1963 US Army Vietnam War Armor Operations ... - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMsage reference number given in theheading of the order, unless directedauthentication. If there is one annexlisted, the word "annex" is used. Ifotherwise. The acknowledgement ofthere are no annexes, this term mayan order means that the order has beenbe omitted. In orders of units withreceived and understood.organic or attached artillery units, the(2) Signature of con mander. The original fire support annex is referred to incopy of the order will bear the actual paragraph 3.signature of the last name of the com- (4) Distribution. This indicates to whommander or his designated representa-the order is distributed. If the distive,and will be filed as a matter oftribution includes any allied unit, therecord. All other copies will be au-entire distribution list will be writtenthenticated by the S3, and in this caseout. If the distribution list does notthe commander's last name will appearabove the commander's grade.include allied units, or if the orderdoes not involve interallied use, the(3) Annexes. Annexes are supporting distribution code as established by thedocuments attached to the order tounit SOP may be used. In the latteramplify and supplement the instruc-case this may be some statement suchtions in the order. They are listed byas "Distribution: A."letter and title as they appear in the (5) Authentication. All operation orders,order. Annexes will have the same other than the original (copy no. 1),heading and ending as the operation will bear the signature of the unit S3.order except for the title of the annex,The word "OFFICIAL," and the sigthemessage reference number (if notnature, last name, and title of the S3issued with the basic order), and thewill appear.Section II. TECHNIQUES OF PREPARATION5. General b. Abbreviations save space and time. Ex-The purpose of uniform techniques in the cept for abbreviations in common internationaluse, for example, mm for millimeters, Abbreviapreparationof preparation operation oforders is to employ a tions will not normally be used in any operationsystem familiar to all military personnel and order or operation plan circulated for interorderor operation plan circulated for intertoavoid inadvertent omissions. By consistent allied use. In operation plans or orders not inapplicationof these techniques the confusion oforder writving will disappinteralied us e, commonabbreviations may includeare used. Common abbreviations may includea. The military profession, like other profes- unit designations, such as 25th Armd Div, thesions, has developed a technical vocabulary. It month and year of the date-time group, andis convenient and aids in the clear and rapidtransfer of ideas. The use of this vocabularyitems such as OP, CP, FEBA, SOI, and obj.Persons who write orders and those who readin texts and instructions is natural. However, them should not be required to memorize a listin an operation order it is essential that there of abbreviations, nor be compelled to look upbe no possibility for misunderstanding by anysubordinate of the exact intended meaning ofany that are unfamiliar. The author of theorder when determining whether or not to useeach term used. With partially trained troops abbreviations should consider the recipients'and staffs, the use of technical military lan- familiarity with them. There is no hard andguage or unfamiliar abbreviations may cause fast rule regarding their use. It is a matter ofmisunderstandings. Therefore, the use of tech- judgment.nical expressions in operation orders should beavoided if there is any danger of misunder- Clarity must not be sacrificed for brevity. Thestanding. Words of common understanding correct use of plain English is essential inshould be used even at the sacrifice of brevity. operation orders, and rules for punctuation andClarity is the first essential.grammar hold throughout. An order is faultyAGO 9139A 263