A technique facilitates actuation of a packer to a sealing and gripping position along a borehole. The packer includes a packer element structure mounted about a center structure. The packer element structure includes a sealing element mounted along an expandable base such that the sealing element may be radially expanded. Additionally, the packer includes an actuator member connected to a portion of the packer element structure via a release mechanism, e.g. a shear member. A plurality of slips may be located on the actuator member such that linear movement of the actuator member causes successive movement of the packer sealing element and then the slips in the radially outward direction. The packer may be constructed such that this sequential setting motion creates a jarring effect to ensure the slips securely bite into the surrounding wellbore surface, e.g. casing surface.