1/A-CO, 1-2IN - Alpha Company, First Platoon

After action report

Objectives:

Move to town of Tin Daoulne to obtain intel on location of lost MQ-9 drone, find drone crash site, retrieve drone's black box and 2x Paveway II missiles, and utilize black box data to locate and destroy enemy AA/AAA positions.

Accidents:

1x WIA

Areas of Strength:

Platoon Assault: Upon hostile contact, Widowmakers cleared the town of Tin Daoulne, moving onto the objective quickly; Squad maintained a security cordon and supported each other's movements into the town; and in spite of a large enemy force and large IED, Soldiers took few casualties in the assault. React to Fire: Squads quickly suppressed hostile contacts from covered positions, allowing maneuver to counterattack and destroy numerous enemy infantry, vehicles, and crew served weapons. Communications: Squad Leaders coordinated movements, PID of targets, sector clearance, and casualty care with good effect throughout both phases; and elements at all levels of the Platoon passed mission-critical information up and down very quickly, thereby continually adapting as the mission developed.

Areas of Weakness:

Formations: Squads showed some difficulties maintaining formations on the move; ensure Soldiers know their spacing intervals (10m when safe, and minimum 20m when contact is expected) and keep their positions in the formation; this ensure better defense against IDF and allows your Soldiers to get fires on targets more quickly! 360° security: Soldiers must continually scan their sectors of fire for contacts during movement and holds; letting our guard down allows enemies to move up closer undetected, which results in more casualties; keep your eyes open, and if you don't know where to look, ask your combat supervisor. Time: First Platoon must decrease its time to movement, from mission start to end; leaders should utilize radio and direct comms to organize and mobilize Soldiers immediately upon receiving orders to move; set and enforce goals, e.g. dismounted Squad in static position mounted back into Stryker in 2 Mikes or less from time of order; and practice in Squad Drills!

Suggested Improvements:

First Platoon will drill on more effective use of time, as well as formations and security. Platoon leadership will attend Squad Drills to ensure Soldiers have the resources needed to hone their skills in these areas.

Overall Outcome:

Positive

Summary:

First Platoon conducted an air mobile insertion at Camp Silver Dagger and dug in while awaiting additional Strykers from the drone base. With their vehicles, Widowmakers moved north to the town of Tin Daoulne, establishing positions south and north east of the town. Acting PL took a fireteam into the town to speak with a local militant official and obtain information on the location of a downed MQ-9 drone. Negotiations broke down, and militants attacked our element.

At that point, Widowmakers initiated a platoon assault on the town, clearing it from east to west, with Squads attacking parallel to each other on each side of the center street. Several Soldiers were KIA in the initial firefight and a subsequent massive IED explosion, which demolished two large buildings. However, the Platoon secured the area and obtained intel on the drone crash site location from a willing civilian.

First Platoon continued north engaging contacts en route to the crash site. At the drone location, Squads established all around security, engaging numerous EI. Platoon HQ successfully retrieved the drone black box and uploaded its contents to the airbase. This data revealed the location of several AA/AAA sites and a radar tower. However, the 2x Paveway II missiles had been extracted from the drone. Platoon leadership formulated a plan of attack and initiated movement further north to attack these new targets.

Widowmakers moved to PL Bravo; from there we attacked west, clearing the first sector of AA emplacements. At PL Charlie, we continued pushing west, clearing the second sector very quickly. All enemy contacts were destroyed. With casualties light, the Platoon expeditiously returned to Camp Silver Dagger for debrief. The mission started at 1500 and ended at 1800. Mission was COMPLETED.

Annex A.1

Annex A.2