U.S. Army doctrine defines an SOP as: "A set of instructions covering those features of operations which lend themselves to a definite or standardized procedure without loss of effectiveness."
The essence of an SOP is that it helps create a consistent framework to set as an operational standard.
For the ability of SOPs to standardize important tasks, armies are 'chock full' of them.
Standardization can be defined as: "The management principle which fosters the development and sustainment of a high state of proficiency and readiness among Soldiers and units throughout an organization."
Standardization throughout an organization reduces:
• Operational turbulence
• Confusion between units when force tailoring occurs
SOP Capabilities (Gaming Example)
SOPs are very helpful for both tactical and non-tactical applications (gameplay/training).
Tactical Skills
1) React to various forms of contact:
• "Soft Contact" (enemy unaware)
• "Hard Contact" (enemy aware)
• Sensory (auditory/visual)
• Indirect fire
• Vehicle
2) Board/dismount vehicles
3) Occupy an ORP
4) MEDEVAC Call Out
5) Offensive/Defensive Procedures
6) Communication
Non-tactical Gameplay
1) Individual Member's Inventory
2) Gameplay modifications:
E.g: Server "A" will use mods "1, 2 and 3"
3) Scheduled map changes:
E.g: Server "A" will change map every Sunday
4) Training/Operation schedule
E.g: Training is every Monday at 2000hrs local time
Tactical Training
1) Common Skills
• Situational awareness
• Basic movement techniques
• First aid
2) Marksmanship
• Weapons familiarization
• Combat marksmanship
• Rules of engagement and ammo management
3) Communication
• Reports
• Call for fire
• Radio procedures
4) Leadership
• Tactical leadership (FTL/SQL)
• Strategic leadership (PLTCO/COYCO)
• Individual initiative
5) Battle Drills
• React to various contact
• React to specific battlefield events (sniper/indirect/IEDs)
6) Small Unit Tactics
• Team movement techniques
• Offensive/defensive tasks
• Close quarters battle
7) Combined Arms
• Vehicle usage
• Artillery/mortar usage
• Joint operations
8) Specialized Skills
• Reconnaissance
• Combat diving
• Military freefall
SOP Limits
SOPs do have some limitations:
• SOPs cannot be used to "solve" all tactical/non-tactical situations
• SOPs suffocate individual ideas/initiatives
• SOPs are not useful if not everybody knows/isn't trained/doesn't use them
Create a TACTICAL SOP - Step A
Step A - Task/event decision
1) Identify a general task/event to be executed. • Ex: Setting up an ambush
• Ex: method of ambush — Point — Area • Ex: support of ambush — With SBF — Without SBF
3) Restrict variables • Type of ambush — Deliberate
• Form of ambush — "L" ambush
• Method of ambush — Point
• Support of ambush — With SBF
4) Restate the specific task/event to be executed • Ex: 'setting up a deliberate, "L" shaped, point ambush with SBF support'
Create a TACTICAL SOP - Step B
Step B - Identify training objectives for the specific task/event
In our case: Setting up a deliberate, "L" shaped, point ambush with SBF support
1) List correct duties of an ambush • Assault
• Support
• Security
2) Actions before contact • Security gets into position
• SBF gets into position
• Assault gets into position
3) Actions during contact • Ambush initiation with SBF support
• Assault advances to LOA
• SBF advances to LOA
• Security isolates the objective
4) Actions on the Objective • EPW
• Demo
• Aid and litter
5) Actions after contact • Withdrawl signal • Withdrawl order
• Reconsolidation
Create a TACTICAL SOP - Step C
Step C - Develop the individual training objectives
Setting up a deliberate, "L" shaped, point ambush with SBF support.
1) List correct duties of an ambush
• a) Assault force parallel to the target — Uses IMT to close in on the OBJ
• b) SBF force perpendicular to the target and uses: — Suppressive fires to isolate the target and facilitate the movement of the Assault force
• c) Security forces at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions
2) Actions before contact
• a) Security forces leave the RP and gets into position first — Covertly moves — Claymores are set up for protection
• b) SBF follows by leaving the RP and gets into position — Prepares 'hasty' fighting positions
• c) Assault forces moves from the RP and moves to the last covered/concealed position — Covertly moves
3) Action during contact
a) • Ambush initiation — SBF TL opens fire with tracers — The rest of SBF uses a 'rapid' fire rate
• b) Assault advances to the 'shift fire' marker using IMT
• c) Shift fires — SBF TL uses flare to signal 'shifting fire' — Assault force advances to the 'lift fire' marker
• d) Lift fires — SBF TL use flare to signal 'lifting fire' — Assault forces clears the OBJ and reaches LOA — Assault TL uses flare to signal that it has reached the 'Assault LOA' — SBF advances onto the OBJ and reaches the 'SBF LOA'
4) Action on the Objective
• a) Special teams
—EPWs clear and secure the OBJ
— Demo team set charges
— Aid and litter team provides medical care to injured troops
5) Actions after contact
• a) Withdrawl signal — Yellow smoke
• b) Withdrawl order — First SBF, then Assault and finally Security forces
6) Reconsolidation
• a) No enemy activity — Link up at the ORP
• b) Enemy activity — Link up at 'Rally Point-Alpha'
Example of a NON-tactical SOP
Soldier's Layout
Individual Soldier
• Primary weapon system, with 5 magazines
• 1 magazine w/ green tracers
• Individual first aid kit
• 1 each, frag/smoke
• Map items + illumination device
• Personal radio
Team Leader
• 2 magazines, red tracers
• Weapon optic
• Grenade launcher with smoke/flares
• Radio, short range
Squad Leader
• 3 magazines, yellow tracers
• Binoculars
• 1 hand held flare, yellow
• 2 smoke grenade, yellow
• Radio, short/long range
Medic • Medical aid bag
Engineer
• Basic demolition load
• Basic mine load
• Wirecutters
• Entrenching tool
• 5 sandbags
Mortar Gunner
• Mortar tube backpack
• Rangefinder
• Map tools
Mortar Assistant Gunner
• Mortar bipod backpack
• Rangecard
• Map tools
Mortar Ammo Bearer
• 1 each: HE/flare/smoke load
• Rangecard
• Map tools
What are some BAD SOPs for gaming?
Several SOPs that are good for the 'real world' are not good for gaming.
Example:
How to set up a terrain model
Conclusion
SOPs can greatly improve team unit playing abilities.