AAR [HLL PC] Operation Chokehold 08AUG2026

[Swanson.B]

Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT

Name of Combat Mission: Opeation Chokehold (B.Co FTX)
Game: Hell Let Loose
Server Hosted on: Training Server 1
Date of Combat Mission: 08AUG2026
Time of Combat Mission (Zulu): 2359z
Mission OICs: Captain Swanson.B
Mission Controller: Major Argentini.E, Captain Swanson.B
​

Number of Attendees: 64
Major Argentini.E
Major Macpherson.C
Captain Swanson.B
First Lieutenant DAmico.J
First Lieutenant Hazen.D
First Lieutenant Sotelo.R
Second Lieutenant Lewis.P
Second Lieutenant Roderick.S
Second Lieutenant Sibley.K
Sergeant Major White.C
First Sergeant Hansel.R
Sergeant First Class Moreau.M
Staff Sergeant Belmont.E
Staff Sergeant Koalafied.C
Sergeant Basher.J
Sergeant Donk.B
Corporal Ashie.L
Corporal Banfield.H
Corporal Bazzle.J
Corporal Ellison.C
Corporal Fox.F
Corporal Giglio.M
Corporal Jinto.H
Corporal Kenton.W
Corporal Mustard.C
Corporal Noriega.D
Corporal Roscoe.N
Corporal Travis.W
Corporal Williams.S
Specialist Anthony.M
Specialist Aponte.A
Specialist Austin.M
Specialist Becker.J
Specialist Bonderant.F
Specialist Dare.D
Specialist Davis.O
Specialist Dennis.V
Specialist Emanuel.M
Specialist Eri.C
Specialist Freeze.T
Specialist Gruen.G
Specialist Ingram.M
Specialist Lane.R
Specialist MacAlister.P
Specialist Marcum.J
Specialist Milkovic.D
Specialist Patricks.C
Specialist Perrier.J
Specialist Shred.C
Specialist Stout.S
Private First Class Bailey.D
Private First Class Bauvil.C
Private First Class Burgess.S
Private First Class Buscemi.A
Private First Class Devine.D
Private First Class McCann.C
Private First Class Nguy.B
Private First Class Sanders.J
Private First Class Scratch.J
Private First Class West.T
Private Byrne.O
Private Smith.ER
Private Turner.Z
Private Walls.O

 

[Swanson.B]

Element Callsign:
Element Leader:
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:


Pros:

Cons:

 

[Macpherson.C]

Element Callsign: Able Axis
Element Leader: Major Macpherson.C
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Second Lieutenant Lewis.P
Specialist Anthony.M
Specialist Ingram.M
Private First Class Scratch.J



Pros:

• Enjoyed the concept
• The guys had fun regardless of the outcome
• Good Comms in the squad

Cons:

• Map Choice for the concept
• Command Comms were very hectic

 

[Banfield.H]

Element Callsign: Axis Tank 2 "Heresy's Voice"
Element Leader: Corporal Banfield.H
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Private First Class West.T
Private First Class Nguy.B
Pros:

• Grat concept would love to see on other maps!!
• Tanking with the boys is always fun
• Great team comms

Cons:

• N/A

 

[Aponte.A]

Element Callsign: Jig (Allies)
Element Leader: Specialist Aponte.A
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Aponte.A
Private First Class Sanders.J
Private First Class Devine.D
Specialist Lane.R


Pros:

• Great communication, excellent movement, great fire support and fire direction.

Cons: None

 

[Fox.F]

Element Callsign: Allies Recon SL 2
Element Leader: Corporal Fox.F
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:


Pros:

• Interesting blocking off one of the HQs made it a little easier to find nodes and therefore puts more emphasis on building sneaky nodes.
• Good communications to rally the troops between defending, tanking the bunker, building the bunker and taking the point.

Cons:

• I don't think axis understood that they could spawn in the restricted AO to help take the point back.
• AOE too large to hold / take points while also building and tanking bunkers. Perhaps building the bunker on the points?

 

[Kenton.W]

Element Callsign: Allied Hotel Squad
Element Leader: Corporal Kenton.W
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Second Lieutenant Roderick.S
Specialist Dennis.V
Specialist Perrier.J
Private Walls.O

Pros:

• Had a lot of fun with the squad, great communication and teamwork
• Flexed around as needed, did our best to watch whatever flank we ended up on
• The bunker was built quick with good coverage. Bunker was also lost as soon as we were pulled to reinforce the attack.

Cons:

• The command bunker concept is neat but it felt very unneeded for most of the match once we had the first couple heavies out.
• The bunker construction also split the force quite a bit across the map which led to tougher fights depending on team priorities.
• Our team could have set up better OP radar around Jacob's.

 

[Moreau.M]

Element Callsign: Allies Platoon Lead
Element Leader:Sergeant First Class Moreau.M
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Sergeant First Class Moreau.M

Pros:

• good design with multiple objectives to keep track on
• excellent tanking
• perfect execution of the airborne doctrine

Cons:

• more people would make it smoother

 

[Sotelo.R]

Element Callsign: Allied Lead Tank Commander - "Cheap and Easy"
Element Leader: First Lieutenant Sotelo.R
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
First Lieutenant Sotelo.R
Specialist Gruen.G
Specialist Eri.C

Pros:

Cons:

 

[Belmont.E]

Element Callsign: Axis Charlie
Element Leader: Staff Sergeant Belmont.E
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Freeze.T
Specialist MacAlister.P
Specialist Walton.D
Corporal Bazzle.J


Pros:

• Interesting concept
• Allies did a great job on map control

Cons:

• Limiting some assets lead to snowballing

 

[Marcum.J]

Element Callsign: Axis Dog Squad
Element Leader: Specialist Marcum.J
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Private Byrne.O
Private First Class Buscemi.A

Pros:

• My troopers played well given the circumstances with high spirits
• Allies had very impressive map control

Cons:

• Attendance numbers could have been higher
• map choice

 

[Hansel.R]

Element Callsign: Axis Commander
Element Leader: Myself.
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:


Pros:

• Literally, the entire Axis team. They tried their hardest, did their work and responded as well as they could despite my own inexperience. Thank you.

Cons:

• I would have preferred there to be a better balance of players on both teams. Axis only had 8 people from either B Co platoons. Allied had 25 people from B Co platoons.
• Once we were on the last point, not having the Off limits area opened so that we could spawn there and regroup only caused us to be trapped by multiple shooters that were sitting right at our only available spawn points for forty minutes and I feel that it should have been opened at that point for the team on the backfoot.

 

[Travis.W]

Element Callsign: Axis Fox
Element Leader: CPL.Travis.W
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
SPC.Austin.M
SPC.Milkovik.D

Pros:

• I was just talking about the lack of forest maps for OPs that I played and BAM! a great match on Hurtgen!
• Interesting dynamic with the node aspect. Love to see these different ideas. Was pretty easy to understand
• My boys had a good time in the squad. They said squad comms and lead were excellent
• Our squad was very flexible and was trying to handle their ZOC and also tackle redzone and backline garrisons, while also tracking tanks
• About halfway through SPC.Marcum.J started flexing his troops back and forth between squads allowing troopers to remain in the action effectively

Cons:

• Wish I would have realized low attendance numbers, would have changed my playstyle a little more
• Hurtgen is rough. Requires good coordination and a slower playstyle
• Balance of 1st and 2nd platoon troopers was questionable. Wish more 1st platoon troopers were there

 

[DAmico.J]

Element Callsign: Allied Commander
Element Leader: First Lieutenant DAmico.J
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:

Pros:

• 2nd platoon was very coordinated for the match. The command comms were super clear and effective. Because of the strong teamwork, we were able to mount up a very effective strategy on the fly.

Cons:

• I would like to see secondary objectives integrated a little better. An objective to build a bunker in an irrelevant location doesn't have a whole lot of incentive to complete. One option would be to have something more functional as a secondary objective. For example, three repair stations in a relevant location, and that is something the tanks could benefit from. You could even tie conditions or restrictions to the goals like you did for this FTX.

 

[Noriega.D]

Element Callsign: Golf Allies
Element Leader: Corporal Noriega.D
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Corporal Ellison.C
Specialist Shred.C
Specialist Patricks.C

Pros:

• Allies absolutely dominated after capturing the point
• 2nd Platoon showed up in force and was able to coordinate a gameplan on the fly, demonstrating our teamwork and skill is unmatched in our AO
• Comms were quick, concise and accurate.
• SLs filled the gaps everywhere on the map, garrisons were replaced and built without much direction.
• Allies demonstrated near perfection when it came to envelopment and the ability to outflank the Axis in every engagement
• Airborne doctrine was in full effect, Axis was unable to counterattack after taking the middle point. Marauders were able to out flank and maneuver to destroy countless garrisons in their back line.

Cons:

• Maybe a slightly smaller AO due to the number of participates.
• Attendance and questions took too long and prevented much of a discussion to go over a gameplan which imo hinders the fun and overall point of the operation. Instead of just winging it.
• Would have liked to see more 1st platoon troopers out there to really gauge where we stand as platoons of the same company in comparison.
  
  Sidenote: If the FTX is about pulling together as a company and more importantly as an individual platoon to demonstrate what we have learned and trained for every SP. 2nd platoon did an outstanding job.
  I believe it is on 1st platoon and mission controllers to keep platoon integrity filling gaps with cadre and/or the CoC. Attempting to make it balanced by mixing troopers from both platoons should not be what these FTX are about. Instead a friendly competition between two platoons.
  
  Sometimes people are just going to get steamrolled..its life.

 

[Roscoe.N]

Element Callsign: Allies Dog
Element Leader: Corporal Roscoe.N
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Sergeant Major White.C
Specialist Bonderant.F
Specialist Becker.J

Pros:

• Solid communication in my squad all around. Everyone was very responsive to call outs and orders, which makes being a squad lead very enjoyable.
• The Allies were a well oiled machine in the latter half of the game, it seemed as if we were prepared for anything the Axis threw at us.
• ILY Swanson <3

Cons:

• In regards to the secondary mission objective, a different map choice would have benefited this so much more. Possibly moving the bunker objective to the middle contested point would have led to more success in fighting over the bunkers, and made them a more primary objective. Even under conditions of a full map, it still would have still led to issues in overall efficacy of building and defending the bunkers. At the end of the day, capping objectives wins games, so it would have been a race for the middle point regardless.
• I am seconds away from joining S7 and curating a class on how to watch for map pings and leadership communications as a squad lead in Hell Let Loose. Every time I squad lead, my eye balls melt out of my sockets and my ears bleed due to the amount of unnecessary chatter plaguing the Leadership Chat. We could be so much more efficient and we choose to actively put our mental states through the meat grinder every operation.

 

[Donk.B]

Element Callsign: Axis Squad 2A
Element Leader:Sergeant Donk.B
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Private First Class Burgess.S
Private First Class McCann.C

Pros:

• Burgess and McCann did a great job of holding key ground. With the distribution of our forces, the allies should have been able to get the command center up way earlier. We held the border garrison far north up much longer than I could have expected.
• Losses give good data on what to improve, what could could have been done differently.

Cons:

• I don't have much experience in three manning, so my strengths of calling for class switch utilization were not able to be applied at scale. That's on me, have to rethink how I will approach that situation in the future.
• For the Op ord, could potentially say the off limits sectors don't apply for the first 4 minutes. When the question was asked on whether those assets could be used off the rip, the "yes they could" comment with the limited time to the engagement didn't allow me to clear what I thought would be a good adjustment with my leadership. Too many irons in the fire as it were. If the intention was to have the off limits apply to nodes/the enemy, color coding can help folks understand that a bit easier.
• Personally I think the off limits sector made the bunker bridge so much more difficult to get to, and made the dynamic more static, I believe the intention was for rapid shifting between two objectives. Making movement difficult made that shift difficult.
• Officer comms could have worked together more, myself included.
• I should have reached out earlier to ask more questions.
• Donk's Op work was subpar.

 

[Hazen.D]

Element Callsign: Axis Platoon Lead
Element Leader: First Lieutenant Dareck Hazen
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element: N/A

Pros:

• Initial point capture and assault of enemy second point went well in the beginning.
• Recapture of midpoint in the midgame and resulting ZOC's were very well exectued.
• Constant communication was held at all stages of the game.

Cons:

• A total of eight airborne personnel on Axis side. They did very well, however, considering the imbalance of Airborne for an Airborne FTX. Ithink for an FTX that is suipposed to be focused on airborne practiced strategy, a balance of airborne personnel between first and second was needed. In a perfect FTX, both sides would be stacked with said personnel, and we could have a 1st vs 2nd platoon, but such was not the case here. In this case, an option could be to take four from 1st, put them on allies, and split the balance of airborne from second, putting half and half on each side. Then fill with cadre. the point of the company FTX is to showcase airborne theory, regardless of what platoon or side you are on.
• Off limits area was unnecessary. Just mark it as "cannot be captured or else". The area was apparently able to be used for deployment purposes? Or so Ive been told by personnel in Second Platoon, though I kept Axis personnel from using it to spawn due to the big bold "OFF LIMITS" sign in the opord. Maybe a miscommunication.
• If you're going to have a match that caps the enemy second point, just make it so that the last point can be capped and end. Please don't ever make us go through forty minutes of being shot out of spawn. That was very damaging to morale over all.
• Well done to the allied heavy on the hill opposite scar. That crew did very well. However, I hate you on principle

All in all, hard fought and well done on both sides. Allies did fantastic to secure a snowball from gaining the midpoint the second time, exactly what you want to see from the airborne, and is a particular strength of our doctrine, keeping that steam once its gained.

Airborne leads the way!

 

[Rutkowski.P]

S1 Locked.

 

[Rutkowski.P]

S1 Operations Processed.