CHAPTER 2 ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE COMPANY COMMAND POST

In the previous chapter, we learned about the importance of a proficient Combat Operations Center (COC). For a Combat Operations Center to be effective, it must receive accurate information immediately from the companies assigned to the unit. The line companies (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie) man the defensive lines that are the battalion's portion of the defensive perimeter in the rear area or the Forward Edge of the Battle Area (FEBA); therefore, they are the "eyes and ears" of the COC. Company command posts are established to help the companies maintain command and control of their perspective companies. This chapter provides detailed information about the company command post and how the data it provides to the COC is vital to an effective command and control system.

COMPANY COMMAND POST The company command post (CP) is the central point from which company operations are directed. The CP is established to provide the company commander centralized command and control facilities for the platoons assigned to the company. The platoon commanders report all activities to the company CP, regardless of their magnitudes, concerning their perspective platoons. The company CP reports to the COC all information concerning the company.

The specific composition and functions of the company command post vary with the mission assigned to the company. The normal functions of the company CP are similar to the COC and include the following:

1. Receiving and recording operational reports from the COC.

2. Maintaining current maps and overlays of friendly and enemy situations within the company's area of responsibility. This information is displayed within the company command post.

3. Maintaining current maps and overlays of the company's patrol routes and other routes that may come in contact with the company's area of responsibility.

4. Preparing and submitting operational reports to the COC concering the company.

5. Providing dedicated communication channels for tactical and nontactical operations to the COC and to the platoon commanders.

6. Transmitting orders and tactical decisions of the battalion's COC to the platoons as required.

7. Monitoring the progress of the battalion's tactical operations and reporting immediately to the COC any significant event or incident concerning the company's area of responsibility.

LOCATION The location considerations of the company CP are similar to the location considerations of the COC. The company CP must be hard to detect from enemy forces and must be easy to defend and easily accessible to battalion personnel. Other factors to consider am centralization, traffic, communications, and defense security.

Centralization The company command post is located rear of the forward platoons manning the defensive perimeter or the FEBA and is centered among those platoons to enhance the execution of command and control operations.

Traffic All of the traffic entering the company CP is by foot. Personnel approaching and returning to their fighting positions from the company CP should do so by alternate routes. When this rule is not followed, a beaten path leading to the company CP for the enemy to follow will result.

Communication Communication is vital to the company CP for the effective exercise of command and control. The company CP must have constant communication with the platoon commanders, the listening posts (LP), and the observation posts (OP). The platoon commanders must have constant communication with the troops on the front lines. A break in communication can cause massive confusion and could result in heavy casualties and the loss of lives. Communications is covered in depth farther on in this chapter.

Defense and Security Defensive and security measures for the company CP are similar to that of the COC. The major exception is that the company CP is not as fortified as the COC. For example, barbed and tactical wire entanglements are not used around the company CP because of the constant flow of traffic entering the CP. The company commander is concerned principally with the defense of the company's area of responsibility.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANY COMMAND POST

The internal organization of the company CP varies with each company or contingency operation. Written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are established to avoid any confusion. Personnel duties, maps, and various boards are usually standard within any company CP.

The company commander is responsible for coordinating, organizing, operating, and training watch standing personnel for the company CP. The number of personnel assigned to the watch stations, which are manned on a 24-hour basis, is normally maintained at the minimum needed to meet operational requirements. The watch personnel and their duties are as follows:

Watch Chief 1. Before assuming watch, the watch chief should read the message board, be briefed on the current situation from the current watch chief, and then make liaison with the COC.

2. During watch, keep current on the tactical situation of the battalion, make routine decisions concerning the company, and notify the company commander of incidents of an unusual nature.

3. Read all incoming and outgoing messages. Take the appropriate action on messages received from the COC. Ensure the COC immediately receives

accurate information pertaining to the company's area of responsibility.

4. Ensure incoming and outgoing messages follow established routing procedures.

5. Retain releasing authority on all outgoing messages.

6. Provide complete supervision of operations in the company CP.

Watch Petty Officer 1. Handle and process information relating to intelligence.

2. Gather and distribute information gained from intelligence sources.

3. Maintain overlays of the enemy situation map pertaining to the company's area of responsibility.

4. Promptly inform the watch chief of significant or unusual incidents.

5. Maintain overlays of the company's patrols and convoys.

6. Supervise the action of the communication personnel.

7. Verify correct communication security measures are being used by all assigned communicators.

Communicator 1. Monitor radio nets as assigned. 2. Use all necessary measures to minimize interception or jamming of transmission.

Messengers/ Security 1. Perform all duties as assigned. 2. Ensure only authorized personnel enter the company CP.