AAR Arma Reforger | Firefight Friday (May) | Firefight Friday 015

[Rodahl.S]

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

Name of Combat Mission: Firefight Friday 015
Campaign of Combat Mission (If applicable): Firefight Friday (May)
Number within campaign: 3
Game: Arma Reforger
Server Hosted on: Tac 2
Date of Combat Mission: 16MAY25
Time of Combat Mission (Zulu): 2200
Mission OIC: Second Lieutenant Mitsuma.R, Captain Rodahl.S, Major Grgich.A, Second Lieutenant Whitsel.M
Mission Controller: Staff Sergeant Taylor.C, Sergeant First Class Geki.T

Number of Attendees: 55

7th Cavalry Personnel Involved in Action:

1. Major Grgich.A
2. Captain Rodahl.S
3. First Lieutenant Hilberg.A
4. Second Lieutenant Leifried.R
5. Second Lieutenant Mitsuma.R
6. Second Lieutenant Whitsel.M
7. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Dalton.D
8. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Peterson.L
9. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ratliff.B
10. Master Sergeant Westcott.R
11. Master Sergeant Wiseman.L
12. Sergeant First Class Geki.T
13. Sergeant First Class Willson.JA
14. Staff Sergeant Blake.H
15. Staff Sergeant Crowley.T
16. Staff Sergeant Holiday.T
17. Staff Sergeant Lucander.P
18. Staff Sergeant Mazinski.H
19. Staff Sergeant Taylor.C
20. Sergeant Burton.P
21. Sergeant Morozov.M
22. Sergeant Smith.DM
23. Corporal Jones.RH
24. Corporal Kastor.K
25. Corporal McAllen.J
26. Specialist Banks.M
27. Specialist Bull.T
28. Specialist Carr.W
29. Specialist Easy.G
30. Specialist Hudson.B
31. Specialist MacTavish.J
32. Specialist Molitor.K
33. Private First Class Bishop.B
34. Private First Class Bosley.B
35. Private First Class Flint.J
36. Private First Class Giordano.C
37. Private First Class Mors.V
38. Private First Class Murdock.T
39. Private First Class Lewis.DK
40. Private First Class Linder.J
41. Private First Class Murdock.T
42. Private First Class Russell.JG
43. Private First Class Sayers.L
44. Private First Class Thomas.K
45. Private First Class Vlade.I
46. Private Adler.L
47. Private Cartel.D
48. Private Kelso.H
49. Private Kron.D
50. Private Valiante.M
51. Private Walmsley.M
52. Recruit Wilson.R

Not Eligible:

1. Lieutenant Colonel Dread.M (Reserves)
2. Corporal Houston.T (Retired)
3. Specialist Crimzon.E (ELOA)

 

[Burton.P]

Element Callsign: Misfit 2
Element Leader: Sergeant Burton.P
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Peterson.L
Private First Class Vlade.I
Recruit Wilson.R
Private First Class Flint.J

Ineligible:
Specialist Crimzon.E

Pros:

• Very good reaction to orders from the squad members
• Able to hold positions despite overwhelming numbers
• Able to destroy multiple armor targets as well as infantry
• Awesome pacing

Cons:

• Better-placed defensive positions
• Hard to see at night, especially for PS5 players

 

[Lucander.P]

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

Element Callsign: Bandit - 1
Element Leader: Staff Sergeant Lucander.P

7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Staff Sergeant Lucander.P
Private First Class Vandal.T
Private Valiante.M
Private Kron.D
Vail


Pros:
Good fire fights
Good time
Squad was in high spirits

Cons:
Better last stand for Bandit.
Better initial emplacement for Bandit first position.
We had some load-outs with incorrect head ware and suppressors, in the beginning.
Engagement ranges were a bit too far out.
Resupply could use improvement.
Don't combine Call for fire and platoon net, as we cant communicate in a timely manner.

 

[Sayers.L]

Element Callsign: Bandit-3
Element Leader: Private First Class Sayers.L

7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Private Kelso.H
Private First Class Linder.J
Second Lieutenant Leifried.R

Pros: Good movement from the different objectives, communications were really good specially the calls of enemy vehicles.

Cons: SL was micro managing and was hesitant to make decision, SL hesitant with radio communications, SL didn't organise the squad until the near the end.

 

[Ratliff.B]

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

Element Callsign: Buffalo-1
Element Leader: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ratliff.B

7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Specialist Hudson.B
Private Walmsley.M
Private Cartel.D

Pros:

• The actual flying around went very well, we made several excellent landings and one landing that was in the trees at one of the AOIs, trying to pick up a reinsert
• We dodged a lot of RPGs and tons of BTR fire
• The reinserts that we did were performed well
• The Tree
• Nap of the Earth flying was executed very well

Cons:

• From the start, there was no real direction as to what our tasking actually was throughout the operation. It consisted of two lines, which was "Resupply and Reinserts". A change in direction from the get go should be established and communicated.
• Initial Resupply point was approximately 100m from the supply point, it would have worked better, easier and faster to have a truck (also conveniently located near the MOB) deliver the supplies to that specific point.
• The resupply base at Saint Pierre (also briefed in the OPORD) was non-existent.
• Overall, the lack of specific tasking and lack of tools needed to perform the tasking provided made for a boring experience for the aircrew.

 

[Willson.JA]

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

Element Callsign: Bandit-5
Element Leader: Sergeant First Class Willson.JA

Pros:

• The platoon was quick to respond to radio calls.
• Squads were quick with ACE reports and getting resupply.
• Helios quickly and successfully set up defence positions on multiple AOIs, giving friendly forces plenty of cover from which to defend.
• Squads gave covering fires throughout the operation, allowing other squads to bound successfully.

Cons:

• During the first contact, squads became red on AR ammunition because they had to engage targets further than they should have.
• Platoon movement was slow when it needed to shift to new defensive positions.
• Bandit Platoon was left in the open without the mutual support of the Company.
• The platoon was unable to conduct ambushes as briefed.

 

[Kastor.K]

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

Element Callsign: LOKI
Element Leader: Corporal Kastor.K

Pros:

• A day out with ODIN is always a good day! The boys did well, comms were good, fires were executed quickly.
• HELIOS doing excellent and fast work preparing mortar positions, defensive positions, etc. - the tempo of standing up FOB Forge was commendable!
• Got killed with a mortar shell landing directly on top of the tall radio tower in Entre Deux as I watched the creeping barrage munch up the forest below, it was absolutely hilarious.

Cons:

• Preface to all the cons below - we need to re-learn together as 1BN how to use LOKI and ODIN, please plan for us in your FTXs just like you do aviation, we will show up and we will help you conduct planning and execution, so that we work together seamlessly
• Complete lack of planning for usage LOKI and ODIN use aside from generic "use fires to deny, delay and degrade the enemy". ODIN was at least planned for as far as the idea of firebases and supply but not effectiveness / specific usage to deny, delay and degrade the enemy.
• LOKI not involved by OIC in mission planning
• Lack of predefined kill zones that mortars could compound on.
• Was forced to predefine TRPs on the fly for ODIN and adjust from there.
• Forced by orders to move on foot to locations (AOI2) with degrading visibility and situational awareness. Being forced to constantly relocate in search of better sight lines and / or to avoid being enveloped by the enemy disallowed me from providing ODIN with even a single BDA, as most of the time when they were firing, I was running back uphill with fire at my back - or I could not see beyond the defilade or tree lines. Better positions for LOKI would have enhanced ODIN gameplay and satisfaction - troopers in AAR said they felt they were sending rounds "into darkness, for no feedback at all".
• (see figure 1 below) AOI 2 was a no-go due to complete lack of sight lines and immediate contact with the enemy. Regardless of how it's done IRL, in this game when we're executing retrograde movement (essentially ambush and fighting retreat), LOKI cannot and will not be at the very point of contact with the enemy, regardless where HQ decides to be. Radios exist for a reason, LOKI doesn't need to be in a shouting distance of HQ.
  
  Thanks to opting to remain on elevated terrain 300m behind HQ (orange sight lines), LOKI was able to detect and inform HITMAN about enemy troop movement and attempt to engage them with mortar fire. LOKI was also able to detect the enemy flanking push from PL1 (NE flank) and warn both HITMAN and MISFIT HQ in time, so that they would not be enveloped.
  
  LOKI fell back to AOI 3 and continued working with even better sight lines, calling fires onto enemy vehicles moving through POI A and POI B.
  Ultimately, LOKI respawned at FOB and used the tower at Entre Deux to great effect, able to detect an eastern push that would have enveloped and destroyed the ODIN firebase. Thanks to this situational awareness, ODIN was able to dismount and fall back through LZ SNOOPY to FOB FORGE.
  
  The tower viewpoint was essential in guiding ODIN and other friendly fire into enemies assaulting MISFIT at AOI 3 at that time.
• Weather was foggy not clear. Render distance fogged out after 1km+ despite being set to 5km maximum. I've checked in Game Master mode, all my positions (the orange, the AOI 3, especially the tower) should have allowed me extremely long sight lines towards the enemy.
  
  Please do not alter weather from the briefed, shortening render distance makes LOKI useless and not fun for them or ODIN.
• Lack of supply of rounds for ODIN firebase. ODIN probably needs just an ample amount of ammo at firebase at all times, without the need for supply runs. Mission makers don't seem to realize the tempo at which even two mortar tubes eat up ammo. A few dozen rounds is just a few minutes of fire after which ODIN becomes useless and bored. Please give ODIN way more ammo by default, let them do their job - it's on LOKI that they do not fire blindly or excessively, ammo cannot be a limiting factor for a firebase. It's not fun for anyone when they run out and all supply effort is focused on troops in contact.
  
  (fig. 1)
  
  

 

[Mitsuma.R]

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

Element Callsign: Hitman - 6
Element Leader: Second Lieutenant Mitsuma.R

7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:


Pros:

• Platoon killed it. Zero full losses during the phases, a held line throughout the 1+49 minute OP, and multiple times they did exactly what was briefed and expected of them. Entire mission success despite the shenaniganry.
  • We even had to pull the platoons back to make sure OPFOR kept within the plan, platoons were doing so well.
• I saw a very task loaded, and very well managed Helios unit that was able to provide defences across an entire AOR - very well handled. Some logistics didn't quite go to plan, but the company still made due.
  • The SOP that H7 is a dedicated Zeus to help logistics/supply with task specific Zeus shenaniganry is an awesome implementation and should be continued.

Cons:

• Power outage right before start meant I had to backseat drive through Hitman 7s stream.This meant H7 essentially had an entire mission and plan dropped on him with no lead-up. This difference caused some issues between the plan and execution, leading to some confusion and strain amongst leadership and an unfortunate instance where supply assets weren't placed due to task saturation.
  • Only thing that could be done here is make sure all company leadership is on the same page. However that wouldn't help here with the last minute sign up and busy day until the OP; he tried, I couldn't facilitate.
• Multiple assets raised concerns during voice debrief about the lack of knowing what they were doing or a plan not to their specific tastes, multiple assets weren't at the leadership/mission planning brief where explanations were had and due-outs assigned.
  • Show to mission planning to plan the mission. Or even utilize the dedicated discord channel there was - Don't just show up to the OP hoping someone planned for your piece.
    • For some who signed on at the last minute this is excusable and a regrettable happenstance. Not so for the others.

 

[Bishop.B]

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

Element Callsign: ODIN-6
Element Leader: Private First Class Bishop.B

7th Cavalry Personnel Within Element:
Private First Class Bishop.B

Pros:

• Engaging in direct contact during relocation to secondary mortar pits while under heavy IDF and defending FOB near Poacher Hill to cover Misfit's flank until they could reposition during fallback to secondary mortar position was a cinematic experience.

Cons:

• Secondary position only had enough supplies for approximately 5 rounds per ODIN-1.
• Initial planning for fire missions and mortar positions were changed (by squad elements) from what was discussed and agreed on during the leadership meeting by those who attended.
• Mortar teams chose to perform their own fire missions without direction from the FDC. Role should be reevaluated as to whether or not it's necessary. A second Loki instead during Ops with two platoons seems more useful but then would also benefit from an FDC.
• BUFFALO was re-tasked during ammunition runs to ODIN battery leading to extensive downtime. BUFFALO and MISFIT-5 operating an HMMWV did their best to keep ODIN supplied with rounds with what was available even with a supply issue.

 

[Houser.J]

S1 Locked.

 

[Manser.N]

S1 Operations Completed.

 

[Blake.H]

ODI Processed