071-326-3013 (SL3) - Conduct a Tactical Road March
Standards: Within the time allowed in your warning order, planned, organized, and conducted a tactical road march from one point to an assembly area, and secured the assembly area.

1.  Control actions in assembly area.

a. Ensure quartering party NCO guides section/platoon into area.

b. Clear section/platoon release point quickly.

c. Ensure one man for each vehicle mans weapon, monitors radio, and observes vehicle sector.

d. Set up OPs.

e. Check primary positions and sectors; adjust if necessary.

f.  Camouflage positions.

g. Start rest plan.

h. Ensure range cards are prepared.

i.   Locate troop command post.

j.   Coordinate with flank elements.

k. Select and prepare alternate positions.

l.   Prepare the platoon fire plan, brief the vehicles commanders, and send a copy of the plan to troop commander.

m.   Ensure maintenance is performed.

n. Check personnel and equipment status; report to platoon leader/team/troop commander.

o. Resupply.

p. Check security.

2.   Plan sequence for a tactical road march.

a. Prepare and issue your warning order.

b. Prepare an estimate of the situation.

c. Organize and dispatch reconnaissance and quartering parties in accordance with unit SOP.

d. Prepare detailed movement plans.

(1)  Organize the march.

(2)  Review reconnaissance information.

e. Prepare and issue the complete march order.

3.   Issue the march order. The order includes—

a. Destination (map).

b. Route of march (map).

c. Location of start point (SP), critical points, and release point (map).

d. Start point time.

e. March interval (in meters).

f.  March speed.

g. Catch-up speed.

h. Time to leave present position.

i.   Order of march.

4.   Organize the march.

a. Ensure that march columns, regardless of size, are composed of three elements: head, main body, and trail.

(1)  The head is the first vehicle of the column and normally sets the pace.

(2)  The main body is made up of the major elements of column serials and march units.

(3)  The trail party follows the march column and includes personnel and equipment needed for emergency vehicle repair and recovery, medical aid and evaluation, and unscheduled refueling.

b. Ensure that vehicle commanders assign sectors of observation so there is 360-degree observation around their vehicles.  Each vehicle commander must designate an airguard to provide air security.

5.   Control the march.

a. Follow the route specified in the warning order.

b. Enter the route of march at the SP.

c. Adjust the march at critical points if movement is slow or difficult or where vehicles may lose their way.

d. Release sections to their mission responsibilities.

e. Ensure march speed and catch-up speeds are specified in the  warning order.

f.  Maintain the order of march. This includes order of squads in the column and vehicles in the section.

g. Maintain the march interval.

h. Close the column intervals during periods of limited visibility.

i.   Open the column during periods of good visibility.

6.   Control actions at halts.

a. Establish security off-road (when possible).

b. Man weapons and radio on each vehicle; ensure each vehicle sector is observed.

c. Maintain air guard.

d. Dismount OP if visibility is poor.

e. Post guides to help other traffic pass.

f.  Determine cause of halt (if unscheduled).

g. Eliminate cause of halt.

h. Report status to platoon leader/troop commander.

i.   Perform maintenance at scheduled halts.

1.   Conducted each step in the planning sequence for a tactical road march.

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2.   Ensured all actions in the assembly area were performed.

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3.   Issued the march order in its entirety.

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4.   Identified two of the three elements of the march columns.

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5.   Organized the march.

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6.   Ensured all actions at halts were performed.

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FM 7-7

FM 17-95

FM 3-21.71

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