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APPENDIX H

UNIT DEFENSE CHECKLIST

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Note: This sample checklist will help the leaders go through a mental review of existing battery or platoon defensive preparations.

H-1. ENTRANCE POINT

The entrance point serves as a means to control traffic flow into and out of the firing position. It does not necessarily serve the same fiction as an LP and/or OP.

a. Is the sentry properly posted and given guard orders and special instructions?

b. Does the sentry know the current challenge and password?

c. Does the entrance point have communications with the BOC or POC?

d. Does the entrance point restrict movement into and out of the battery area?

e. Who will pick up the sentry in an emergency displacement?

H-2. PASSIVE DEFENSIVE TECHNIQUES

Are passive measures being employed by the battery or platoon?

a. After considering factors of METT-T:

(1) What type of THREAT target acquisition assets can be identified across the FLOT (for example, radar, sound, and/or flash)? This may influence the selection of charge(s) to fire.

(2) Is battery or platoon equipment that could be located by radio direction finding dispersed from those susceptible to detection by sound and flash or weapons-locating radars?

(3) Are antennas remoted? Are directional antennas used?

(4) What is the expected air threat?

(5) What is the expected counterfire threat?

(6) What is the expected ground threat?

b. Does the unit display good camouflage discipline?

c. Is battery or platoon equipment sited properly?

d. Has natural camouflage been enhanced and man-made camouflage been constructed?

e. Is the unit using all available cover and concealment?

f. Are the techniques of disguising, hiding, and blending of equipment within the position being applied?

g. Is light and noise discipline being enforced during periods of limited visibility?

h. Is track plan discipline being enforced to limit identifiable vehicle tracks into the position?

i. Are M-8 alarms positioned correctly?

H-3. ACTIVE DEFENSIVE TECHNIQUES

a. Listening and/or Observation Posts.

(1) Are OPs and/or LPs positioned to afford early warning?

(2) Are OP and/or LP locations prepared?

(3) Do OPs and/or LPs have binoculars?

(4) Have OPs been briefed on enemy situation and their responsibilities?

(a) Have range cards been constructed for crew-served weapons and checked by a unit leader to ensure integrated fields of fire?

(b) Have two means of communications been established with the LPs and/or OPs?

(3) Has a system been established to man the OPs and/or LPs on a 24-hour basis?

(4) Has a prearranged signal been established to recall the OP and/or LP?

b. Hardening.

(1) Is key battery equipment (such as ammunition and generators) hardened?

(2) Are available urban terrain, man-made structures, and/or natural terrain features being used to the maximum extent possible?

(3) Are available cover and concealment being used?

c. Fighting Positions.

(1) Have individual fighting positions (IFPs) been established (if required) for every section?

(2) Are IFPs prepared?

(a) Have range cads been constructed for crew-served weapons and checked by a unit leader to ensure integration of fires?

(b) Are individual and section fighting positions dug in?

(c) Has battle site zero been set on all M16 weapons?

(3) Are the IFPs integrated into the overall defensive plan?

(4) Are sufficient crew-served weapons (M60, M2) positioned to provide security for key battery elements?

(a) Are range cards prepared?

(b) Are visibility diagrams prepared?

(c) Have firing stakes been emplaced to identify the primary and alternate sectors of fire? Are they marked for day and night and if so, how?

(d) Have traverse and elevation (T&E) mechanism settings been recorded on range cards?

(e) Have M2 machine guns been headspaced and timed.

(f) Has a final protective line (FPL) been established?

(g) Has a signal been announced for firing the FPL?

(h) Do fields of fire interlock?

(i) Have fields of fire been cleared?

(5) Is the IFP properly camouflaged?

d. Reaction Force.

(1) Has a reaction force been established?

(2) Has a primary and alternate signal and rally point been disseminated?

(3) Have alternates been identified for members of the reaction force?

(4) Has the RF been rehearsed?

(5) Does the reaction force have a means of communication?

(6) Has the reaction force been briefed for the tactical situation?

H-4. PERIMETER COMMUNICATIONS

a. Have wire communications been established within the battery perimeter?

b. Do key battery elements have wire communications?

c. Does the entrance point have communications?

d. Does the battery have alarm signals for the following types of attack?

(1) NBC?

(2) Air?

(3) Counterfire?

(4) Ground?

e. Is the wire buried to withstand attack and friendly vehicle movement?

H-5. ANTIARMOR ASSETS

a. Have tank-killer teams been designated?

b. Have likely engagement areas and hide positions been selected?

c. Have supplementary positions been reconnoitered and prepared?

d. Has the plan been rehearsed?

e. Have the tank-killer teams been briefed for the tactical situation?

H-6. MOVEMENT

a. Has the battery commander or platoon leader planned mutually supporting indirect fires in support of his movement plan and provided this information to higher headquarters?

b. Has the battery commander or GSG selected and reconnoitered an alternate position?

c. Have rally points been established?

d. Have the rally points location and route of egress been disseminated?

e. Has the alternate position been prepared?

f. Have organic mine detectors been used during the route reconnaissance?

g. Have convoy signals been established for the following:

(1) Blocked ambush?

(2) Unblocked ambush?

(3) Air attack?

(4) Artillery attack?

(5) Emergency occupation? (See STANAG 2047 on this topic.)

(6) Are the vehicles prepared for the tactical situation and is security available?

H-7. LOCAL SECURITY

a. Have local patrols been deployed, if necessary? (See FM 7-8, Chapter 3, on this topic.)

b. Have obstacles been integrated into the defensive plan?

c. Has a defensive diagram been prepared?

(1) Has prominent terrain been indicated?

(2) Have mines and/or barriers been annotated?

(3) Are primary and supplementary positions marked?

(4) Are direct fire sectors marked? Day and night?

(5) Are interlocking fields of fire and the FPL marked?

(6) Are OPs and LPs with delay and withdrawal plans included in the defensive diagram?

(7) Is dead space annotated and covered?

(8) Have target reference points (TRPs) been established and marked? Day and night?

(9) Have avenues of approach been identified?

(10) Have Killer Junior targets been identified; data computed and disseminated?

d. Has the battery commander or platoon leader planned indirect fires in support of his defensive plan?

e. Has the challenge and password been issued to all personnel?

f. Have friendly unit locations been identified and disseminated to avoid fratricide?

g. Does everyone know the threat?

H-8. NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL

a. Are chemical agent detectors situated upwind of the battery position?

b. Are detectors placed far enough from the unit to provide adequate warning?

c. Have detectors been relocated as wind direction changed?

d. Have detector alarms been tested?

e. Have detector alarms been located to afford security and control?

f. Has a MOPP level been established?

g. Do sections have complete chemical protective overgarments (CPOG) on hand? Filter replacements? M258A1 kits? M256 kits? Chemical agent monitor (CAM)?

h. Does the battery have survey and monitoring teams? Have the teams been rehearsed?

i. Are the M256 detection kits being used by trained teams? Is M8 or M9 paper being used by individual soldiers?

j. Are the AN/PDR-27J, IM-174 and IM-93 radiac meters on hand? Do they work?

k. Is the unit prepared to conduct personal decontamination? Have personnel been designated and trained?

l. Is the unit prepared to conduct limited equipment decontamination? Have personnel been designated and trained? Does the unit have all authorized M13s?

m. Does the battery have alarm signals for the NBC attacks?

n. Does the unit have an EMP defense plan for electronic equipment?

o. Is the unit maintaining an operational exposure guide (OEG)?

p. Have unmasking procedures been rehearsed?

q. Has an alternate soldier been chosen for unmasking procedures?

H-9. AIR DEFENSE COVERAGE

a. Has the S3 established priorities of air defense coverage to the battalion? Has the air defense warning status/weapon status been disseminated?

b. Has the battery or platoon been integrated into the air defense coverage?

c. What percentage of available M2 machine guns are deployed in a ground-mount vice ring-mount configuration?

d. How does the battery plan on providing air defense coverage with organic assets while in position?

e. Has the battery/platoon plan been rehearsed?

f. What are the primary and alternate signals.

H-10. MEDICAL

a. What is the plan for the evacuation of casualties to the battalion aid station? Have litter teams and evacuation vehicles been identified? Has the 1SG or alternate rehearsed the route (day and night, MOPP IV)? Have maneuver aid stations/ambulance exchange points been identified and briefed?

b. What is the plan to provide organic first aid during combat operations? Are combat lifesavers properly trained and positioned throughout the unit? Has an alternate soldier been chosen for unmasking procedures? Are litters properly placed by SOP? Are triage and casualty collection points established and briefed?

c. Has a landing zone been identified for MEDIVAC aircraft?

d. Are combat service support (CSS) graphics on hand and posted in the BOC/POC? Are they current?

e. Where do corpsmen/medics go when the signal for the reaction force, or any signal, is given?

H-11. ENEMY PRISONERS OF WAR (EPWs)

a. Are EPW collection points established?

b. Is there a plan for evacuation/treatment of EPWs?

c. Has the plan been rehearsed?

d. Who has primary responsibility for the EPWs?

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