CONVOY OPERATIONS ADMIN TASK Determine requirements for convoy

CONVOY OPERATIONS (ADMIN)

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.

RESOURCE REFERENCES: FM 55 - 30 FM 55 - 10 SAFETY BOOK FM 5 - 36 FM 55 - 312

PRE-TEST 1. What are 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

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

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

PRE-TEST 10. How many miles are there in a line haul? A) 20 MILES B) 95 MILES C) 144 KM D) 90 MILES

CONVOY DEFINITIONS

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.

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.

MARCH CREDITS

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.

MARCH CREDITS PLACEMENT 01 GEFO 51157 BOTH SIDES (all vehicles) 01 GEFO 51157 FRONT (first vehicle) REAR (last vehicle) 01 GEFO 51157

MARCH CREDIT NUMBER MARCH CREDIT # 01 GEFO 51058 FIRST 2 NUMBERS FIRST 2 LETTERS -- DAY OF THE MONTH MOVEMENT BEGINS. EXAMPLE 01 MAY -- NATIONAL SYMBOL OF THE CONVOY AUTHORIZING MOVE. EXAMPLE : GE = GERMANY SECOND 2 LETTERS -- AUTHORITY GRANTING CLEARANCE. EXAMPLE: FO=BAVARIA (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 # 01 GEFO 51 ON HIS VEHICLES.

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 COUNTRIES EXCEPT DENMARK 15 DAYS BORDER CROSSINGS INTO DENMARK EXCEPTION TO POLICY 23 CALENDAR DAYS 7 DAYS 23 CALENDAR DAYS 12 DAYS

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.

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. B. C. D. UNIT NEEDS TO RUN GAS OUT OF VEHICLE SO THEY CAN TURN THEM IN UNIT DID NOT REALIZE A MARCH CREDIT WAS NEEDED. CHANGE IN TRAINING 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.

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 PER AXLE, DISTANCE BETWEEN AXLES, WHEELS PER AXLES, WIDTH PER WHEEL AND THE AXLE WITH THE MOST WEIGHT. THIS INFO IS REFOR TRUCK AND TRAILER. THESE MARCH CREDITS MUST BE APPLIED FOR AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME.

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 BID’S 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.

CONVOY ESTABLISHMENT

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

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.

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: 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.

CONVOY BRIEFING

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

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

CONVOY BRIEFING 4. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS: - PERSONNEL CONTROL - BILLETING - MESSING 5. COMMAND SIGNAL - CONVOY COMMANDERS LOCATION - ASSISTANT CONVOY COMMANDER DESIGNATION - SECURITY FORCES COMMANDER’S 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

STRIP MAP EXAMPLE OF A PLANNED VEHICLE ROUTE FOR OVERSIZED VEHICLES PRIMARY HET ROUTE LETENYE 12 ® 7 TASZAR 61 12 BARCS VEROVITICA © DE R E 70 MSR HOW MS ® RP DY MS RS NY LIPOVAC V. ZDENCI KUTINA DRAVASZABOLCS AU L NASICE DAKOVO MSR OKUCANI STEV E SLAVONSKI BROD 8 TH MCT CROATIA KUTINA ROM SZIGETVAR PECS 3 ZELINA CSC PLESO RON MSR CUPID KAPOSVAR VARAZDIN ZAGREB SLAV BROD - KUTINA : 116 KM HTD MSR BRANDON BOSNIA VALICA KOPANICA KUTINA - BARCS : 91 KM BARCS - TASZAR : 86 KM TOTAL : 293 KM ALTERNATE HET ROUTE SLAV BROD - ZAGREB : 179 KM ZAGREB - VARAZDIN : 65 KM VARAZDIN - LETENYE : 39 KM LETENYE - TASZAR : 123 KM TOTAL : 406 KM LEGEND ® ROM POINT © CSC/ RON CHOKE POINTS

CONVOY PROCEDURES

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.

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.

REST STOP ACTIONS REFUEL 1 STAGE 2 D-PMCS 3 CHECK LOAD 4 CHOW DEPARTURE 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

CONVOY COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITIES

CONVOY COMMANDER’S DUTIES 1. STARTS INITIAL PLANNING STEPS A. ALERTS UNIT OPERATION B. REVIEWS OPERATION ORDER 2. SCHEDULES CONVOY COMMANDERS BRIEFING WITH THE BATTALION S 3 OFFICER. 3. ATTENDS CONVOY COMMANDER’S 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 S 3 AND REQUESTS A CLEARANCE IF NOT ALREADY INITIATED. ALSO REQUESTS THAT THE MOVE BE PLOTTED AND A COPY OF THE MOVEMENT GRAPH BE ISSUED.

CONVOY COMMANDER’S 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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