551-721-4326 (SL4) - Perform Duties as Convoy Commander

1.   Start initial planning steps.

a.
Alert unit operation.

b.
Review operation order.

(1) 
Determine the number of
vehicles needed.

(2) 
Break columns down into
manageable groups of 20 vehicles
or less.

(3) 
Determine requirements
needed for given situation.

(4) 
Divide march column in
three parts: head, main body, and
trail.

(a)  
Head-the first task
vehicle or pacesetter.

(b)  
Main Body-troop
carrying, equipment and/or
supply vehicles.

(c)  
Trail-wrecker,
maintenance and medical support
vehicles/teams. Trail
officer/noncommissioned officer
is responsible for maintenance
and medical support.

2.   Schedule convoy commander’s briefing with the
battalion operations officer (S3).

a.
Determine which unit will
provide security.

b.
Find out who will be the
security elements commander.

c.
Discuss any topic not
covered or not clear.

d.
Discuss the threat to
include target acquisition and
intelligence that may impact on
convoy success.

3.   Commander’s briefing.

a.
Take notes.

b.
Update maps, if
appropriate.

4.   Prepare convoy commander’s checklist. 
Items supervisors and drivers
need to be briefed-

(a)  
Rules of the road.

(b)  
Traffic laws or
regulations.

(c)  
Speed limits.

(d)  
Time and distance gaps.

(e)  
Routing plans.

(f)
Schedules.

(g)  
March discipline.

5.   Map
reconnaissance.

a.
Select tentative check
points or confirm already
established checkpoints.

b.
Contact those units whose
combat areas they will be passing
through, and find out about trouble
areas and ambush sites.

6.   Ground reconnaissance.

a.
Select sites for
scheduled halts, mess, and refueling
that will safely accommodate convoy
personnel and equipment.

b.
Select release point.

c.
Identify problem areas
along the route.

d.
Select a bypass or
alternate route.

7.   Review the reconnaissance map and make a final
selection.

8.   Give a copy of the map marked with all convoy
information to the battalion S3.

a.
Request convoy clearance
from the battalion S3.

b.
Request copy of movement
graphs from the battalion S3.

9.   Coordinate to obtain artillery support with the
artillery unit.

a.
Use information from the
security officer or obtained by
route reconnaissance to plan fire
support.

b.
Determine the type of
ammunition to be fired under various
conditions.

c.
Determine the number of
rounds to be fired at given targets.

d.
Determine the types of
targets that warrant fire missions.

10. Mark on the map the range limitations of each artillery unit.

11. Plan/coordinate with the escort and security elements (military
police units) for convoy security.

a.
Maintain noise and light
discipline.

b.
Maintain front, flank,
and rear security.

c.
Conduct security measures
during halts.

d.
Request air cover (as
required).

e.
Request fire support (as
required).

f. 
Maintain convoy
communication.

12. Direct the placement of guides and signs along the convoy
route.

a.
The authority in charge
of movement has responsibility for
placing guides and signs.

b.
Guides and signs can be
used to direct the convoy.

13. Brief/issue work assignments to subordinate elements.

14. Direct the operation section to prepare strip maps and/or
overlays (as required).

15. Prepare for vehicle movement.

a. Perform vehicle preventive
maintenance checks and services (PMCS).

(1) 
Perform before
operation PMCS using the
appropriate -10 level manual.

(2) 
Check for and have
items repaired, filled, or
adjusted as needed.

b.
Mark vehicles for the
convoy move.

(1) 
Place a "Convoy
Follows" sign on the first
task vehicle, below the windshield
in a conspicuous location.

(2) 
Place a "Convoy
Ahead" sign on the rear of
the last task vehicle.

(3) 
Identify the lead
vehicle with a 12- by 18-inch blue
flag on the left (driver’s) side.

(4) 
Identify the convoy
commander and the serial commander
with a 12- by 18-inch black and
white (divided diagonally) flag on
the left (driver’s) side.

(5) 
Identify the last
vehicle with a 12- by 18-inch
green flag on the left (driver’s)
side.

(6) 
Identify vehicles with
a convoy identification number.

(7) 
Ensure that all
vehicles are marked in accordance
with AR 55‑162.

c.
Establish convoy
communications.

(1) 
Radio is the best means
of communication during convoy.

(2) 
Remember radio signals
can be intercepted.

d.
Load cargo and equipment
onto vehicles/trailers or
semitrailers (as required).

e.
Assemble inspection area.

(1) 
Ensure the area is
large enough to accommodate
vehicles.

(2) 
Ensure that the
maintenance team in the assembly
area inspects vehicles.

(3) 
Ensure that all
personnel and equipment are
inspected in the assembly area.

16. Prepare the convoy
briefing on the following-

a.
Rules of the road.

b.
Traffic laws or
regulations.

c.
Speed limits.

d.
Time and distance gaps.

e.
Routing plans.

f. 
Schedules.

g.
March discipline.

17. Hand out strip maps and brief convoy personnel.

18. Give signal/order to start engines.

19. Give signal/order to move out.

20. Maintain organizational control by-

a.
Monitoring communication.

b.
Maintaining communication
with subordinate element commanders.

c.
Making on-the-spot
corrections.

d.
Informing subordinate
element commanders of control
infractions and ordering them to
take corrective actions.

21. Direct at-halt activities, monitor activities in progress, and
make on-the-spot corrections.

22. Give signal/order to reform and start engines.

23. Give signal/order to move out.

24. Direct the off-loading of cargo/equipment at the release point,
as required.

25. Inform higher headquarters of the convoy status.

26. Inform fire support unit(s) of the convoy status.

27. Evaluate task performance, noting personnel-

a.
To be acknowledged for
outstanding work performance.

b.
To be acknowledged for
substandard work performance and/or
scheduled for training.

28. Prepare convoy command’s report and give a copy to higher
headquarters.

1.   Started initial planning steps.

—

—

a.
Alerted unit operation.

b.
Reviewed
operation order.

2.   Scheduled convoy commander’s briefing with the
battalion S3 officer.

—

—

3.   Attended convoy commander’s briefing, took notes,
and updated maps.

—

—

4.   Prepared convoy commander’s checklist.

—

—

5.   Conducted a map reconnaissance to select and mark
routes/sites not dictated by higher
headquarters.

—

—

6.   Conducted a ground reconnaissance if time permitted
and noted on the map clearances of
overhead structures/obstacles; load
classifications; speed limits; and
rest, mess, and refueling sites that
would safely accommodate convoy
personnel and equipment.

—

—

7.   Reviewed reconnaissance map and made final
selection of primary and alternate
routes, and rest, mess, and refueling
areas.

—

—

8.   Gave a copy of the map with all convoy information
marked on it to the battalion S3 and
requested a clearance if not already
initiated. 
Also requested that the move be
plotted and a copy of the movement
graph be issued.

—

—

9.   Coordinated to obtain artillery support with
artillery unit.

—

—

10. Marked on the map the range limitations of each artillery unit.

—

—

11. Planned/coordinated with the escort and security elements
(military police units), security fire
support, air support, and convoy
communications needs.

—

—

12. Directed the placement of guides and signs along the convoy
route.

—

—

13. Issued work assignments to subordinate element commanders and
briefed them on performance standards
required.

—

—

14. Directed the operation section to prepare strip maps and/or
overlays (as required).

—

—

15. Prepared for vehicle movement.

—

—

a.
Performed vehicle PMCS.

b.
Marked
vehicles for convoy move.

(1) 
Placed "Convoy
Follows" sign on the first
task vehicle, below the windshield
in a conspicuous location.

(2) 
Placed "Convoy
Ahead" on the rear of the
last task vehicle.

(3) 
Identified the lead
vehicle with a 12- by 18-inch blue
flag on the left (driver’s) side.

(4) 
Identified convoy
commander and serial commander
with a 12- by 18-inch black and
white (divided diagonally) flag on
the left (driver’s) side.

(5) 
Identified the last
vehicle with a 12- by 18-inch
green flag on the left (driver’s)
side.

(6) 
Identified vehicles
with convoy identification number.

(7) 
Ensured that all
vehicles were marked in accordance
with AR 65-162.

c.
Established
convoy communications.

d.
Loaded
cargo and equipment onto vehicles/
trailers or semitrailers (as
required).

e.
Assembled
inspection area.

(1) 
Ensured that the
maintenance team in the assembly
area inspected vehicles.

(2) 
Ensured that all
personnel and equipment were
inspected in the assembly area.

16. Prepared the convoy
briefing.

—

—

17. Handed out strip maps and briefed convoy personnel on the
situation, mission, execution,
administration and logistics, and
safety.

—

—

18. Gave signal/order to start engines.

—

—

19. Gave signal/order to move out.

—

—

20. Maintained organizational control by-

—

—

a.
Monitoring communication.

b.
Maintaining
communication with subordinate
element commanders.

c.
Making
on-the-spot corrections.

d.
Informing
subordinate commanders of control
infractions and ordering them to
take corrective actions.

21. Directed at-halt
activities, monitored activities in
progress, and made on-the-spot
corrections.

—

—

22. Gave signal/order to reform and start engines.

—

—

23. Gave signal/order to move out.

—

—

24. Directed the off-loading of cargo/equipment at release point,
as required.

—

—

25. Informed higher headquarters of the convoy status.

—

—

26. Informed fire support unit(s) of the convoy status.

—

—

27. Evaluated task performance, noting personnel-

—

—

a.
To be acknowledged for
outstanding work performance.

b.
To
be acknowledged for substandard work
performance and/or scheduled for
training.

28. Prepared convoy
commander’s report and gave a copy to
higher headquarters.

—

—