Tag Archives: Tactical

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Patched-Prairie (SBCT PLT Attack)

The Company Leader TDG 18-09

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You are the Platoon Leader of 2nd PLT/C Co/1-23 IN fighting on the Korean Peninsula. You have an MTOE Stryker (SBCT) Infantry Platoon with an attached Engineer Squad equipped with an M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicle. The Korean peninsula has been divided since 1953. Over six decades of heightened regional tensions and economic instability led to the collapse of the northern dictatorship when their dictator died suddenly and without an immediate successor. At this time, the north’s nuclear program has fallen and radical groups to the north are moving to secure chemical weapons depots across the region. It is assessed that these enemy forces have already infiltrated into the Republic of Korea through maritime routes. You will conduct a Platoon Attack on a patched prairie (OBJ COLT) as part of a greater battalion operation in AO Freeman.

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Tactical Decision Games (TDGs)

An Introduction

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The worst time to prepare for war is when you find yourself in the middle of one. Tactical Decision Games (TDGs) – also called Tactical Decision Exercises (TDEs) – are, simply, situational narratives of a tactical scenario that provide leaders the opportunity to develop a plan based on abbreviated information and in a time-constrained environment. They are tactical/situational puzzles. They require little in resources and provide huge returns for decision-making and critical-thinking. TDGs are, in my opinion, an underused tool in the institutional, organizational, and self-development domains. Let’s fix that.

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A Few Moments After

The Nightingale Series

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When I joined the 101st as a replacement Captain, I was sent to the Screaming Eagle Replacement Training Center (SERTS) for a programmed week of prep before being assigned to a specific unit.  On the first day, the Brigade S1 raced up in a Jeep and told me to load my duffle bag and get in the truck.  I was replacing part of a company command group that had been killed on the edge of the A Shau. Training was over.

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Talk About Fighting

A Company Grade Letter to New Field Grades

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The Field Grade Leader recently ran a series of articles to Field Grade Leaders just graduating CGSC/ILE. The entire series is great, and I highly recommend you check it out. But, I took specific notice of a post written by Lt. Col. Teddy Kleisner. It is titled “Middle Management in the Trenches” and it is spot on. It is gritty, it is honest, and it is specific. As I am in the transition from Company Grade to Field Grade, this article inspired me to write a letter to my future self – the Field Grade version of me. This is in no way all inclusive or comprehensive as I have pages upon pages of notes from green notebook pages to Evernotes. But, it focuses on Lt. Col. Kleisner’s message specifically.

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CSM Don Purdy’s Rules to Live By

Repost from Open Source

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A few weeks back, a mentor of mine shared a post from Colonel (Retired) Keith Nightingale. The post was titled “Don Purdy’s Rules to Live By (Don’t Forget Nuthin’)”. Col. Nightingale served with CSM Purdy in the original 1st Ranger Battalion (now 1/75th RGR). I asked Col. Nightingale for permission to repost and he shared that it is open source and has been posted multiple places before. This advice should be reposted as many times as possible and read by every warfighter.

CSM Don Purdy served in Ranger Companies in Vietnam and in the first activated Ranger Battalion, 1/75 RGR. He also served in the 101st ABN DIV (AASLT), 4th RTB, and other units.