The Military Orders and Mission Planning Training Package provides a comprehensive overview of the extant orders and mission planning processes currently in use by NATO forces.

The training package has been divided into a number of files to aid reading and assimilation of the information, and looks at:

• The difference between plans and planning.
• Common planning errors.
• The outline sequence of an operation, from start (getting a warning order for the operation) to finish (writing a written report about the operation).
• The aims and types of patrolling.
• The seven questions a commander should ask when planning an operation.
• Types of orders.
• Battle procedure and the warning order.
• Extraction of orders.
• The combat estimate.
• Sequence of orders (the SMEAC model).
• Orders templates.
• Patrol reports.
• Sketches of objective area and patrol area.
• Commander’s considerations:
  • Withdrawal.
  • Harbours.