORP, then east into OBJ from the west)
• Danger areas (road crossings — Jacksonville St and Bradenton Ave)
• Rally points

Finalize your OPORD. Fill in the details from your recon: exact positions, adjusted routes, specific coordination measures, and updated timeline.

Step 7: Issue the Order

Reference: TLP Slides — "Step 7: Issue the Order," 5-Paragraph OPORD Format, Coordinating Instructions Checklist

Deliver your 5-paragraph order to your squad leaders using your terrain model. This is where the OPORD format you just studied becomes the framework for your briefing.

Brief in order: Situation, Mission, Execution, Sustainment, Command and Signal.

Common failures at this step (from the TLP slides):

• Reading verbatim instead of briefing from knowledge of the plan
• Speaking too quietly — project your voice
• Not using the terrain model — point to locations as you brief them
• Unable to answer questions about the plan
• No confirmation brief — always have subordinates brief back their understanding
• Poor command presence — deliver with confidence and authority

After issuing the order, conduct a confirmation brief:

• Have each squad leader brief back their task and purpose
• Verify they understand the concept of the operation and the decisive point
• Confirm they know the timeline, signals, and contingencies

Step 8: Supervise and Refine

Reference: TLP Slides — "Step 8: Supervise & Refine," Rehearsal Types, PCC/PCI

This step is continuous — it happens throughout and after all other steps.

Conduct rehearsals. Even a short rock drill on the terrain model is valuable:

• Walk through the scheme of maneuver on the terrain model
• Each squad leader traces their element's movement and actions
• Identify the signal to initiate the SBF and the signal to lift/shift fires
• Walk through actions on the objective and consolidation

Conduct PCC/PCI (Pre-Combat Checks / Pre-Combat Inspections):

• Weapons, ammunition, water, equipment
• Communications check (radios, batteries)
• Most important: Verify every Soldier understands the mission and their specific role

Continue to refine. As the situation develops, adjust the plan. If the enemy moves, if weather changes, if you lose a key leader — adapt. TLPs are a dynamic process, not a one-time event.

INSTRUCTOR WRAP-UP

The 8 TLP steps applied to this OPORD demonstrate the complete planning process from receiving the mission to crossing the line of departure. Key takeaways for candidates:

1. The order gives you information — TLPs tell you what to do with it. Every paragraph of the OPORD feeds specific TLP steps.
2. Time management is critical. The 1/3-2/3 rule is not a suggestion. Issue your WARNORD early.
3. Steps 1-3 are sequential; Steps 4-6 are interchangeable. Do not wait for a perfect plan before initiating movement or reconnaissance.
4. The terrain model is your primary briefing tool. Build it during planning and use it to deliver your order.
5. Common failures are in Steps 3 and 7 — analysis and order delivery. Master METT-TC analysis and practice briefing with confidence.

Reference: TLP Instructional Slides | TLP Training Package