His view is that, spurred by its anticommunist obsession, the u. This person is usually a junior officer a second or first lieutenant or an equivalent rank. But, at its best, i find a treasure trove of new reading material. It is handmade in america to ensure top quality and customer service. Platoon leader was a great book to give you a concise glimpse into the reality of one young army leader in vietnam. Lyle rishell, an infantry platoon leader, led a black platoon of able company in that regiment. In order for a platoon to succeed, an effective partnership must exist between the pl and psg. Love is not always a two way street, sometimes you give more than you get, and love is a choice. Advice for new lts things to know as a platoon leader.
You have the ability to mold men and make our country stronger 24 hours a day. I have never come across one that i did not like at its worst it is a collection of books that i have already read or do not think apply. I was a supply platoon leader pl for 8 months in a brigade support battalion bsb and deployed to kuwait with them. Mcdonough train up his infantry brigade for bosnia.
The platoon sergeant keeps the medic with him to control his actions. This is not an account of the airborne helicopter search and destroy campaign. A young officer, just out of west point is sent to vietnam, where the men dont respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander. The combat vignettes of former platoon leaders flow along the arc of a typical 12month tour in iraq. The updated diaries of two soldiers in the same infantry company in world war ii. Always have a notebook with a spreadsheet on each soldier.
A platoon leader nato or platoon commander more common in commonwealth militaries and the us marine corps is the officer in command of a platoon. In one of the most compelling combat narratives ever written, staff sergeant david bellavia, an army infantry platoon leader in iraq, gives a teethrattling, firsthand account of 11 straight days of heavy housetohouse fighting during the climactic second battle of fallujah. A military theorist who has helped shape the postcold war armys thinking, he is also the author of the defense of hill 781 and the limits of glory. The film is about a newly commissioned infantry lieutenant who arrives in vietnam to take over his. He entered the army as a private in 1965 and, after being commissioned as an officer through infantry ocs officer candidate school, served in vietnam from december 1966 until july 1968 as an infantry platoon leader with the 9th division, a combat advisor to the first thai regiment deployed to vietnam, and as a staff officer with the 5th special forces. Reading lists are very common to the profession of arms. Being an infantry platoon leader is the greatest job in the world. An infantry platoon leader in pattons army chapter 6. The matter of lewis guns and their allocation prompts me to mention the recentlypublished fighting nineteenth which covers the history of the 19th battalion, aif in the context of its parent formations, the 5th brigade and the 2nd division. Some special units, such as specific aviation platoons and special forces, require a. Mar 20, 2012 i first read james mcdonoughs platoon leader about 17 years ago, as i was watching thencol. Or if the shell had hit the embankment itself, instead of passing over it, it would have exploded and sent jagged pieces of steel in all directions, including ours. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read platoon leader.
His platoon is charged with manning an outpost next to the village of truong lam. Some men were reluctant to serve under me, because they believed my number was up, and they didnt want to be in a leaderless platoon. It is narrated by mcdonough in first person view and tells of his story in the vietnam war as a lieutenant in command of 2nd platoon, bravo company, 4th battalion, 503rd infantry airborne. A very small faction of a millimeter in the aiming device of the german commander would have eliminated one platoon leader. I endured and survived many of these, but there is not much to describe about them except that we hugged the dirt and, if possible, dug slit trenches for protection.
Army nco leaders book item covering the deployment sequence of events counseling data sheet suggested u. The platoon leader is responsible for planning patrol routes, assigning tasks, and positioning and employing the soldiers under his command. Advice for new lts things to know as a platoon leader youtube. This book, commissioned by the chief of infantry in 2005, provides the reader with first. How does a young lieutenant assigned to be infantry platoon. Nov 29, 2017 as stated in the video, just some personal history about me. They have been used throughout history dating back to before the 1800. How does a young lieutenant assigned to be infantry. First lieutenant marina hierl has made history by becoming the first female infantry platoon leader in the marine corps. Infantry platoon structure soldiers and their units. Field operations, mission support, class iii v maintenance transportation, medical support, and i.
Army nco leaders book item covering team squad section and platoon training deployment sequence of events suggested u. Situation a enemy forces 1 situation enemy, weather and terrain. This book, commissioned by the chief of infantry in 2005. A guide for effective platoon leader platoon sergeant co. Now retired from active duty, mcdonough lives with his family. An interesting thread here about the evolution of the infantry platoon stucture as the war progressed. Leader s book 17 sample 5 paragraph operation order 1. A tactical decision game tdg is a situational exercise that is driven by a narrative that provides basic mission, intent, and resources available, allowing leaders to work through their decisionmaking processes tlps, mdmp, etc. They cannot rely on a book to solve tactical problems. The film is about a newly commissioned infantry lieutenant who arrives in vietnam to take over his first platoon. Leader skills infantry platoon and squad leaders must be tacticians. Page 1 of 2 1 2 team squad section platoon training suggested u. Army nco leaders book item covering the deployment sequence of events. It is narrated by mcdonough in first person view and tells of his story in the vietnam war as a lieutenant in command of 2nd platoon, bravo company, 4th battalion, 503rd infantryairborne plot introduction.
Enjoy every minute of it, even the difficult times, and give of yourself freely to your mission and your men. The platoon leader is forward and the platoon sergeant is to the rear of the formation. The platoon leader and the platoon sergeant, along with the radiotelephone operator, make up the headquarters section of the platoon. Tactics 101 093 the infantry platoon armchair general. As stated in the video, just some personal history about me. I first read james mcdonoughs platoon leader about 17 years ago, as i was watching thencol. Together, both platoon leaders create an inventory schedule, keeping in mind the subhandreceipt holders, soldiers, and the companys training schedule. After initially scoffing at his brothers suggestion, he later purchased some journals and annotated daily during his time in vietnam from april 1969 to april 1970. And as a platoon leader, all of your energies should be focused on getting the best training for your soldiers that you can find. Click here to download the team squad section and platoon training book item. The platoon sergeant is the second in command of the. James mcdonough graduated from west point and served in vietnam as an infantry platoon leader in the legendary 173d airborne brigade. Army nco leaders book item covering the counseling data sheet.
The platoon leader pl platoon sergeant psg leadership team is a unique and influential pair of roles that exist in the army. I read the book platoon leader by james mcdoughal im not sure if thats how you spell his last name, and its one of the best vietnam experience books i have ever read. A memoir of command in combat ebook written by james r. The central ingredient of the book is not so much actual fighting as the hard, almost animallike existence of the u. The combat vignettes of former platoon leaders flow. Responsible for the training, property management, mission planning, vehicleweapons maintenance, deployment capability, and the overall development of all personnel within the platoon. Platoons senior trainer, assis t and evaluate squad training. Aug 06, 2017 yes, but you need to go one step furthe. This book tells the dramatic, often frustrating, sometimes heroic story of that platoon in that first, fateful year of war. Army nco leaders book item covering the counseling. Enjoy every minute of it, even the difficult times, and give of yourself freely to your mission and. Platoon leader reminds me a lot of the book sand in the wind by robert roth because there is a body going over a waterfall scene in both.
It was a tour highlighted by his service as an infantry platoon leader, a recon platoon leader, and an infantry company commander incredibly as a 23year old first lieutenant. Especially if you plan on branching infantry, no one really cares how much you can bench. Now retired from active duty, mcdonough lives with his family in tallahassee. A remarkable memoir of small unit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. I was just thinking about the character of chalice skating away near the thin tripwire of a new day. Apr 16, 2014 20 things about being a platoon leader that he wishes he knew way back when. Army combat in iraq sourced from incountry interviews of this generations platoon leaders from 20032008. Infantry platoon and squad leaders must be tacticians. Platoon leader is a vivid first hand account of leadership of an infantry platoon defending a vietnam village. However, if you ignore your career, then you will soon find yourself stuck on the backside of the battalion staff headquarters in a windowless room lit only by the glow of a dying laptop. But if you ask her, as reported by the new york times, shed rather be. They must understand and use initiative in accomplishing the mission. Mcdonough retired is an impecable example for future and current young lieutenants that are preparing to take command of their first platoons.
Features waterproof laminated pages 6hole punched to best fit inside 1 5 58 x 7 78 x 1 12 rite in the rain binder not included works well with nonalcohol and alcohol staedtler markers included. Using a lean style and a sense of pacing drawn from the tautest of novels, mcdonough has produced a gripping account of his first command, a u. In airborne trooper, the author is a semitrained infantry platoon leader trying to quickly climb a steep learning curve in one of the vietnam wars legendary units, the 173rd airborne brigade. The officer is usually assisted by a platoon sergeant. First, the outgoing platoon leader should recall all property loaned out and update his hand receipt to reflect any changes that occurred that is, any unserviceable equipment. Mcdonough, chronicles the authors experiences as an officer in the vietnam war from 197071.
The platoon leader keeps his rto and fo with him at all times. First female infantry platoon leader takes the road less. The comparison between how a sergeant and an officer see the same event is striking. Jan 17, 2016 i read the book platoon leader by james mcdoughal im not sure if thats how you spell his last name, and its one of the best vietnam experience books i have ever read. Home of the infantry chief of infantry reading list junior ncos topic. A remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. A platoon leaders guide to inventory and accountability. The 2020 advanced camp battle book is the updated 37page reference guide for infantry lieutenants and rotc cadets. Platoon leader is a 1988 cannon films film set in the vietnam war and directed by aaron norris. Platoon leader were the longest any officer lasted.