Orders: A User's Guide

Exceptional work. This book provides a framework that enables precise and effective methods of communication necessary for mission command.

"Orders: A User's Guide" should be Required reading for all military services, law enforcement, and first responders. Additionally, it would significantly enable professionals from the battlefield to the boardroom to deliver effective orders that cannot be misunderstood.

The art of order delivering is one of the most crucial skills unit leaders must develop. This publication provides a quick reference and a phenomenal launch point for those looking to hone their ability to effectively communicate intent to their units.

Brendan McBreen lays out best practices from his decades of experience coupled with insights from current service members with a wide array of backgrounds. This will stay on my desk for years to come as a reference guide.

If you are a tactical leader - get this book. I have used the teachings of this book since it was first shared with me in draft format. I continue to use it now, and I pass it along to young leaders whenever I get the chance. This book is an important addendum to the doctrinal orders writing process that lieutenants receive at The Basic School. The error for most Marine Corps officers is to be TOO detailed with their orders in order to replicate the "perfect" orders they learned to write in school. This results in large, cumbersome orders that are hard to understand and even harder to execute. This book helps counter that tendency through principles and tips to keep orders concise. Additionally, this book helps teach you how to be CLEAR in your new, brief orders. Orders: A User's Guide will help you train yourself to give clear and concise orders, when seconds count. The standard demanded by the chaos and uncertainty of the "real" world will continue to be, "Three sentences, in thirty seconds, while under fire."

Can you communicate clearly and concisely to your subordinates in a field exercise? How rapidly can you re-task a unit to conduct a new mission? Can you do this over a radio? If you can’t confidently answer these questions, then the Orders Handbook is for you. Drawing on a wealth of military lessons from World War II, Korea, and OIF/OEF, the authors have written a guide to give crisp, concise orders in all types of operations. No longer do you need to pull soldiers in around a terrain model to give an updated situation and tasking through an hour long operations order. Instead, use the techniques laid out in this handbook to rapidly reorient your force, provide them an intent, and attack the enemy with a faster tempo and concentrated focus. Ideal for the leader at the battalion level down to the fire team level.

LtCol (ret) Brendan McBreen is a leading expert on combat orders, small unit leadership, and effective decision making under stress. I have personally used the orders techniques detailed in this book in combat and can verify that this is the gold standard. "Orders: A User's Guide" is a must have on the bookshelf of every combat arms officer and small unit leader. Filling in the gaps where doctrine falls short, this publication is easy to comprehend and can quickly be put into practice by any junior leader, while supplementing the experience of seasoned veterans.

Concur with all of the reviews to date. Once again, Brendan McBreen et al. have synthesized decades worth of experiences and lessons learned into a simple, easy to use guide - for students and practitioners alike. A must read and ready reference for military professionals.