AAR A/1-7 CO FTX | Silent Grid | 23AUG26 | 1930z - 2130z

[Dread.M]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ALPHA COMPANY 1-7
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT
​

A/1-7 CO FTX | Operation Close and Personal
Date: 22AUG26
Time (Zulu): 19:30-21:30
Server: Training Server 1
GM:
Major Dread.M
Major Rodahl.S

Attendance:
Major Dread.M
Major Hilberg.A
Major Rodahl.S
Second Lieutenant Mobius.T
Second Lieutenant Carr.W
First Sergeant Westcott.R
Master Sergeant Mazinski.H
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Moskal.C
Staff Sergeant McAllen.J
Sergeant Bolte.D
Sergeant Giordano.C
Sergeant Mackey.A
Sergeant Reddick.A
Sergeant Russell.JG
Specialist Bayer.MW
Specialist Dellow.J
Specialist Tremblay.J
Warrant Officer 1 Bloggins.R
Warrant Officer 1 Ramirez.M
Corporal Chisum.J
Corporal Flint.J
Corporal Garrick.S
Corporal Grey.T
Corporal Lamb.J
Corporal McGill.A
Corporal Pearl.F
Corporal Rozhkov.P
Corporal Spice.M
Corporal Winters.R
Corporal Xinos.T
Corporal Yota.G
Corporal Zaren.T
Specialist Abdulla.K
Specialist Auguste.B
Specialist Coner.J
Specialist DeCann.A
Specialist Facklam.E
Specialist Jonez.M
Specialist Juenemann.D
Specialist Leon.J
Specialist Max.G
Specialist Miller.H
Specialist Miranda.M
Specialist Murphy.K
Specialist Sawyer.H
Specialist Studs.J
Specialist Thomas.K
Specialist Tremblay.J
Specialist Ware.D
Specialist Weather.J
Specialist Woodford.F
Private First Class Delgado.C
Private First Class Neubauer.P
Private First Class Nguy.B
Private Boyle.M
Private Hollywood.C
Private Molitor.K

If your name doesn't appear on this list please contact your CoC.

 

[McAllen.J]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
S3 BATTLE STAFF
Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT
​

Element Callsign: Pioneer-7
Element Leader: Staff Sergeant McAllen.J


7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Corporal Yota.G


Pros:

• Everyone liked the integration into the Pioneer elements
• The first raid went pretty well with little to no issues moving casualties back to LZ's before the crash.
• Lots of casualties throughout the Op
  

Cons:

• The 2nd raid could've been better since we had issues with MasCas's in Pioneer-2 and sporadic blacks in -4
• If Helios-2 is integrated CLS's shouldn't be around to increase combat efficiency
• Radio calls need improvement
• Radio callsigns could still be worked on since we are still figuring it out
• Same elements should be getting on the same birds to reduce time on ground

Notes: Overall I believe we completed some parts of our training goals well and some not so well, we need improvement on our withdrawals since it took awhile to get off the 2nd raid and it kept the birds on the ground way too long.

 

[Weather.J]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ALPHA COMPANY 1-7
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT​

Element Callsign: Helios-2
Element Leader: N/A
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Weather.J
Corporal Winters.R
Corporal Rozhkov.P
Specialist Thomas.K
Private First Class Nguy.B

Pros:

• Everyone liked the integration into the Pioneer elements
• The first raid went pretty well with little to no issues moving casualties back to LZ's before the crash.
• Lots of casualties throughout the Op

Cons:

• The 2nd raid could've been better since we had issues with MasCas's in Pioneer-2 and sporadic blacks in -4
• If Helios-2 is integrated CLS's shouldn't be around to increase combat efficiency
• Radio calls need improvement
• Radio callsigns could still be worked on since we are still figuring it out
• Same elements should be getting on the same birds to reduce time on ground

Notes:

68W integration to elements seems to work well. -7 is definitely needed to help coordinate. I would also recommend if you do have a 68W attached to the element acting as that advance care provided that the squad not have a CLS so you can have an extra AT or ammo carrier. I would not slot the attached 68W in as Hellios-2, but under -7 as Platoon medic assistants and makes a little bit more sense since they report all medial needs to -7. They would join under -7 during PCI's so they get get the kit and get and assignment then switch over to the element group in game and report to that SL to get squad net and make sure they know whets going on. I think having a standard call sign such as P-1MIKE (M=Medic) after the -7 assigns you to a squad. For slotting I would recommend x1 PM X5 PMA. X4 PMA would then go to a element and the x1 remaining PMA would would be a PMA with -7 and act as 2IC/RTO. The ARR would be done by 7 in discord for to make it easy. I am happy to answer any questions on this.

 

[Bolte.D]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
S3 BATTLE STAFF
Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT​

Element Callsign: Helios-1
Element Leader: Sergeant Bolte.D


7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Private Boyle.M
Corporal Flint.J
Specialist Miranda.M
Private First Class Neubauer.P
Specialist Tremblay.J
Specialist Ware.D


Pros:

• We met the training material and goals coming from the engineers getting in on the X with squad integration and clearing lanes with the squad then staying behind to set demo to speed up time on the X to then get off faster.
• Alpha team pulled in with Pioneer 1 & 3 and followed the assaulting teams with great communication
• Bravo team linked with Pioneer 4 and laid down SBF with the 60s covering the assault teams and lanes.

Control:

• Air assault was on the rougher side of things for the Raid part because after doing 3 second drops, stood in the open to long without proper bearing to start moving towards RPs and cold positions.
• At one point was ready to take the lead out the PLT because I knew where to go and didn't want to just sit in the open as for the case for the first objective a squad came up on our E side security from the LZ because we were just sitting still.
• Bravo wasn't sure whether they were waiting for call for fires or if they were initiating with 4 on the mad minute
• Server bad crashed again and kept getting booted

 

[Coner.J]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ALPHA COMPANY 1-7
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT​

Element Callsign: Grizzly Flight / Buffalo-1
Element Lead: Corporal Spice.M
7th Cavalry Personnel within element:
Grizzly-1:
Corporal Spice.M - PIC
Specialist Studs.J
Specialist Auguste.B
Warrant Officer 1 Bloggins.R
Grizzly-2:
Specialist Coner.J - PIC
Specialist DeCann.A
Warrant Officer 1 Ramirez.M
Specialist Jonez.M
Buffalo-1:
Specialist Sawyer.H - PIC
Second Lieutenant Mobius.T (Archangel-6/Chaos)

Pros:

• Great use of the Grizzly, overuse of smaller airframes
• Great teamwork between Grizzly's and Buffalo with Arch Angel 6
• Fun Operation
• Teamwork within Grizzly Flight
• Full Crew operation worked outstanding
• Arch Angel 6 relayed commands when Grizzly flight couldn't hear them

Cons:

• Person's pushing onto a LZ cause trooper to get crushed by airframe

 

[Dalton.J]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
S3 BATTLE STAFF
Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT


Element Callsign: Pioneer-2
Element Leader: SPC.Dalton.j


7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Moskal.C
Major Hilberg.A
Corporal Pearl.F
Specialist Woodford.F
Specialist Max.G
Private Helton.S
Corporal McGill.A

Pros:
Movement on platon side was solid
Security positions were locked down in every area
Communication between the elements
able to switch LZ when needed
We completed the First OBJ flawlessly

Cons:
— spacing changes and security position status weren't being reported consistently
Noise discipline: Too much talking during the flight en route
during casualties: Command and control broke down when casualties were taken — needs rehearsal
Movement: Squads bunched up at points (spacing violation)
Cross-squad comms: No shared picture of where each squad was located relative to the others
Mass casualty handling: Two mass-casualty events close together (aircraft crash, then another following the reinsert) stressed the system — response needs to be drilled so it holds up under back-to-back hits

Notes: we completed training goals we need to reinforce the stuff in the birds and the proper procedure for Dispersion and IDF contact

 

[Russell.JG]

Element Callsign: Pioneer 4
Element Lead: Sergeant Russell.JG
7th Cavalry Personnel within element:
Sergeant Mackey.A
Sergeant Reddick.A
Specialist Dellow.J
Corporal Lamb.J
Specialist Murphy.K
Specialist Abdulla.K
Specialist Facklam.E
Private First Class Delgado.C
Private First Class Nguy.B

Pros:

• PCC/PCI were done with almost no direction efficiently and effectively
• Troopers "found work" continuously throughout the operation
• Good callouts on enemy targets and team cohesion between fireteams

Cons:

• Echoing of orders was there but not consistent
• When 6 DC'd there was a bit of confusion on who was 2IC
• 3 black tags on second OBJ
• LZ was too close to OBJ

 

[Garrick.S]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ALPHA COMPANY 1-7
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT
​

Element Callsign: Pioneer 1
Element Leader: Corporal Garrick.S

7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
First Sergeant Westcott.R
Corporal Fox.Z
Corporal McGill.A
Corporal Xinos.T
Corporal Zaren.T
Specialist Bayer.MW
Specialist Juenemann.D
Specialist Leon.J
Specialist Riley.K

Pros/Sustains:

• Folks within the squad had fun overall with these two objectives.
• Communications within the squad were solid, both upwards and downwards. Information flowed well in correct formats.
• Multiple BTRs disabled and several squad-sized elements were destroyed by the squad, with effective fires coordinated between fireteams.
• 10-10-10 timing objective met for Objective 1 and somewhat for Objective 2, disregarding crashes.
• Marked improvement of LDAs throughout the course of the FTX.
• Great communications between Pioneer 1 and Pioneer 3 in their mutual support roles of Assault and Security elements.
• Attached Combat Medic worked very well, rolling with the section HQ and tracking on the same net.
• Resupply in the birds was critical to achieving multiple subsequent objectives without RTB, crashes notwithstanding.
• Pioneer 4 and Helios 1 Mortars delivered effective fires onto the objectives. From our perspective, we were kept safe while assaulting Objective 2.
• Pioneer 6 had his hands full for this one without a 5 or RTO for a lot of the op. Big props.
• Planning leading up to this FTX resulted in an extremely well-discussed and well-executed plan. More of that!

Cons/Improves:

• Second objective could have seen our squad utilize a little more violence of action, though this was likely down to an FTL's temporary communications issues.
• Spacing in the squad and with attached elements at times could have used some work, especially with flowing dynamically between wedge and file when terrain became more restrictive.
• We could have coordinated AT better within our squad to fire rockets one by one instead of multiple at the same target before BDA.
• Troops In Contact reports and subsequent sitreps could be drilled more to give elements in the AO more information about the situation.
• Noise and light discipline for night operations could have been discussed ahead of time and more training could be undertaken to test enemy AI and the effects of our actions: enemy detection radius, white light, IR devices, voice volume range, etc.
• Comms were crowded at times, mostly due to the platoon working in two natural halves: Assault+Security1, SBF+Security2. Drill cleaner, concise comms. Consider other options to reduce net traffic, including marking enemy composiitons on map.
• Succession of command protocols need a little work. If a 5 is not present, a section leader should be assigned that role immediately and focus entirely on it, giving command of their section to their 2IC. Platoon succession of command should either be covered in CEOI or be part of platoon level PCCs/PCIs, due to the possibility of different section leaders at events that may differ from established platoon SOP.
• Would be good to have alternate LZs set alongside the primaries to give pilots and infantry more options to infil/exfil during developing situations.
• Various calls were missed during infil via Chinook, including "thirty seconds", "standby", and "go, go, go", leading to uncertainty of timeframe and infantry dismounting delayedly. A comment was passed from an air crewman to the effect of "Well, the door's open and we're on the ground", whereas troopers are taught to wait for the green light.
• During Objective 2, attachment of Helios 1 elements wasn't as smooth as it could have been. Pioneer 1 moved from our Assault Position into the first building (NW of objectibe) and planned to work through the objective (NW-SE) IOT clear through and make safe for Helios 1 to begin their demolition drills. Before the objective could be cleared, the Helios 1 team got in front of Pioneer 1's fields of fire and began setting charges in an unsafe location. Need to work on drills with attached elements and ensure frequencies are being shared to ensure safety of all elements involved and allow both elements to safely conduct their respective drills.

 

[Giordano.C]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
S3 BATTLE STAFF
Headquarters
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT
​

Element Callsign: Pioneer - 3
Element Leader: Sergeant Giordano.C
7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Sergeant Howe.T
Corporal Vara.J
Private Molitor.K
Private Gonzalez.J
Corporal Grey.T
Private Hollywood.C
Specialist McKinley.K
Corporal Chisum.J

Pros:
- Movements with Pioneer - 1 were crisp with great communications & planning between squads
- 1st objective for being assault was textbook. In position by +9:43 from insert, assault was +6:32, and out of AO on RED call in +4:32
- FTL's ACE & SITREPS were solid along with any succession of command (which weren't many)
Cons:
- Setting gates (personal)
- When the call was made for Pioneer - 3 on OBJ 2 to assume both Near & Far positions I should have delegated our team to a range of mutual support and collapsed the security perimeter tighter to accomplish. Was too focused on being exactly on the spot that both Alpha & Bravo teams were over 400m apart, and when Pioneer - 2 came on scene it caused Alpha to have to bounce and ultimately become out of position due to my own calls.
- Need to turn attention back to fundamentals as much as possible, the focus on speed did cause some fundamental formations, communications, and contact drills to break down

 

[Carr.W]

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ALPHA COMPANY 1-7
7th Cavalry Regiment
COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT
​

Element Callsign: PIONEER-6
Element Leader: 2LT.Carr.W

7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:

Actions:

Successful, powerful, fast raid on OBJ FRANKLIN.
Difficult, high casualty raid on OBJ GRAHAM
Did not complete actions on OBJ BELL

Cons/Improves:

• I need a succession plan for PSG (Pioneer-5), as running a combined arms multi objective raid without a 5 was extremely difficult and there were key coordination moments that I missed (the reinsert to OBJ Graham Nearside security position; indirect fires on OBJ Graham).
• Suggest aviation be spooled up prior to infantry on-load to facilitate faster off the base. We had loaded at perscribed time hack, but then waited for flight checks which put us behind schedule.
• We must improve our speed at PZ. This will be accomplished by Air Assault training month as well as tighter coordination with PIC and Chalk Lead on the ground. If we keep Archangel-6, there must be a handoff to the PIC and Chalk Leader to coordinate last 1 minute before touch down. Only these two players can see the actual situation and respond dynamically. The Archangel coordination must not become a telephone game, and that last minute has to be extraordinarily tightly coordinated by those who have eyes on.
• Teams on ridgelines must be vigilant about sky-lining. Use cloverleaf movements, etc. Do not march along the ridge.
• Teams on security must be vigilant not to over extend, they must always plan for their withdrawal. Nearside security team on OBJ Graham extended past the Y intersection and were surrounded as a result. They would have been safer on the west Side of the intersection so they could withdraw into a concealed position, etc.
• Reinserts must go through vetted LZ / ORP not simply drop on closest position, as this will put a bullsyeye on that position and enemy will close in. OBJ Graham Nearside Security re-insert and improvised LZ resulted in Near-Side mass casualty event.
• Indirect Fire missions must be coordinated with platoon.
• Chinooks were perhaps the wrong bird for these fast raids. While it was desirous to have a fully crewed air frames for 1/A platoon training goals, in terms of mission suitability, the chinook proved to be slow and a very obvious target to the enemy. At least 1 loaded bird was shot down, creating a gap in our security posture and a delay on the objective Graham. When reinsert happened, the sheer size and sound fingerprint of the bird drew enormous enemy attention to the improvised LZ, resulted in a second mass casualty. This is not to say the aviation team did not do an excellent job, but it seems clear that there are limitations to a large air frame in terms of speed and maneuverability in a constricted, mountainous, non permissive AO.

Sustains

• PCCs/PCIs were fast, clear, and effective
• Loading of Birds with resupply was effective, although laborious
• Raid on OBJ FRANKLIN was "chefs kiss"
• Exceptional movement from LZ OAK to Near-side security position and assault position on OBJ FRANKLIN
• Exceptional security by Pioneer-1 on OBJ Franklin
• Exceptional SBF by Pioneer-4 on OBJ Franklin.
• Excellent new PZ call by Pioneer-4 in coordination with Archangel-6 on OBJ FRANKLIN
• Good squad buddy team (1-3 / 4-2) on OBJ Franklin
• Excellent 10-10-10 on OBJ Franklin
• Leadership planning was out of the park, including early WARNORD from Company, early Leaders Recon by Platoon leadership, air mission briefing between platoons, multiple WARNORDS by both Pioneer and Archangel. The improvement over last month's FTX is orders of magnitude.

Carr
2LT
2/A/1-7

 

[Rutkowski.P]

S1 Locked.

 

[Kenton.W]

S1 Operations Processed.