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

• Pursue after-work outlets for your soldiers. Pent-up
frustrations are best released in sports competition or
recreational activities.
• Plan on having to use the palletized load system (PLS)
trucks for every mission outside the prescribed one.
My 18 PLS trucks virtually hauled the entire Division
from Germany to Bosnia and back. My drivers and
young sergeants were worn out and seldom provided a
break. Keep track of these soldiers, or you will lose
them to the system. Maintain positive control of the
PLS flat racks.
• Supply accountability continues even in a peace
enforcement environment. Monthly inventories and
twice daily serial number accountability checks are a
necessity.
• Keep an eye on discretionary funds. We discovered in
the 1st Armored Division that soldiers were ordering
all sorts of “nice to have” things such as knives,
thermos bottles, and watches. Do not let this happen.
It turns out that the order descriptors (DNSN) for
these items were listed in an issue of PS: Preventive
Maintenance Monthly, and troops from all units
attempted to take advantage of the tempting but
ill-advised situation.
• Ensure the FA Battalion tactical operations center
(TOC) is in charge of all fire support related missions.
For us, this meant my TOC conducted nightly
rehearsals of each maneuver battalion task force fire
support plan and the employment of FA in support of
ground operations. This served command and control
well and kept the battalion fire support officers in the
loop. I also employed the TOC to track all vehicle
movement in sector, much as a taxi cab dispatcher
operates. I would not allow any vehicle of mine to
move without positive FM radio contact with the TOC
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