Why do leaders and soldiers consistently overload themselves?
2. Soldier confidence in the logistical system. Tailoring the load Most everyone has seen the movie Platoon, where the squad leader in Vietnam reached into new guy Charlie Sheen’s rucksack and dumped unnecessary equipment. Soldiers coming to JRTC need the same thing: leaders performing good pre-combat inspections (PCIs). The packing list should be tailored to the mission at hand, with all the extras and “nice-to-have” items eliminated. Soldier confidence in the logistical system Soldiers at the platoon level lack confidence in the logistical system. This has to be addressed at the company and higher level. When platoons request water and supplies, those requests must be command priorities. Effective CSS planning should forecast when those demands will arise. Emergency resupply, a reactive mode, should be the exception. That goes for all phases of operations. In the defense, for example, platoons should not have to wait for D-Bags, chemical gear, and platoon defense kits. They should ge
