_The Director_: “Lieutenant Wallace, we will assume that you are
commanding the platoon. Just how do you go about the task of getting
started on the day’s work?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I should first see if all the men are present,
and then I would inspect the platoon to make sure that everything is all
right.”
_The Director_: “The first part of your problem is simple. All you have
to do is to glance down the ranks to determine whether every man is in
his proper place. Let us assume that all are present. Now, with regard
to the proposition of the inspection. In campaign the platoon commander
should inspect his platoon at reveille—check up the appearance of the
men and note the condition of the arms and equipment. At this time he
should take the steps necessary to remedy deficiencies and make
provision for the evacuation of any man that is physically unfit. This
should be a matter of routine. Then, when the day’s work is to be
started, there is no delay.”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I see the point and realize the necessity for the
procedure you have outlined. There is one other point. When should the
rifles be loaded?”
_The Director_: “Some advocate that the rifles should be loaded and the
safety locks turned to ‘Safe’ just after the inspection in the morning.
I do not believe that to be the best procedure. It increases the chances
for an accident. I would have the men load their rifles, in this case,
just before starting to form the advance party. Let us assume that the
platoon has been inspected at reveille and that all the men are in fit
physical condition and ready for the work in hand. What is the first
move you would make, Lieutenant Ralston?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “Well, sir, I would want to get the platoon a
short distance away from the rest of the company. So the first thing I
do is to march the platoon about 75 to 100 yards up the road.”
_The Director_: “What is the idea?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “There is always more or less confusion around the
company on an occasion of this kind, and I want to get my platoon off by
themselves so they can give me their undivided attention while I am
issuing my orders and getting them all set for the work in hand.”
_The Director_: “That seems to be a very good reason. Let us assume that
you have moved the platoon 100 yards away from the rest of the company.
You are formed up in line. What are you going to do now?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would have the men load their rifles.”
_The Director_: “All right; you have done that. Captain Harvey, what is
the next step?”
_Captain Harvey_: “I would take a few minutes to dope out the situation
and determine what I am going to do.”
_The Director_: “That is time well spent. Now let us go through the
process you have just mentioned. What is the first thing you are to
determine?”
_Captain Harvey_: “What is the mission of the platoon? It is to form the
advance party.”
_The Director_: “What is the next step, Captain Hodges?”
_Captain Hodges_: “To consider the enemy—where he is, what he is doing,
and what he is likely to do. In this case the only information we have
is that small forces of the enemy are reported in the direction of
(_c_). We have no information of his strength or composition or what he
is doing. We must be prepared to meet him at any time and govern our
action accordingly.”
_The Director_: “What is the next step, Captain Mason?”
_Captain Mason_: “To consider our own supporting forces. We know that
our brigade is to march towards (_b_) by the (_j_)—(_k_)—(_l_) road.
That our battalion continues its mission as a right (left) flank guard.
That our company, less this platoon, is the support, which follows us at
a distance of about 400 yards.”
_The Director_: “What is the next step, Captain Jones?”
_Captain Jones_: “We then consider our plans of action—what we are going
to do. There is no information on which to base our plans very far
ahead. We can only get the advance party into the most favorable
formation and be prepared for eventualities. We will have a point,
consisting of one squad, precede the advance party at about 200 yards.
The rest of the platoon will march in column of twos, a file on each
side of the road. From this formation a rapid deployment can be made,
and we are always ready to meet the enemy. Measures for local protection
will be taken as the march progresses.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Baker, what is the next step in this
process?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “Based upon what has been said before we arrive at a
decision as to what we are going to do. In this case it would be—To
march at (_m_) o’clock by the (_n_)—(_o_) road as advance party of the
advance guard. We then embody this decision in a field order and issue
it verbally to the platoon.”