msr/csc

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CONVOY OPERATIONS (ADMIN)
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TASK Determine requirements for convoy
movements and conduct convoy operations.
CONDITION Given a class room environment
determine prior, current and post requirements
for convoy operations within a theater of
operation.
STANDARD Upon completion each individual will
have a working knowledge of the difficulties,
and restrictions involved in establishing convoy
operations.
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RESOURCE REFERENCES
REFERENCES FM 55 - 30 FM 55 - 10 SAFETY BOOK FM
5 - 36 FM 55 - 312
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PRE-TEST
1. What are the three types of road
classifications as determined by STANAG 2174?
A) 1,2,3 B) X,Y,Z C)Traffic,
oversized, limited
2. The green convoy flag goes on the lead
vehicle of a convoy. A) True B) False 3.
What is the largest element of a convoy? A)
march unit B) serial
C) column D) convoy commanders
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PRE-TEST
4. Who is responsible for the vehicles and
personnel of a convoy from SP to RP? A) company
commander B) squad leader C) plt sgt D) convoy
commander
5. How many different types of Convoy Support
Centers are there? A) five B) four C)
three D) two 6. What does the first two
numbers on a march credit stand for? A) number
of vehicles in the convoy B) date of the convoy
move C) hour of move
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PRE-TEST
7. What can cause a problem in a convoy?
___________________________________________
8. What is the time limit for a routine march
credit for standard vehicles? A) 5 days B) 10
days C) 7 days D) 2 days is fine 9.
What is the time limit for a routine march
credit for oversized/overweight vehicles? A)
7 days B) 3 weeks C) 10 days D) 1 month

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PRE-TEST
10. How many miles are there in a line haul? A)
20 MILES B) 95 MILES
C) 144 KM D) 90 MILES
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CONVOY DEFINITIONS
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CONVOY
A GROUP OF MOTOR VEHICLES ORGANIZED FOR THE
PURPOSE OF CONTROL AND ORDERLY MOVEMENT WITH OR
WITHOUT ESCORT PROTECTION. A CONVOY IS ALSO
DEFINED AS, ANY GROUP OF SIX OR MORE VEHICLES
TEMPORARILY ORGANIZED TO OPERATE AS A COLUMN WITH
OR WITHOUT ESCORT PROCEEDING TOGETHER UNDER A
SINGLE COMMANDER OR THE DISPATCHING OF 10 OR MORE
VEHICLES PER HOUR TO THE SAME DESTINATION OVER
THE SAME ROUTE.
SERIAL
AN ELEMENT OR GROUP OF ELEMENTS WITHIN A SERIES
WHICH IS GIVEN A NUMERICAL OR ALPHABETICAL
DESIGNATION FOR CONVENIENCE OF PLANNING,
SCHEDULING, AND CONTROL. IT IS THE LARGEST
ELEMENT OF A CONVOY, AND IT MOVES AND HALTS AT
THE ORDER OF ONE COMMANDER.
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MARCH UNIT
A SUBORDINATE ELEMENT OF A SERIAL WHICH MOVES AND
HALTS AT THE ORDER OF ONE COMMANDER
COLUMN
A SUBORDINATE ELEMENT OF A MARCH UNIT WHICH MOVES
AND HALTS AT THE ORDER OF ONE COMMANDER. A
FORMATION IN WHICH ELEMENTS ARE PLACED ONE
DIRECTLY BEHIND THE OTHER.
CONVOY COMMANDER
THE OFFICER OR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER IN CHARGE
OF THE VEHICLES AND OPERATING PERSONNEL OR A
CONVOY, DESIGNATED AS SUCH BY THE PERSON
AUTHORIZING THE MOVEMENT.
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MARCH CREDITS
MARCH CREDITS
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MARCH CREDITS ( what are they? )
A March Credit is nothing more than a Convoy
Clearance number. This number is given by the
approving headquarters in whose area the convoy
originates and is designated at the time the
request for convoy clearance is approved. This
number is shown by the convoy during the entire
movement for control purposes.
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MARCH CREDITS PLACEMENT
01GEFO51157
BOTH SIDES (all vehicles)
FRONT (first vehicle)
REAR (last vehicle)
01GEFO51157
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MARCH CREDIT NUMBER
MARCH CREDIT 01GEFO51058
FIRST 2 NUMBERS -- DAY OF THE MONTH MOVEMENT
BEGINS. EXAMPLE 01 MAY FIRST 2 LETTERS --
NATIONAL SYMBOL OF THE CONVOY AUTHORIZING MOVE.
EXAMPLE
GE GERMANY SECOND 2 LETTERS -- AUTHORITY
GRANTING CLEARANCE. EXAMPLE FOBAVARIA
(HMCT
KATTERBACH) SECOND 2 NUMBERS-- ADMINISTRATIVE
NUMBERS OF CLEARANCE FOR DATE THIRD 2 NUMBERS
-- MONTH OF CLEARANCE. EXAMPLE 05 MAY LAST
NUMBER -- YEAR OF CLEARANCE. EXAMPLE 7
1998 THE LAST THREE NUMBERS OF A MARCH
CREDIT ARE FOR HMCT ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES
ONLY. THE NUMBER WHICH SHOULD BE CHALKED ON ALL
VEHICLES IN A CONVOY IS THE MARCH CREDIT NUMBER
MINUS THE LAST THREE NUMBERS. FOR THE EXAMPLE
ABOVE, THE CONVOY COMMANDER SHOULD CHALK
01GEFO51 ON HIS VEHICLES.
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ROUTINE MARCH CREDITS
ROUTINE MARCH CREDIT BIDS MEET THE TIME FRAMES
LISTED BELOW FOR SUBMISSION TO THE HMCT. THEY
ARE USED FOR PEACETIME MISSIONS AND COMPANY OR
BATTALION SIZED FIELD TRAINING EXERCISES (FTX).
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS LISTED BELOW DO NOT
INCLUDE THE DAY OF SUBMISSION, THE DAY OF THE
MOVEMENT, WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS (GERMAN AND
AMERICAN). IF A MARCH CREDIT BID IS FAXED TO THE
HMCT AFTER THE HOURS OF BUSINESS, THE DATE OF
SUBMISSION BECOMES THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.
STANDARD OVERSIZED/OVERWEIGHT
IN GERMANY
5 DAYS 10 DAYS
BORDER CROSSINGS INTO ALL
15 DAYS 15
DAYS COUNTRIES EXCEPT DENMARK BORDER CROSSINGS
INTO 23 CALENDAR
23 CALENDAR DENMARK
DAYS
DAYS

EXCEPTION TO POLICY
7 DAYS 12 DAYS
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LATE (SPECIAL) MARCH CREDIT BID
A LATE MARCH CREDIT BID DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM
TIME REQUIREMENTS SUBMISSION FOR A LATE MARCH
CREDIT BID REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING A. A
COMPLETE E FORM 1060 OR 55-IN B. A HAND WRITTEN
OR TYPED REASON FOR WHY THE REQUEST WAS LATE
(MAY BE EITHER IN A SEPARATE MEMORANDUM OR
ANNOTATED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MARCH CREDIT
BID. C. AUTHENTICATION BY A LTC (-5) THIS
AUTHENTICATION MAY BE EITHER ANNOTATING THE
NAME, RANK, DUTY POSITION AND PHONE NUMBER ON
THE MARCH CREDIT BID BELOW THE REASON FOR
LATENESS OR SUBMITTING A LETTER OF LATENESS.
IN EITHER CASE, THE SIGNATURE OF THE
AUTHENTICATING OFFICER IS REQUIRED. THE
AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL SHOULD BE FROM THE UNIT
WHICH CAUSED THE MARCH CREDIT TO BE LATE.
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CONT. LATE MARCH BID
LATE REQUEST ARE PROCESSED IN SEQUENCE AND ARE
NOT GUARANTEED TO MOVE ON THE REQUESTED DATE. IT
IS IMPORTANT TO SUBMIT THE REQUEST FOR MARCH
CREDITS AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE. IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT THE ACTUAL MARCH CREDIT REQUEST
HAS THE MAXIMUM PROCESSING TIME AVAILABLE. NO
LATE MARCH BIDS WILL BE GRATED UNLESS THE
AUTHENTICATION REQUIREMENT IS MET! FAILURE TO
PLAN MOVES FOR TRAINING EXERCISES IS NOT AN
ACCEPTABLE REASON FOR SUBMITTING A LATE REQUEST.
INSUFFICIENT PLANNING IS NOT A VALID REASON FOR
MAKING A SPECIAL REQUEST. THE FOLLOWING ARE
EXAMPLES OF UNACCEPTABLE REASONS FOR LATE MARCH
BIDS
A. UNIT NEEDS TO RUN GAS OUT OF VEHICLE SO THEY
CAN TURN THEM IN B. UNIT DID NOT REALIZE A MARCH
CREDIT WAS NEEDED. C. CHANGE IN TRAINING D.
REASONS STATING WHY THE UNIT NEEDS TO MOVE, NOT
STATING WHY THE MOVE IS LATE.
BOTTOM LINE AN APPROVED LATE MARCH CREDIT BID
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY THE
RULE, NOT THE STANDARD.
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EXCEPTION TO POLICY
AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY IS A ROUTINE MOVEMENT BID
WITH A REQUESTED MOVE THAT FALLS ON A RESTRICTED
TIME PERIOD. AN ETP LETTER SIGNED BY A COL (O-6)
OR ABOVE IN A COMMAND POSITION FROM THE UNIT
REQUESTING THE MOVEMENT OF ASSETS (CUSTOMER) IS
REQUIRED WITH THE MARCH BID REQUEST. ETP
LETTERS REQUIRE 12 WORKING DAYS TO PROCESS FOR
OVERSIZED EQUIPMENT AND 7 WORKING DAYS FOR
ROUTINE MOVEMENTS. THIS LETTER IS NOT GUARANTEED
APPROVAL FOR THE REQUESTED DATE. REQUESTED MOVES
WHICH EXCEED BOTH A 50 MILITARY LOAD
CLASSIFICATION (MLC) OR GREATER AND THE DISTANCE
OF 75 KMS, MUST HAVE A LETTER REQUESTING AN
EXCEPTION TO POLICY SIGN BY A BRIGADE COMMANDER
IN THE RANK OF COLONEL. COST SAVINGS WILL NOT BE
VALID EXCUSE FOR PREFERENCE OF HET USE OVER
RAIL. THE LETTER SHOULD ALSO STATE WEIGHT HEIGHT
WIDTH LENGTH(LOADED AND UNLOADED), REAL WEIGHT
WEIGHT PER AXLE, DISTANCE BETWEEN AXLES, WHEELS
PER AXLES, WIDTH PER WHEEL AND THE AXLE WITH THE
MOST WEIGHT. THIS INFO IS RE- FOR TRUCK AND
TRAILER. THESE MARCH CREDITS MUST BE APPLIED FOR
AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME.
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RECURRING MARCH CREDIT
A PRE-ARRANGED MOVEMENT BID WHICH WILL BE
UTILIZED BY THE UNIT AT LEAST 15 TIMES DURING
THE YEAR. A UNIT MUST ACTIVATE A RECURRING MARCH
CREDIT 72 HOURS (THREE WORKING DAYS) PRIOR TO THE
REQUESTED SP TIME. THE REQUEST IS SENT TO THE
CORRESPONDING HMCT, UTILIZING THE BIDS
ADMINISTRATIVE REFERENCE NUMBER. RECURRING MARCH
CREDITS MUST BE UPDATED ANNUALLY. IF A RECURRING
MARCH CREDIT IS NOT USED THE MINIMUM OF 15 TIMES
THE BID ADMINISTRATIVE NUMBER WILL BE
AUTOMATICALLY CANCELED. RECURRING MARCH CREDITS
MAY ONLY BE GRANTED FOR MOVES WITHIN A SINGULAR
GERMAN STATE. RECURRING MARCH CREDITS CANNOT BE
MADE FOR MOVES CROSSING STATE BORDERS. PROCESSING
TIME IS APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS.
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CONVOY ESTABLISHMENT
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placard
placard
REAR VEHICLE
RECOVERY VEHICLE
SERIAL / CONVOY CDR
PACE VEHICLE
Convoy Commanders vehicle can be anywhere
within the convoy except the first or last
vehicle and will be outfitted with a diagonal
black/white flag and commo Rear vehicle will
be outfitted with a green flag/commo and a
placard visibly displayed on the rear of the
tailgate that reads in the host nations language
and in English CONVOY AHEAD Pace vehicle
will be THE SLOWEST VEHICLE in the convoy and
will be outfitted with a blue flag/commo and a
placard visibly displayed on the front of the
grill that reads in the host nations language
and in English CONVOY FOLLOWS Recovery
vehicle will be capable of recovering the
largest vehicle in the convoy and will be
equipped with commo and a rotating Rawls light
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CONVOY IDENTIFICATION
FLAGS 12 HIGH, 18 WIDE ON LEFT SIDE OF
DESIGNATED VEHICLE
COLORS BLUE FLAG -- FIRST VEHICLE
GREEN FLAG -- LAST VEHICLE
BLACK AND WHITE FLAG -- MARCH UNIT COMMANDER
MARKINGS CLEARANCE PROMINENTLY MARKED ON BOTH
SIDES OF EACH VEHICLE. IN
ADDITION, THE LEAD VEHICLE IS
REQUIRED TO HAVE THE CLEARANCE ON ITS FRONT
HOOD. THE LAST VEHICLE IS
REQUIRED TO HAVE THE CLEARANCE
ON THE REAR. THE LEAD VEHICLE WILL ALSO HAVE A
SIGN WITH THE WORD CONVOY
FOLLOWS AND KOLONNE FOLGT.
THE LAST VEHICLE WILL HAVE THE WORDS CONVOY
ENDS AND END DER KOLONNE.
THE SIGN WILL BE IN 3 LETTERS
ON A BACKGROUND BOARD 18 BY 48. LETTERING WILL
NOT OBSCURE TAILLIGHTS,
DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS OR FACTORY
INSTALLED REFLECTORS.
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WARNING LIGHTS LEAD VEHICLES WILL HAVE AT LEAST
ONE (BUT NOT MORE THAN TWO) ROTATING AMBER
WARNING LIGHTS(RAWLS) THE CONVOY COMMANDER WILL
DETERMINE WHICH REMAINING VEHICLES SHOULD BE
EQUIPPED WITH WARNING LIGHTS BASED ON
VISIBILITY, WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CONVOY
SPACING. THE LAST VEHICLE WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE
( BUT NOT MORE THAN TWO) ROTATING AMBER WARNING
LIGHTS.
LIGHTS THE HEADLIGHTS ON ALL VEHICLES IN THE
CONVOY WILL BE ON LOW BEAM IN THE DAYTIME.
AMMUNITION HAULING VEHICLES CARRYING AMMUNITION
MUST HAVE AN ORANGE PLACARD ON THE FRONT AND
REAR OF VEHICLES.
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CONVOY BRIEFING
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BRIEFING
BEFORE A CONVOY DEPARTS ON A MISSION, THE
COMMANDER BRIEFS ALL CONVOY MEMBERS. THE
FOLLOWING AREAS SHOULD BE COVERED WITH
ADJUSTMENTS TO SUIT THE LOCAL CONDITIONS
1. SITUATION
- FRIENDLY
FORCES -
SUPPORT UNITS
- ENEMY SITUATION
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CONVOY BRIEFING
2. MISSION - TYPE OF CARGO - ORIGIN -
DESTINATION 3. EXECUTION - GENERAL
ORGANIZATION - TIME SCHEDULE - ROUTES -
SPEED - CATCH-UP SPEED - VEHICLE DISTANCE -
EMERGENCY MEASURES - ACTION OF CONVOY AND
SECURITY PERSONNEL IF AMBUSH - MEDICAL
SUPPORT
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CONVOY BRIEFING
4. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS - PERSONNEL
CONTROL - BILLETING - MESSING 5. COMMAND AND
SIGNAL - CONVOY COMMANDERS LOCATION -
ASSISTANT CONVOY COMMANDER DESIGNATION -
SECURITY FORCES COMMANDERS ACTION - SERIAL
COMMANDERS RESPONSIBILITIES - ARM AND HAND
SIGNALS - OTHER PREARRANGED SIGNALS - RADIO
FREQUENCIES AND CALL SIGNS 6. SAFETY - HAZARDS
OF ROUTES - WEATHER CONDITIONS - DEFENSIVE
DRIVING
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STRIP MAP EXAMPLE OF A PLANNED VEHICLE ROUTE FOR
OVERSIZED VEHICLES
HTD
MSR BRANDON
LETENYE

TASZAR
7
61
MSR CUPID
KAPOSVAR
12
VARAZDIN
SZIGETVAR
12
3
PECS
BARCS
ZELINA
VEROVITICA
DRAVASZABOLCS
ZAGREB

MSR PAUL
V. ZDENCI
MSR HOWDY
NASICE
CSC PLESO RON
LIPOVAC
E70
MSR SNYDER
DAKOVO

SLAVONSKI BROD
KUTINA
MSR STEVE
OKUCANI
VALICA KOPANICA
8TH MCT
CROATIA
KUTINA ROM
LEGEND
BOSNIA

ROM POINT CSC/ RON CHOKE POINTS

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CONVOY PROCEDURES
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CONVOY PROCEDURES

• DEVIATIONS OF MORE THAN 15 MINUTES TO THE
  DEPARTURE TIME
• GIVEN ON THE MARCH CREDIT REQUIRES THE MOVING
  UNIT TO CALL
• THE HMCT FOR A NEW SP TIME.
• UNIT/CONVOY COMMANDERS ARE PROHIBITED FORM
  CHANGING
• ROUTES AND COMPOSITION OF CONVOYS WITHOUT
  PRIOR APPROVAL
• OF THE HMCT THAT ISSUED THE MARCH CREDIT.
• MARCH UNITS WILL NOT EXCEED 25 VEHICLES.
• AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES WILL SEPARATE MARCH
  UNITS.
• AT LEAST 15 MINUTES WILL SERIALS.
• INTERVALS BETWEEN VEHICLES IN AN COLUMN MARCH
  UNIT WILL BE A
• MINIMUM OF 100 METERS ON AUTOBAHNS AND 50
  METERS ON
• SECONDARY ROADS.
• INTERVALS BETWEEN VEHICLES IN CITIES REDUCED
  TO 25 METERS.

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CONVOY PROCEDURES CONT.

• THE CONVOY COMMANDER MUST HAVE THE COMPLETED AE
  FORM 55-1
• (ROAD MOVEMENT BID AND MARCH CREDIT GRANTED FORM)
  WITH THE
• VALID MARCH CREDIT NUMBER AT ALL TIMES.

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REST STOP ACTIONS
CHECK LOAD
REFUEL
D-PMCS
CHOW
DEPARTURE
STAGE
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 Vehicles with limited range capability will
refuel upon entering rest stop 2 All vehicles
will stage at a designated area away from
civilians and establish security 3 Upon
stopping all personnel will assist with D-PMCS
actions 4 Upon completion of D-PMCS all
personnel will check load security 5 Once all
actions are complete personnel will establish
security and determine chow priority for
personnel 6 Once all personnel have eaten a
sensitive item inventory and personnel
accountability will be conducted prior to
commencement of Convoy Operations
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CONVOY COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITIES
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CONVOY COMMANDERS DUTIES
1. STARTS INITIAL PLANNING STEPS A. ALERTS
UNIT OPERATION B. REVIEWS OPERATION
ORDER 2. SCHEDULES CONVOY COMMANDERS BRIEFING
WITH THE BATTALION S3 OFFICER. 3. ATTENDS
CONVOY COMMANDERS BRIEFING TAKES NOTES, AND
UPDATES MAPS. 4. PREPARES CONVOY COMMANDERS
CHECKLIST. 5. CONDUCTS A MAP RECONNAISSANCE TO
SELECT AND MARK ROUTES / SITES NOT DICTATED
BY HIGHER HEADQUARTERS. 6. CONDUCT A GROUND
RECONNAISSANCE (IF TIME PERMITS) AND NOTES ON THE
MAP CLEARANCES OF OVERHEAD
STRUCTURES/OBSTACLES LOAD CLASSIFICATIONS SPEED
LIMITS AND REST, MESS AND REFUELING SITES
THAT WILL SAFELY ACCOMMODATE CONVOY PERSONNEL AND
EQUIPMENT. 7. REVIEWS RECONNAISSANCE MAP AND
MAKES FINAL SELECTION OF PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE
ROUTES, AND REST, MESS, AND REFUELING
AREAS. 8. GIVES A COPY OF THE MAP WITH ALL
CONVOY INFORMATION MARKED ON IT TO BATTALION S3
AND REQUESTS A CLEARANCE IF NOT ALREADY
INITIATED. ALSO REQUESTS THAT THE MOVE BE
PLOTTED AND A COPY OF THE MOVEMENT GRAPH BE
ISSUED.
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CONVOY COMMANDERS DUTIES CONT.
9. COORDINATES TO OBTAIN ARTILLERY SUPPORT WITH
ARTILLERY UNIT. 10. MARKS ON THE MAP THE RANGE
LIMITATIONS OF EACH ARTILLERY UNIT. 11.
PLANS/COORDINATES WITH THE ESCORT AND SECURITY
ELEMENTS (MILITARY POLICE UNITS) SECURITY
FIRE SUPPORT, AIR SUPPORT, AND CONVOY
COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS. 12. DIRECTS THE PLACEMENT
OF THE GUIDES AND SIGNS ALONG THE CONVOY
ROUTES. 13. ISSUES WORK ASSIGNMENTS TO
SUBORDINATE ELEMENT COMMANDERS AND BRIEFS THEM ON
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REQUIRED. 14.
DIRECTS OPERATION SECTION TO PREPARE STRIP MAPS
AND/OR OVERLAYS (AS REQUIRED). 15. PREPARES FOR
VEHICLE MOVEMENT. A. PERFORMS VEHICLE
PMCS B. MARKS VEHICLES FOR CONVOY MOVE.
C. ESTABLISHES CONVOY COMMUNICATIONS. D.

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AAR