FM/C100 - Leadership - Leadership basics

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The FM outlines our core skills, policies and guides to ensure every member stands ready for the mission ahead.

Leaders must prioritize their own survival, especially at higher command levels. Reckless behaviour risks the mission and the lives of subordinates. Your strongest weapon is your team—lead from safety to keep them effective.

Leaders of all levels must know the responsibilities of the leader above and below them. This ensures continuity of command in case of casualties and allows for better coordination and assumption of duties when required.

Leaders must keep orders simple and concise. Clear, direct communication reduces confusion, especially in high-stress combat situations. Avoid long, complex instructions. Brevity improves understanding and execution.

Leaders must make timely decisions, even under pressure. A good decision made quickly is better than a perfect one made too late. Decisiveness drives momentum and avoids paralysis in dynamic situations.

Leaders must assign tasks directly to individuals or elements. Vague orders like “someone needs to...” cause confusion. Use names, colour codes, or callsigns to ensure accountability and rapid task execution.

Leaders must avoid micromanaging. Provide clear intent and objectives but leave the execution method to sub-leaders. Tactical flexibility is vital at lower levels and should not be constrained unnecessarily.

Leaders must allow situations to develop before acting. Premature decisions can misallocate forces or compromise positioning. Wait for key indicators and act with informed intent.

Leaders must act independently when needed, in alignment with the commander’s intent. This builds trust across the chain of command and allows rapid adaptation when communications are limited.

Leaders should take notes using pen and paper. This supports recall of mission details such as ROE, timings, objectives, or observations both during execution and for post-mission review and commendations.

Read the operation order beforehand and take notes. Actively listen, ask clarifying questions, and avoid assumptions. Conduct a "read back" of your understanding to confirm alignment with intent. Stay focused and minimise distractions to ensure full situational awareness.

Platoon and squad leaders must repeat mission details clearly to subordinates. Clarify roles, responsibilities, and expected actions, including contingencies and coordination methods (e.g., coloured smoke for marking). Emphasise ROE, especially around friendly aircraft and enemy vehicles. Allow questions and ensure all understand the plan before mission start.

A command brief starts with accountability, ensure all element leaders are present. Begin with orientation, followed by a simplified rephrasing of the mission, then provide the Commander's Intent. Pass detailed assignments to each element using verbal SMEAC structure. End with a Q&A and instruct subordinates to brief their elements and report readiness.

Leaders must issue verbal briefings clearly and concisely. Begin by identifying yourself and ensuring your audience is focused. Use precise, unambiguous language. Set clear, measurable goals and communicate your Commander's Intent. Confirm that subordinates understand their orders and allow time for questions or clarification. Whenever practical, deliver orders while physically orienting subordinates to the terrain to ensure shared understanding.

When leadership casualties occur, others must step up. Every player should understand the roles one level above and below them to ensure leadership continuity when necessary.

Seniority Hierarchy: CoyCo → PltCo → PltSgt → 1SL/2SL/3SL → 1:1/2:1/3:1 FTLs → Most senior member

If your Fireteam Leader is killed or incapacitated, take these steps:

Announce: Declare on comms that you're taking command.

Act: Choose one:

• Continue the previous order
• Request new orders from SL
• Exercise disciplined initiative aligned with the squad intent

If your Squad Leader is killed or incapacitated, take these steps:

• Announce: Notify the squad on the net that you’re taking command.
• Respond: Either:
  • Continue the current mission
  • Go firm to reassess if tactical situation permits
• Report: Notify PltCo. Request CASREPs from teams.
• Assess: Determine combat effectiveness.
• Execute: Continue or adjust plan per PltCo’s intent.

If your Platoon Commander is killed, take these steps:

• Announce: Declare on command net that you’ve taken over.
• Decide: Continue the mission or go firm to assess.
• Delegate: Appoint a new SL to replace your previous role.
• Report: Gather CASREPs/SITREPs from SLs and assess.
• Command: Issue new orders aligned with the original intent.

A unit is combat ineffective if it cannot fulfill its mission or typical tasks. Common causes include:

• Loss of leadership
• Heavy casualties (KIA/WIA)
• Lack of weapons/ammo

Indicators include:

• Lack of movement or cohesion
• Silence or no response to orders
• Absence of return fire
• Numerous KIAs/WIAs
• Unit reduced to a small fraction of its size

If a callsign is not answering you, try to reach them for a total of three times with several seconds passing in between. Each additional time they may add the information that they haven’t received anything, to make other stations aware of it.

If the suspected station is your superior you may assume that they may be incapacitated and/or killed and the next station in the Chain of Command needs to take command in their place.

Example

This example will cover a squad net on channel 250 consisting of Outlaw 1-0, 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3. 1-2 is trying to reach 1-0 without success: 

Trying to contact

1-2: Actual, this is 2.

1-0: (1-0 is not responding so after a couple of seconds 1-2 tries again)

1-2: Actual, this is 2, nothing heard.

1-0: (1-0 is not responding so after a couple of seconds 1-2 tries for the last time)

1-2: Actual, this is 2, nothing heard OUT.

1-0: (1-0 is not responding so 1-1 needs to take command)

 

Succession of command

1-2: 1, this is 2.

1-1: 2 this is 1.

1-2: You need to take command.

1-1: This is 1, taking command..

Leaders must preserve combat power by consolidating forces:

Steps to merge elements:

1. Identify suitable element to merge into.
2. Join the appropriate comms channel.
3. Report status to new leader.
4. Link up with the element if feasible.
5. Merge using ACE interaction or as directed.
6. Prompt, confident action in these moments preserves operational effectiveness.