Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

were required to carry these 12 rules along with the Rules of
Engagement at all times. I posted these rules in the
battalion headquarters for families to read and constantly
referred to the words throughout the deployment.
Task Force 4-29 Field Artillery
TWELVE RULES
1. WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER—WRITE HOME.
2. THE SERGEANT IS IN CHARGE WITH IRON DISCIPLINE.
3. BUDDY SYSTEM—2-MAN CONTROL.
4. PMCS TO STANDARD EVERY DAY.
5. CLEAN WEAPONS DAILY.
6. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
7. NEVER ALLOW AN ATROCITY TO HAPPEN.
8. LIVE BY THE ROE.
9. WHEN IN DOUBT, DIG—USE THE DIRT.
10. VEHICLES MOVE IN 4s.
11. CHANGE AND CLEAN SOCKS DAILY.
12. FAMILIES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE—SUPPORT IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
Figure 5. Troop Rules.
One of our major concerns in preparation for the
deployment was force protection. Because we planned to
employ howitzer platoons in a firebase configuration rather
than in an aggressive shoot, move, and communicate mode,
there was much concern for troop safety. My troops were not
trained to fight from a permanent static site. Mechanized
artillery seldom sits in one place for a long time. We worked
this painful issue at the CMTC and relearned numerous
valuable lessons often overlooked in mechanized warfare
(e.g., digging-in, self-security). My officers went “back to
school” and studied to see how the artillery conducted
business in Vietnam. They examined the current state of
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