FMI 3-34.119 - Soldier Support Institute - U.S. Army

Appendix E• Rule 3. Know how to react to threat situations.• Rule 4. Know where help is.• Rule 5. Know how to ask for help.E-3. There are three types of convoys and different reasons why the enemy would hit them. They are―• Long haul (replacement forces). The enemy wants to initiate contact and try to get into yourdecision cycle first.• General support. These are huge convoys carrying food, water, and numerous pilferable itemsthat the enemy would like to capture for financial gain.• Local (brigade support area to the unit). The enemy will try to capture equipment, slow downresupply operations (which slows down combat operations), and possibly continue to try andintimidate you to leave.E-4. Every convoy should be treated as a combat operation. Units must follow or develop tactical convoySOPs. Before conducting convoy operations, units must consider the following:• Predictability. Do not set patterns. (Patterns are killing Soldiers and Marines. Developingpatterns gives the enemy what he is looking for―a time and a place).• Contingency plans. Ensure that contingency plans cover anything that can happen. Rememberthat what works in peacetime may not work in war. Cover, at a minimum, procedures for―• Vehicle preparation, vehicle hardening, gear preparation, maps/smart packs, load sheets.• A wreck, a flat tire, a stalled vehicle, a damaged vehicle, and so forth. Plan for selfrecovery,to include alternate towing options (tow bars, tow straps, locally fabricatedchains). Rehearse vehicle recovery. Attempt to have run flat tires and rims on all wheeledvehicles.• Debris removal.• Crowd control. (Crowds quickly gather around disabled vehicles and accidents. They canloot cargo and remove or strip the vehicles.)• Escalation of force procedures.• Encountering a sniper (with or without casualties).• IEDs (predetonation and postdetonation). Decide whether to stop the convoy or continuemoving if an IED is located. (This will depend on if the IED was seen before the convoyentered through the kill zone or if the convoy was hit and the extent of vehicle damage.)• Troop-leading procedures and comprehensive rehearsals. Execute TLP and comprehensiverehearsals. (Commanders should ensure convoys are organized to fight at all times. Convoysmust rehearse reaction drills frequently in order to be able to fight as a cohesive team.)• Communications. Ensure that―• A good communications plan for the convoy exists.• Every vehicle can communicate via a common method. (Have a backup communicationsmethod.) In dead zones (which can cover several miles), have a plan in case the convoy getshit in one of those areas.• Everyone knows the combat network (COMNET) identification changes while movingthrough unit zones.• Everyone knows the frequencies for MEDEVAC and how to call them in.• Everyone knows how to call for fire and close air support (CAS).• Medical considerations. Ensure that―• A plan for medical attention exists.• Everyone is trained on basic first aid.• Combat lifesavers (CLSs) or medics are in the convoy and their location is known by all.• Everyone knows the location of aid bags.• Aid bags are stocked.E-2 FMI 3-34.119/MCIP 3-17.01 21 September 2005