Regardless of the size of your group, whether it is a small group of your best buds in a MAG, an A team, or a platoon size group, you still need to have minimum operating procedures for your group even though those duties will most likely be on a small scale level! This way you can start training with those roles and have a full understanding of what is expected! Everyone needs to be on board and be able to assign themselves the following assignments or roles for their group:
S1-MANPOWER AND PERSONNEL: Guy 1-Responsible for detachment Medical Records/Readiness, Travel/Pay Problems, Personnel Records/Administrative Actions, Team Alert Roster, Mail, etc. (Everyone is mentally, physically, and administratively ready to go out on this mission.)
S2-INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY: Guy 2-Responsible for Intel Updates & Situation Brief for all missions. Your designated S2 would put out a daily situational update to your patrol ot team. A news update & weather forecast (gleaned from a portable FM radio or smart phone) to the entire group. (This is what things look like and what we’re up against on this mission.)
S3-OPERATIONS: Guy 3-Responsible for developing Concept of Operations for any mission. (This is what we’re going to do, how we’re going to get ready to do it, and how we’re still going to accomplish this mission if the main plan fails.)
S4-LOGISTICS: Guy 4-Logistics, Supply, Transportation, & function as Paying Agents (hold the $$). (This is the gear & supplies we’ve got to play with, how we’re going to get more, how we’re going to travel, and the specialty gear to accomplish this particular mission.) He’s the guy in charge of resupply of ammo, water, rations, batteries, cold weather gear, vehicle fuel, replacement of broken/lost weapons, backpacks, boots, socks, or any other consumables. A scrounger who knows how to get things done & get the needed stuff delivered. If you can still purchase items locally, he’s the guy with the cash. Or he conducts trade/barter.
S6-COMMUNICATIONS: Guy 5-Cyber, IT, radio, & phone networks/equipment; signal plan to include all electronic means as well as clandestine methods and visual signals. (This is who we can talk to, who we need to talk to, how we can do that, when we should do it, how to keep the other side from listening in, and contingency plans for when parts of the communication plan don’t work.)
MEDIC: Everyone should be a minimum of 1st aid and CPR certified with EMT and Wilderness 1st Responder certifications being a bonus along with taking a TCCC course! If you can get your team to take one together than go for it!
In a civilian context (prepared/professional citizen, minuteman, or just prepared family groups) the above positions are not necessarily set in stone but more a guide as to things that folks should be thinking about when it comes down to assigning jobs or tasks. Work with people’s strengths and weaknesses to best achieve a desired result. Understanding the above positions and how they work within the context of CSS (Combat Supply Support) can help lead to better overall preparedness levels regardless of your group size and dynamics.
Huh, I'm a 5-man team and didn't know it. :)