TDGThe Company LeaderLeadership Lessons from the Tactical Level of War

Comms Down

The Company Leader TDG 19-08

IBCT PLT Attack

TDG

The Company LeaderLeadership Lessons from the Tactical Level of War

Comms Down

20

It’s dark and humid; sweat drips down your face as you collect your thoughts and reach for your RTO. Your platoon landed at the proper DZ; your squad leaders and platoon sergeant are establishing security. But for the last 15 minutes you haven’t been able to reach anyone on the radio. Comms are down, and you and your platoon are behind enemy lines with just the equipment you jumped-in. “Sir, 100% accountability confirmed and security is set. We have to start moving; what’s the call?”

This is part of our Tactical Decision Game Series. There is no ONE right answer, but there are varying degrees of right and wrong. Feel free to post your answers in the comments, on Social Media, or submit to The Company Leader. For an aggregated list of TDGs click HERE. To subscribe to The Company Leader click HERE.

U.S. Army soldiers prepare to jump from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft during a forcible entry exercise over Fort Bragg, N.C., April 29, 2010. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson.

TDG

The Company LeaderLeadership Lessons from the Tactical Level of War

Comms DownSituationYou’re the platoon leader in B Co, 2-501st PIR, 1st BCT, 82nd Airborne Division. Your company’s mission is to jump into the drop zones (DZs) surrounding OBJ SPARROW and conduct a clearance operation. Your intelligence didn’t indicate an enemy anti-air capability was present on the ground. But on approach, your aircraft started taking small arms fire, but nothing more. You heard reports that your sister platoons, one of which had your CO HQs, were taking heavier fire. Just then it was time to jump. When you landed and consolidated at the rally point, you weren’t able to raise higher on the radio.

TDG

The Company LeaderLeadership Lessons from the Tactical Level of War

Comms Down

20

Enemy

The Sermanian Defense Force (SDF) invaded their neighboring sovereign nation, Erbyk. Erbyk is a prospering country whose economy is based on a mixture of agriculture in their rural areas and technology in their city centers. The Geronimo Battalion is supporting 1st ABCT, 3rd ID in this phase of the operation. Your battalion’s mission is to conduct an airborne envelopment, attacking to clear enemy AT threats along key lines of communication.

Battalion intelligence reports indicated a local radical group, the Sermanian Armed Front (SAF), had occupied defensive positions along the MSR running through your objective. They have small arms, PKMs, and AT weapons. They operate in 2-3 man teams with the ability to drop their weapons and disperse along multiple egress routes. However, they have high morale and will likely stand and fight.

This MSR is one of the few routes between US-Coalition held territory in the north and the major city center of Jome in the south. Jome, the Erbyk capital, is currently under SDF control.

TDG

The Company LeaderLeadership Lessons from the Tactical Level of War

Comms DownDecision PointIt's been an hour since your platoon jumped in and your original hit time was at H+3 from infiltration. Your commander planned a coordinated attack, with all three platoons initiating their clearance simultaneously. The commander split OBJ SPARROW into three sub-objectives. Your platoon was tasked with clearing OBJ SPARROW WEST. You were to maintain all fires to the south. You still cannot reach your sister platoons or higher headquarters. What are you going to do?

TDG

The Company LeaderLeadership Lessons from the Tactical Level of War

Comms DownOutput Required

You have 25 minutes; get with your Platoon Sergeant and Squad Leaders. Discuss the situation and the intent of the operation. Consider the enemy forces, the contingencies, and the ultimate perceived end-state of the operation. Use the operations graphic below to develop your plan. Prepare a brief FRAGORD.

A Few Leader Questions to Consider:

1. What is your mission and intent?2. What is the overall intent of this operation?3. What if you don’t establish communications with the other units prior to H+2?4. How will you initiate fires?5. What is your end-state?6. What is your implied follow-on task(s)?

TDG

The Company LeaderLeadership Lessons from the Tactical Level of War

Into the HillsMSR

MSR

N

DZ

OBJ

TDG

The Company LeaderLeadership Lessons from the Tactical Level of War

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