FRIENDLY FORCES

1. Mission and concept of next higher unit (from his paragraph 2) to include higher leader's intent (from his OPORD)

2. Location and planned actions of units to the left, right, front, and rear (from higher leader's Tasks to Maneuver Units in hid OPORD). State how such actions influence your unit, particularly adjacent unit patrols. Point out their locations on the terrain model

3. Units providing fire support:

List the fire support mean available to your unit: company or battalion mortars, artillery, CAS (Close Air Support), Naval Gunfire, etc.

In a tactical operations order (OPORD) for a combat unit, Friendly Forces are listed in the first paragraph, immediately after Enemy Forces. Friendly forces are discussed in terms of the next higher unit, units to the right and left on the battlefield and units providing tactical fire support.

The Next Higher Unit

The term 'next' higher unit, assumes you are assigned to a combat unit. For believers, that should mean that we are serving in fellowship with other believers, at the place where God has called (assigned) us to serve. If you are in a small group, that is part of a local church or military chapel, the 'next higher unit' could be that church or chapel. Ideally, there is a shared vision for lost souls. - the church for the community it serves; the small group for the neighborhood, workplace, school, etc.

Units to the Left, Right, Front and Rear

Adjacent units could be other local churches, chapels, even other small groups. Ideally they share the same evangelistic vision, but sadly, some might not. We can look around any community (civilian or military) and see varying degrees of unity of vision/mission, and in some cases a total lack of any semblance of unity to the outside observer.

Units Providing Fire Support

Fire support units do just that - provide fire support for combat units on the battlefield. In the war for souls, 'fire support' means prayer. Units providing prayer support range from individual prayer warriors to prayer teams meeting together in homes and churches to even larger 'units' like CMF members across the globe who use the CMF Printed and/or Electronic Battle Plan (EBP) to provide specific 'fire support' for specific needs.

"Friendly Forces" in the battle for souls should  mean the united body of all believers in Christ. That believers (at just about any level you can think of) are not as united as they should be is self-evident to any mildly discerning mind. That unity of believers was a serious matter to our Lord while He walked the earth is also evident in His prayer for the unity of believers in the high-priestly prayer of Jesus found in the book of John (emphasis mine).

Praying for the disciples with whom he walked Jesus prayed:

16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy (sanctify them) by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. (NLT)

Then praying for those who would believe in Him (friendly forces) throughout time, He prayed:

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. (NLT)

I have never been anywhere, in at least dozen countries, where I didn't find friendly forces, whether that was simply other believers or established fellowship groups, chapels or local churches. I've made it a priority to identify, contact and partner with them. As you do the same, remember that you are on the list of other believers' 'friendly forces'.

B4B