Platoon and Company Command Teams - UNITAF Force Manual (FM)

FM/G402 - Platoon and Company Command Teams

Guide

FM/BG-1873 - Platoon Sergeant's Running Estimate

Guide

The Platoon Sergeant should maintain a continuous assessment of the platoon's status to support decision-making, sustainment and command continuity.

The running estimate should include:

Personnel accountability
Casualties and medical capability
Ammunition status
Vehicle and equipment status
Combat effectiveness of subordinate elements
Current and anticipated sustainment requirements
Recovery requirements
Information required by the Platoon Leader or higher command

Skill

FM/BS-1874 - Coordinate Platoon Sustainment

Skill

Coordinate sustainment activities required to maintain platoon effectiveness.

Identify current and anticipated sustainment requirements.
Communicate the sustainment needs of the platoon.
Coordinate resupply, recovery and casualty evacuation activities.
Establish timings and locations for support assets.
Deconflict sustainment activity with tactical operations.
Monitor progress and report sustainment status to the Platoon Leader or higher commander.

Guide

FM/BG-1875 - Platoon Command Team Division of Work

Guide

The Platoon Leader or Platoon Commander will normally focus on:

The tactical plan
Manoeuvre and control measures
Coordination with higher and adjacent elements
Supporting fires
Current and future decisions

The Platoon Sergeant will normally focus on:

Accountability
Casualties and medical coordination
Coordinating supplies and resupply
Vehicle and equipment status
Recovery and reorganisation
Consolidating subordinate reports

Responsibilities may shift with the situation, but both leaders should maintain enough shared understanding to assume the other’s duties.

Guide

FM/BG-1876 - Company Command Focus

Guide

Company command operates at a broader level than platoon command. The Company Commander should focus on platoon tasks, operational sequencing, support priorities and the next phase of the operation.

The Company Commander should monitor:

Platoon progress and combat effectiveness
The main effort
Reserve availability
Adjacent and supporting elements
Fires and aviation
Medical and logistical capacity
Threats to the overall operation
Follow-on objectives and transitions

The Company Commander should not routinely direct fireteams, individual vehicles or individual members.

Skill

FM/BS-1877 - Consolidate Subordinate Reports

Skill

Combine reports from subordinate elements to assess platoon or company-level capability.

Request SITREPs, ACE Reports or CASREPs as required.
Combine reports into a platoon- or company-level assessment.
Record significant locations, activities and changes in capability.
Combine ammunition and equipment shortages.
Total casualties without duplicating reports.
Identify combat-ineffective or unsupported elements.
Prioritise medical, logistical and reinforcement requirements.
Pass information relevant to decisions or support.

Existing SITREP, ACE Report and CASREP formats should be used when requesting or passing the underlying reports.

Skill

FM/BS-1878 - Coordinate Multiple Platoons

Skill

Coordinate multiple platoons and supporting elements to achieve a company objective.

Assign each platoon a task and purpose.
Establish boundaries, objectives and control measures.
Designate the main and supporting efforts.
Sequence platoon actions.
Coordinate boundaries, gaps and link-up points.
Allocate supporting assets.
Monitor platoon progress and capability.
Adjust tasks and priorities as required.
Preserve company cohesion and freedom of action.