The five paragraph order or five paragraph order (or field order) is a style of organising information, in military fashion (typically to a unit or , about a situation.

An order specifies the instruction to a unit in a structured format that makes it easy to find each specific requirement. The five paragraphs can be remembered with the acronym SMEAC: "S" Situation, "M" Mission, "E" Execution, "A" Administration/Logistics, "C" Command/Signal.

Outline of five paragraph order (example):

I. Situation

1. Enemy Forces
   1. Enemy's Composition, Disposition, Strength
   2. Enemy's Capabilities & Limitations:(DRAW-DG) Defend, Reinforce, Attack, Withdraw, Delay, Gas
   3. Enemy's Most Likely Course Of Action (EMLCOA)
   4. Enemy's Most Dangerous Course of Action
2. Friendly Forces
   1. Higher's Mission & Intent
   2. Adjacent Units
      1. North/South/East/West
      2. Same Echelon
   3. Supporting
3. Attachments/Detachment
4. Civil/Terrain considerations

II. Mission

1. Who, What (Tactical Task), Where, When, and Why?

III. Execution

1. Commander's Intent (Center of Gravity)
   1. Critical Vulnerability
   2. Exploitation Plan
   3. Desired Endstate
2. Concept of the OperationsScheme of Maneuver
   1. Fire Support Plan
3. Tasks
4. Coordinating Instructions

IV. Administration/Logistics (Service Support in the Army version)

1. Administration - "Bad Guys & Bandages": Enemy Prisoners of War ("EPW") & Casualty evacuation ("Casevac") Plans
2. Logistics - "Beans, Bullets, & Batteries": Food, Ammunition, Supply, Communications, Pyrotechnics, etc.

V. Command/Signal (Command and Signal in the Army version)

1. Signal (PACE)
   1. Primary
   2. Alternate
   3. Contingency
   4. Emergency
2. Command
   1. Location of Key Leaders
   2. Succession of Command

Since Marines and soldiers work in small teams, it is important that each member know and understand the order in its entirety so as to be aware of which parts of the order apply directly to them and the subordinate unit to which they belong without being exceedingly aware of minute details provided for general situational awareness.

Source: Wikipedia