SOP's (Standing Operational Procedures)
SOP's are the everday procedures that everyone must learn to make the squadron function efficiently, and with a minimum of orders and explanations being required to carry out daily routines and Battle Drills.
Harbour SOP
A normal harbour routine will go like this. Friday night everyone's showing up throughout the night. The vehicles will have to be off-loaded and moved into the harbour. Get used to the idea of harbour. If we're in a larger group, we would have a section of a perimeter, and if it's just us, our vehicles would be formed into a circle facing out for 360 defence. This circle, large or small, is the harbour. Within the harbour, security is posted, with the number pulling guard depending on the level of threat from the enemy. Normally this is going to be anywhere from one person on roving patrol around the outside of the harbor, to one-to-two men per vehicle, so that all vehicles are ready to fight with minimal crew if necessary.
Within the harbour, sleeping arrangements are made, tents pitched, cooking arrangements set up, orders and plans prepared, a 'sand table' set up for briefing and rehearsals, and daily maintenenance done on the vehicles. If all other tasks are complete, training is conducted. Training didn't, and doesn't, stop when combat operations start.
The harbour plan will be ordered every time we pull into harbour. If it's Friday night, the harbour master will be designated, normally one of the NCO's, and instructions given for what activities are to take place and who is to carry out what. That will normally be ensuring the sleeping arrangements are understood, and who will be on security and for what shifts, if security is necessary. They will also make sure members know which vehicle they are assigned to for the weekend's operations, what time wake-up and stand-to are, and what other tasks need to be accomplished first thing in the morning.
On wake-up, the first activity to be conducted is stand-to. This means that all sleeping bags will be rolled and stowed, tents folded and stowed, all personal gear stowed on the vehicles, all vehicles manned with everyone in their battle stations, radios on, and drivers ready to start engines. Upon order, all engines are started, and everyone checks in on the squadron net as soon as they are ready to move out. The squadron commander will quickly inspect all vehicles and crews for readiness. Once it has been established that all is ready, stand down will be ordered. Engines will be shut off, and the security level established.
Those soldiers not manning their stations on security will then conduct pre-operation maintenance, and preparation of meals, ammunition, and supplies for the day. The 24 hour ration, if not already issued, will be supplied to each soldier. This will be one ration to last for both breakfast and lunch. The petrol stoves will be put into operation, and one stove will brew coffee, the other tea. Coffee and tea will be served while soldiers are eating their breakfast. Soldiers will rotate from security duties after the first shift has completed breakfast and maintenance, ammunition and supply tasks.
Normally, the tasks will be divided thus; gunners will maintain security while drivers perform maintenance. The assault squad will distribute ammunition and supplies as necessary, issue out the 24 hour ration, and brew the coffee and tea. While this is taking place, the leadership will conduct Orders Group ("O" Group), in planning for the day's mission.
Once the morning harbour activities have been completed, any left over coffee and tea will be distributed into the crew's thermos bottles. If time permits, hot soup will be prepared and placed in the large thermos container to be served with the lunch portion of the 24 hour ration.
The day's operation order will then be given to the squadron as a whole, and sand table conducted to rehearse the day's mission. That being completed, all crews will mount and prepare to move out.
In between missions, the squadron will pull back from the front, while other units' infantry maintain the line, and go back into harbour. This will normally be only a squadron harbour. Immediately upon pulling into harbour, the squadron commander will order the security level, and then give the command to shut down engines. All personnel will remain mounted until ordered to dismount. If engines are to be shut down, the order will dismount be given after the short count has been completed. If engines are not to be shut down, only designated personnel will be ordered to dismount if the need is required. No personnel will be allowed to dismount a vehicle without checking with the vehicle commander first, and upon receiving permission from the vehicle commander. All vehicle commanders will know the location of all their assigned personnel at all times.
Gunners will maintain security, drivers will conduct maintenance, leadership will report to O Group, and the first section (bren group) of the assault squad will begin security patrol while the second section (rifle group) of the assault squad conducts weapons cleaning. Security patrol will rove around the outer perimeter to provide early warning. Once vehicle maintenance is complete, drivers will provide security while gunners conduct weapons cleaning. Gunners must communicate with each other and coordinate their weapons cleaning so that no more than half of all vehicles are cleaning weapons at the same time. When the second section of the assault squad has completed weapons maintenance, they will relieve the first section on patrol, and the first section will then conduct weapons cleaning.
As soon as all maintenance and preparation for further operations has been completed, leaders will report their status to the squadron commander. The commander will then issue orders for the next mission, and crews will then re-mount and prepare to move out.
Upon completion of the days missions, the squadron will normally never remain on the front line, but will pull back into harbour for the night. The first task will be the same as specified above for harbour procedures between missions. Once every crew is ready for further operations, their status will be reported to the squadron commander. As soon as the squadron is ready for further operations, the squadron commander will order stand-down, the level of security to be maintained, and night harbour operations will begin.
Night harbour operatons will consist of posting the guard roster for the night, pitching tents, rolling out sleeping bags, and preparing the evening meal. Gunners will take the first shift of security, while drivers pitch tents and lay out their sleeping bags. Leaders will report to O Group. The assault squad will have the bren group pitch tents while the rifle group will put petrol stoves into operation and prepare compo rations for cooking. Cooking the evening meal will be determined by nominating who the best cooks are. Those who do not cook the meal and are not on security duties will conduct the meal cleanup. Rotation of soldiers for the evening meal will be as per morning harbour procedure. Upon completion of all mess activities, all mess gear will be cleaned and stowed. Any leftovers from the meal will be placed in the thermos bottles and large thermos container so that soldiers going on and off security duties during the night may have extra food, and anything left in the morning will be dished out to supplement the morning 24 hour ration. If anything is left after the morning meal, it will be disposed of so hot coffee, tea and soup can be supplied in the thermos bottles and large thermos container.
The squadron commander, at his discretion, can down-grade the security level to zero for the night. Rum rations will only be distributed upon order of the squadron commander after the evening's harbour activities are complete, and when the security level has been ordered as zero.
Within the harbour, sleeping arrangements are made, tents pitched, cooking arrangements set up, orders and plans prepared, a 'sand table' set up for briefing and rehearsals, and daily maintenenance done on the vehicles. If all other tasks are complete, training is conducted. Training didn't, and doesn't, stop when combat operations start.
The harbour plan will be ordered every time we pull into harbour. If it's Friday night, the harbour master will be designated, normally one of the NCO's, and instructions given for what activities are to take place and who is to carry out what. That will normally be ensuring the sleeping arrangements are understood, and who will be on security and for what shifts, if security is necessary. They will also make sure members know which vehicle they are assigned to for the weekend's operations, what time wake-up and stand-to are, and what other tasks need to be accomplished first thing in the morning.
On wake-up, the first activity to be conducted is stand-to. This means that all sleeping bags will be rolled and stowed, tents folded and stowed, all personal gear stowed on the vehicles, all vehicles manned with everyone in their battle stations, radios on, and drivers ready to start engines. Upon order, all engines are started, and everyone checks in on the squadron net as soon as they are ready to move out. The squadron commander will quickly inspect all vehicles and crews for readiness. Once it has been established that all is ready, stand down will be ordered. Engines will be shut off, and the security level established.
Those soldiers not manning their stations on security will then conduct pre-operation maintenance, and preparation of meals, ammunition, and supplies for the day. The 24 hour ration, if not already issued, will be supplied to each soldier. This will be one ration to last for both breakfast and lunch. The petrol stoves will be put into operation, and one stove will brew coffee, the other tea. Coffee and tea will be served while soldiers are eating their breakfast. Soldiers will rotate from security duties after the first shift has completed breakfast and maintenance, ammunition and supply tasks.
Normally, the tasks will be divided thus; gunners will maintain security while drivers perform maintenance. The assault squad will distribute ammunition and supplies as necessary, issue out the 24 hour ration, and brew the coffee and tea. While this is taking place, the leadership will conduct Orders Group ("O" Group), in planning for the day's mission.
Once the morning harbour activities have been completed, any left over coffee and tea will be distributed into the crew's thermos bottles. If time permits, hot soup will be prepared and placed in the large thermos container to be served with the lunch portion of the 24 hour ration.
The day's operation order will then be given to the squadron as a whole, and sand table conducted to rehearse the day's mission. That being completed, all crews will mount and prepare to move out.
In between missions, the squadron will pull back from the front, while other units' infantry maintain the line, and go back into harbour. This will normally be only a squadron harbour. Immediately upon pulling into harbour, the squadron commander will order the security level, and then give the command to shut down engines. All personnel will remain mounted until ordered to dismount. If engines are to be shut down, the order will dismount be given after the short count has been completed. If engines are not to be shut down, only designated personnel will be ordered to dismount if the need is required. No personnel will be allowed to dismount a vehicle without checking with the vehicle commander first, and upon receiving permission from the vehicle commander. All vehicle commanders will know the location of all their assigned personnel at all times.
Gunners will maintain security, drivers will conduct maintenance, leadership will report to O Group, and the first section (bren group) of the assault squad will begin security patrol while the second section (rifle group) of the assault squad conducts weapons cleaning. Security patrol will rove around the outer perimeter to provide early warning. Once vehicle maintenance is complete, drivers will provide security while gunners conduct weapons cleaning. Gunners must communicate with each other and coordinate their weapons cleaning so that no more than half of all vehicles are cleaning weapons at the same time. When the second section of the assault squad has completed weapons maintenance, they will relieve the first section on patrol, and the first section will then conduct weapons cleaning.
As soon as all maintenance and preparation for further operations has been completed, leaders will report their status to the squadron commander. The commander will then issue orders for the next mission, and crews will then re-mount and prepare to move out.
Upon completion of the days missions, the squadron will normally never remain on the front line, but will pull back into harbour for the night. The first task will be the same as specified above for harbour procedures between missions. Once every crew is ready for further operations, their status will be reported to the squadron commander. As soon as the squadron is ready for further operations, the squadron commander will order stand-down, the level of security to be maintained, and night harbour operations will begin.
Night harbour operatons will consist of posting the guard roster for the night, pitching tents, rolling out sleeping bags, and preparing the evening meal. Gunners will take the first shift of security, while drivers pitch tents and lay out their sleeping bags. Leaders will report to O Group. The assault squad will have the bren group pitch tents while the rifle group will put petrol stoves into operation and prepare compo rations for cooking. Cooking the evening meal will be determined by nominating who the best cooks are. Those who do not cook the meal and are not on security duties will conduct the meal cleanup. Rotation of soldiers for the evening meal will be as per morning harbour procedure. Upon completion of all mess activities, all mess gear will be cleaned and stowed. Any leftovers from the meal will be placed in the thermos bottles and large thermos container so that soldiers going on and off security duties during the night may have extra food, and anything left in the morning will be dished out to supplement the morning 24 hour ration. If anything is left after the morning meal, it will be disposed of so hot coffee, tea and soup can be supplied in the thermos bottles and large thermos container.
The squadron commander, at his discretion, can down-grade the security level to zero for the night. Rum rations will only be distributed upon order of the squadron commander after the evening's harbour activities are complete, and when the security level has been ordered as zero.
