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

After action report

Objectives:

Convoy to Walada (OBJ Donkey) to relieve BLUFOR platoon and secure town; then move to OBJ Goose to locate and destroy 2x BM-21 rocket launchers and any AA and comms equipment in the area; and return to CP Sentinel to secure post against GSIM attack.

Accidents:

NSTR.

Areas of Strength:

Convoy Operations: Platoon and Squad elements formed up quickly, conducted radio checks, and were OM quickly; Vehicle drivers and TCs maintained excellent comms during movement, including relaying reports and coordinating deviations to the route planned; and Drivers kept moving out of the killzone while TCs suppressed enemy locations. Communications: Squad Leaders and their 2ICs provided excellent comms to PL and PSG throughout the patrol, keeping leaders abreast of crucial developments; and Squads used radios to coordinate movement to and suppression of the enemy, multiplying their respective elements' capabilities. Movement: Squads and Fireteams using SOP formations and movement techniques to cover ground and close with the enemy; Widowmaker elements employed SBF and bounding to maneuver through dangerous terrain; and Soldiers moved with purpose, improving overall speed over recent missions.

Areas of Weakness:

Contact Reports: Soldiers in contact must immediately report to higher in order to pass Contact Reports up the CoC; remember your lesson on Contact Reports from OSUT, that is use the "3 Ds" (Direction, Distance, Description) to relay crucial details to all other elements in the area; and Squad Leaders, make sure Platoon elements receive these reports quickly! Fire Discipline: Vehicle gunners and others must hold fire unless in contact or ordered by their combat supervisor to do otherwise; testing or zeroing weapons in the field poses a hazard to other Soldiers, allies, independent forces, and noncombatants; and unnecessary gunfire gives away your element's position, attracting unwanted attention. Call for CAS: Widowmaker elements must request and employ CAS cautiously, calculating the costs and benefits of ground-to-air fire(s) on everyone involved (especially danger close); and Callers must use the right tool for the job, employing assets appropriately against individual targets.

Suggested Improvements:

First Platoon will train further on Contact Reports, including field training and mission briefs. Platoon HQ will also monitor weapons safety and fire discipline more closely, identifying problems when or even before they occur and teaching Soldiers best practices in weapons handling. In addition, Platoon HQ has updated Widowmakers SOP for CAS calls, routing all requests through the PL or PSG for approval.

Overall Outcome:

Positive

Summary:

First Platoon formed up at FOB Dr. Jones and moved to the airbase. First Squad mounted a MH-60 and the rest of the Platoon and MAJ LaFlash mounted a CH-47. Each element inserted on the southern perimeter of Marwey with incident. From there, we recovered our Strykers an began convoying south of CP Sentinel. Taking the southern most of two parallel north-south roads, the convoy encountered 2x IED in the roadway, as well as an ambush by at least a squad-sized element firing small arms and RPGs. Although several Soldiers took light wounds in the contact, all vehicles moved out of the killzone and continued with the patrol.

Reaching PL Alpha on the northern outskirts of Walada (OBJ Donkey), where the friendly BLUFOR platoon was under fire in the village. Widowmakers moved to their respective positions on the phaseline, taking contact from GSIM forces in and around the objective. With Spartans in overwatch, Scorpions, Ghosts, and Phoenix formed a pincer and began clearing their respective sectors, eliminating infantry, an HMG technical, and a BTR. Once OBJ Donkey was secure, the Platoon continued south to PL Bravo.

At this point, First Platoon began taking accurate HMG fire from a bunker on the south side of the stream, pinning down several squads. Ghosts pushed across the stream and flanked the bunker on the west, laying down accurate fires and eliminating the enemy contacts. However, an enemy T-72 counter attacked during bunker clearance. Ghosts and Spartans hit the tank with AT4 and MAAWS fires, destroying it in a matter of seconds.

All Widowmakers began moving south into OBJ Goose, where we took fire from a fortified GSIM HQ encampment within 200m of PL Charlie.. With each Squad assigned a sector to sweep, Scorpions began clearing the HQ on the east, locating and destroying an ammo cache and a satellite communications system. At the same time, other Widowmaker elements continue movement south into the heart of the objective area. Ghosts, Spartans, and Phoenix came into several contacts, including an enemy BM-21 emplacement.

With an intense firefight ensuing, Scorpions continued moving south to support the Platoon, and cutting off an enemy squad en route to the BM-21 site. Here, Fox called CAS on the BM-21, which quickly destroyed the vehicle. The subsequent cookoff destroyed the entire enemy position, eliminating the bulk of surviving contacts. At the same time, Company received a radio call from CP Sentinel, which was in contact and was under threat of being overrun.

First Platoon was ordered to relieve CP Sentinel and began moving north back to our Strykers. At the DM, additional assistance was requested from 3CAB, which had lost a Blackhawk to enemy ground fire. Scorpions and PSG quickly mounted up and moved to the crash site, securing the pilots and airframe, and eliminating several contacts approaching the location. With First Squad providing security, the pilots were able to conduct repairs and return the bird to service.

Widowmakers continued moving north to CP Sentinel, taking heavy contact from the GSIM attacking forces just south of Marwey. Establishing 360° security and digging in, we eliminated several waves of attacks. Once the repaired Blackhawk was in the air, a CH-47 returned, and First Platoon exfilled for RTB. The mission started at 1500 and ended at 1700. Mission was COMPLETED.

Annex A.1