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Present
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Excused
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Absent
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Present outside of combat unit
N/A
Objectives
Insert at Biri Noula to recover Strykers, patrol villages of Bora (OBJ Tora) and Biri Boula (OBJ Banzai), reinforce Malian friendly forces at Gohdi (OBJ Paiku), and destroy all GSIM and ISIS forces in the AO.
Accidents
NSTR.
Areas of Strength
Movement: First Platoon covered a lot of ground quickly, maintaining momentum and organization to engage enemy targets; Soldiers employed SOP for both mounted and dismounted maneuvers, bounding under suppression to close with enemy positions; and we utilized cover as available during movements.
React to Contact: Squads quickly made PID on enemy targets and set up base of fire and maneuver elements to engage them; and Fireteams worked closely to suppress hostiles and then flank or establish an alternate enfilading base of fire and destroy them.
CQB: Fireteams and Buddy Teams put Battle Drill 6. to work, demonstrating good techniques across the Platoon; Teams operated as one, stacking, flowing, and covering angles very effectively; and Squads used good comms when clearing adjacent sectors.
Areas of Weakness
Comms: Squad Leaders need to improve their Contact and ACE Reports on Platoon net; Providing these essential details of the battlefield to all Platoon elements empowers everyone to prepare for or react to the enemy, wherever he is; and Radio reports also aid planning for resupply, reinsert, and extract, among other things.
Stryker Security: Squads need to improve security around their vehicles during halts; Utilize natural cover and trenches, but don't box your vehicle in where an enemy RPG gunner can sneak up through other covered routes and fire at you up close; Keep your head on a swivel and protect those vics!
Suggested Improvements
First Platoon will continue to train on comms at the Platoon, Squad, and Fireteam levels. In addition, we will train on securing our vehicles, scanning for RPG gunners, and identifying likely avenues of enemy advance.
Mission Summary
First Platoon formed at FOB Iron Wall, where Platoon HQ conducted an inspection. There, we mounted onto 2x CH-47 and insertion to the friendly garrison at Biri Noula. Once on the ground, platoon elements secured their Strykers and moved west to patrol OBJ Tora. Expecting contact, Spartans established overwatch and confirmed hostiles in the village while the assault squads set up on Phaseline Alpha. From there, Widowmakers assaulted and cleared four sectors by squads, securing the objective.
However, Platoon HQ received an urgent request for assistance from friendly Malian forces holding OBJ Paiku, which was in danger of being overrun by ISIS militia. Widowmakers quickly mounted back up and moved expeditiously to the village of Gohdi. While setting up a hasty platoon assault on the west side of OBJ Paiku, Strykers came under RPG, ZU-23, and T-34 fires, disabling two of them. Once these targets were eliminated and security was set on our SBF positions, we commenced the assault. Again, Squads cleared the village by sectors. Phoenix was able to repair its Stryker after OBJ was secure.
From there, Widowmakers moved southeast toward OBJ Banzai. On the northeast outskirts of the village, the convoy took small arms and mortar contacts from an ISIS firebase, causing several severe casualties. An enemy T-34 also moved onto our position, but it was quickly neutralized by Spartans. With all elements on station suppressing the firebase, Ghosts assaulted and cleared the enemy position. The Platoon destroyed another incoming armor piece and pushed west into the village, clearing it block by block.
Widowmakers prepared for exfil and moved to LZ LaFontaine. First, Third, and Fourth Squads mounted a CH-47 while Fourth Squad waited for an MH-60. However, a column of ISIS technicals moved towards the LZ, at which Ghosts neutralized them. With the area secured, the rest of the Platoon exfiled for debrief at FOB Iron Wall. The mission started at 1500 and ended at 1730. Mission was COMPLETED.
Annex A.1
Overall Sentiment
POSITIVE