551-721-3348 - Perform Duties of a Serial March Unit Commander

551-721-3348

NOTICE:

CONDITIONS

You are required to perform
duties as a serial/march unit commander. Given a briefing by the convoy
commander, unit Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), a route map, and a minimum
of 20 vehicles.

STANDARDS

You must enforce correct
communication and driving procedures to prevent damage to vehicles, equipment,
or physical surroundings, and without causing injury to personnel.

TRAINING AND EVALUATION

Training Information Outline

1. Perform pre-departure checks/duties.

a. Check to see that
before-operations checks have been performed.

(1) Check air hose
couplings for proper connection and leakage.

(2) Check oil and
lubrication levels.

(3) Check cooling
systems for proper coolant level and leakage.

(4) Check brakes.

(5) Check tires for
cuts and general condition.

(6) Check batteries
for obvious defect, such as cracked case, burnt, broken or loose battery
terminals.

b. Check lineup of
vehicles.

(1) Ensure march
columns, regardless of size, have three parts. A head is the first task vehicle
of the column in the order of march.

(2) Ensure the main
body of the column follows immediately after the first task vehicle.

(3) Ensure the trail
is the last element of the march column.

c. Check to see that
vehicles are properly marked.

(1) Place a blue flag
on the front of the first task vehicle.

(2) Place a green
flag on the rear vehicle.

(3) Place a black and
white flag on the convoy commander or serial commander vehicle.

(4) Place a "convoy
follows" sign on the front of the first task vehicle.

(5) Place a "convoy
ahead" sign on the rear of the last vehicle.

(6) Place a "convoy
commander" sign on the front and rear of the convoy commander’s vehicle.

d. Select pacesetter.

(1) This is normally
an officer or senior noncommissioned officer (SNCO) at the head to ensure that
the column is following the proper route.

(2) The pacesetter
rides in the first vehicle and sets the pace necessary to meet the travel
schedule.

(3) This officer or
SNCO also checks at scheduled points and receives orders or changes in orders.

e. Check weapons on
the vehicles to make sure they are operational.

(1) Correct existing
minor deficiencies on the spot.

(2) If major
deficiencies exist, have the weapon and vehicle returned to the parent unit an_
request an operational replacement.

f. Check to ensure
that the sandbags are installed correctly on the floor of the troop-carrying
vehicles and on the cab floors of all vehicles.

(1) Cover the floors
of troop-carrying vehicles with at least a double interlocking layer of
sandbags.

(2) Cover the cab
floors of all vehicles with a double layer of sandbags under the driver’s seat.

g. Check the cargo to
ensure it is secured and covered correctly.

(1) Cover the cargo
to protect it from being damaged by prevailing weather conditions.

(2) Cover the cargo
if necessary to deny intelligence information while providing protection from
elements.

h. Brief the drivers
on the rules of the road, traffic laws and regulations, speed limits, time and
distance gaps, routing plans, review schedules, and march discipline.

i. Give the
signal/order to start engine.

j. Give the
signal/order to move out.

2. Enforce the correct driving procedures while
the convoy is underway.

3. Instruct drivers at halt checks/duties.

a. Inform the drivers
of details at halts.

(1) Time, duration,
and purpose of convoy operations.

(2) Review the
location of convoy.

(3) Review the duties
of personnel during the convoy.

b. Control activities
of the drivers.

(1) Tell the drivers
to inspect their vehicles and loads.

(2) Tell the drivers
to perform at-halt maintenance.

c. Check to see that
the drivers are performing during operational checks.

(1) Tell the drivers
to perform necessary during operation checks using the appropriate -10 manual.

(2) Tell the drivers
to check for and have items repaired, fill fluid levels or adjust drive belts or
other items.

d. Check the security
of the loads.

e. Check to see that
the area is policed before moving out.

f. Give the
signal/order to reform and start engines.

g. Give the
signal/order to move out.

4. Perform all required checks/duties at the
release point.

a. Update the drivers
on additional orders/instructions from the convoy commander.

(1) Instruct the
drivers to comply with the SOP in dispersing their vehicles.

(2) Inform the
drivers of the time and place to assemble for the return trip.

b. Check to see that
after-operation checks are performed.

(1) Tell the drivers
to perform necessary after-operational checks using the appropriate -10 manual.

(2) Tell the drivers
to check for and have repaired all discrepancies found, fill fluid levels, or
adjust drive belts or other items.

c. Recommend
disciplinary action for those drivers who violated driving rules during the
convoy operation.

d. Dismiss drivers.

Evaluation Preparation

Setup:
Evaluate this task during a field training exercise or normal training session.
Brief Airmen: Tell the airman he will be evaluated on his ability to properly
perform duties as a serial/march unit commander.

Evaluation Guide

Feedback

Score personnel GO if all steps are passed.
Score personnel NO-GO if any step is failed. If personnel fail any step, show
what was done wrong and how to do it correctly.

REFERENCE