What is their morale?
etc.

4th. Consider the terrain in so far as it affects the situation.

5th. Consider the various plans of action open to you and decide upon
the one that will best enable you to accomplish your mission (carry out
your task); that is to say, come to a decision.

It is now necessary to express that decision in the form of an order as
the quarterback did in giving the signal, 44--11--17--5.

To enable the will of the commander to be quickly understood, and to
secure prompt cooeperation among his subordinates, field orders are
required to follow a general form.

Under the stress and strain of an engagement there are many causes of
excitement. Unless we have trained ourselves to act along certain lines
in issuing orders, we may forget some important considerations. We have
known people of superb intelligence to do poorly before a large audience
simply from lack of training and experience.

CORRECT PROCEDURE IN GIVING THE MAIN PART OF A FIELD ORDER

1st. Give the information of the enemy and of our own supporting
troops (i.e., those who may come to our assistance in case of need) to
your subordinates that will give them a clear understanding of the
problem and enable them intelligently to cooperate with you.

2d. Now state what you are going to do. That is to say, give your
plan.

3d. Next, how you are going to put that plan into effect. That is, the
assignment of duties to each subordinate.

4th. Give instructions for the ammunition trains, stations for the
slightly wounded, etc.

5th. State where you can be found or where messages may be sent.

SOME GENERAL HINTS

Clear and decisive orders are the logical result of definite and sure
decisions. To guage[B] a man's caliber read his orders.

You must not be hazy and indefinite in your order. You must be clear and
definite. Be careful about your phrasing and expressions. An order
should be like a cablegram: convey every idea but contain no unnecessary
words.

Don't break up the squads or platoons or the companies. Keep the
tactical units together as much as possible.

It is marvelous how many mistakes can occur on the battlefield. Attempt
a complicated plan and its failure is reasonably assured. Have your plan
simple. The enveloping attack is the best. That is to say, have your
line longer than the enemy's so that you can attack one of his flanks.
He knows this quite as well as you and he will endeavor to perform the
same