Platoon Sergeant

The Platoon Sergeant

The Platoon Sergeant is an underutilized role within the Platoon Headquarters Group largely due to its poorly elucidated responsibilities.

Platoon Sergeant Guidelines

• Assist with the planning phase of your platoon's operation. Be intimately familiar with it.
  • Consider the best positions and fields of fire for supporting assets based upon the Platoon Leader's intent.
  • Ask questions to clarify the intent for the better of the leadership in the mission.
  • Ensure the Platoon Leader understands their role, encourage them, and be helpful if they are new to the position. Do not do their job for them or try and prevent their mistakes.
• Take command of vehicle groups, such as convoys, or armor, mech. motor. support. You will remain mounted while the Platoon Leader is dismounted, thus distributing the command's ability to observe and control.
  • You will ensure the platoon HQ is loaded in convoy and will position assets where they are most effective within the PL's intent.
  • You will ensure the Platoon is loaded during convoy operations and set their speed, interval, and halts.
• Direct supporting assets so the Platoon Leader can focus on fulfilling the mission with infantry squads.
  • Logistics, vehicle, but NOT air, should fall under your purview.
  • Direct resupply, casualty evacuations, and any other form of sustainment.
  • Liaison with the forward observer, forward air controller, and weapons squad leader to validate they are being employed to support the platoon and one another.
• Take command of the Platoon when called upon.
  • Command squads to "go firm," or if required, break contact and rendezvous.
  • Rapidly draw a plan to continue the mission following the original intent.
  • Issue orders and position yourself to observe your squad leaders actions.
• Direct prisoner transport.

Misuse of the Platoon Sergeant

• Delegating vehicle, crew-served, or indirect fire weapons.
• Overlapping responsibilities of FO, FAC, or WPN Squad Leader when those slots are occupied.
• Remaining at spawn with logistics or other sustainment roles.