SMEAC
From Wikipedia: “The five paragraph order or five paragraph field order is a style of organizing information about a military situation for a unit in the field. It is an element of United States Army, United States Marine Corps and United States Navy Seabees of small unit tactics, and similar order styles are used by military groups around the world. 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.”
As a nod to my upbringing within the Seabees, I can say with clarity, that each of my failures in life had a direct correlation to my disregard for following SMEAC. Our last trip was no different. I was so excited to get busy with my grandiose plans, that I neglected to pay attention to ORM (Operational Risk Management), and even more egregious, I failed to plan, and therefore, planned to fail. I knew better, and paid dearly for it by hearing my wife remark occasionally through the night, that the accommodations I provided for her were inefficient. She trusted me to make sure she was safe, fed, and warm. I didn’t completely fail, we had enough food for ten men, and I had enough firepower along to take down the Iranian Republican Guard. The sleeping bag, however, was a total failure. When I purchased it, I saw the “40” on the side of the package… I assumed MINUS 40, when in actuality, it was meant for 80 degrees warmer. “Chilly” took on two meanings when it came to relations with the love of my life that night… a performance, I do not intend to repeat.
SMEAC
Situation: The raw land procured, holds resources to be used in the construction of the aforementioned compound.
Mission: Recon, and prepare for advancement of work crew for the purposes of identifying and harvesting timber to be used in the construction of the structure that will ultimately hold the code name “Workshop”.
Execution: Near the hour of 0800, 30 March, 2017, Local. Proceed to the AO (Area of Operation) and set camp. After camp is set, proceed to identify geographical means to achieve mission completion via “KOCOA”. Clear avenues of approach, and tag present resources using common flag tape. Upon Identification of resources, rendezvous with team in predetermined checkpoint known as “Two Harbors, Minnesota” near the hour of 0900, 1 April, 2017. Lead team to AO, and commence operations. Upon completion of operations, retrograde to home base.
From Wikipedia: Military Terrain Analysis is a process used by the military both to describe the terrain of the battlefield environment and to analyze the significance of the terrain. By studying the military significance of the terrain a person can identify the historic battlefield “hidden” in the modern landscape. Military terrain is analyzed using five key aspects (commonly referred to by various acronyms such as KOCOA, OAKOC, and OCOKA):[3]
- • Key Terrain/Decisive Terrain
- • Observation and Fields of Fire
- • Concealment and Cover
- • Obstacles
- • Avenues of Approach/Withdrawal
Administration/Logistics: Retain proper gear for bivouac in winter conditions. Assure all motorized assets have been inspected for optimal operation, and spare parts and fluids are on hand. Precheck comms and verify frequencies for emergency use. Identify and verify hand tools are in usable condition. Plan for two communication missions to higher ground per day before crew arrival, to check in with Call Sign “Honey”
Command/Signal: Higher/callsign HONEY (wife) Self explanatory. Crew/Callsigns: BIL (Bother-in-law) – lodging specialist. Matriarch (older sister) logistics Specialist. Argument (Older brother) Tree cutting specialist. Firecracker (Nephew) – Branch harvesting specialist and ATV trainee. Ben-Jammin (Nephew) – Branch harvesting apprentice, lookout. Warwife (Right hand man) – general bringer of booze or hate & discontent.
The above screenshot is the CAD model for the 12′ x 20′ “workshop” round log framing members. 31 logs of lengths up to 22′ need to be harvested on this mission if we are to start construction this fall. If the average tree felled is 50′ then a total of 16 trees need to come down. My goal is to harvest 10 per day, for each day. certainly an achievable feat, considering the size and experience of the crew on hand. Once felled and consolidated to a central area, “Honey” and I will remove the bark and let them dry over the summer. Construction will begin either in the fall of 2017, or the spring of 2018.
It’s humorous, how in our bravado, we are not so gently reminded to take time to figure things out and restructure our plans. A long cherished saying in the Navy comes to mind: Remember the seven “P’s”… Proper Prior Planing Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Many refer to it as the “6 P’s”, and omit one of the “p’s”, but as a Sailor, I’m required by oath to include it. So, I’m taking a step back, re-evaluating, and planning for a successful mission… but as we all know, I won’t be certain, till I’ve got boots on the ground and the shit hits the fan.
It’s good to follow your military roots. And yes, keep Honey warm. 🙂
Yes it is… well, some of them anyhow.