1-20. The headquarters section provides the platoon with command and control, and communications. It consists of the platoon leader, the platoon sergeant, and the platoon radiotelephone operator (known as RTO).
Platoon Leader
1-21. The platoon leader leads Soldiers by personal example and is responsible for accountability of platoon members, assigned equipment, all the platoon does or fails to do, and having complete authority over the subordinates. This centralized authority enables the platoon leader to maintain unit discipline, unity, and to act decisively. The platoon leader must be prepared to exercise initiative within the company commander’s intent and without specific guidance for every situation. The platoon leader knows the Soldiers of the platoon, how to employ the platoon, its weapons, and its systems. Relying on the expertise of the platoon sergeant, the platoon leader regularly consults with the platoon sergeant on all platoon matters. During operations, the platoon leader—
- Leads the platoon in supporting the higher headquarters missions. Bases the platoon’s actions on the assigned mission and intent and concept of the higher commander(s).
- Conducts troop leading procedures (TLP).
- Maneuvers squads and fighting elements.
- Synchronizes the efforts of squads.
- Looks ahead to the next “move” of the platoon.
- Plans and controls employment of direct and indirect fires.
- Plans the emplacement and employment of key weapon systems and ensures they are integrated to support the platoon’s maneuver.
- Knows weapon effects, surface danger zones, and risk estimate distances for the platoon’s weapon systems and supporting fires to synchronize the platoon’s direct and indirect fires with movement.
- Requests, controls, and synchronizes supporting assets.
- Employs command and control systems available to the squads and platoon.
- Confirms that squad leaders are maintaining coverage of assigned primary and secondary sectors of fire in three dimensions.
- Confirms the emplacement and employment of the platoon’s key weapons with the weapons squad leader.
- Issues accurate and timely reports.
- Positions where best to control and accomplish the mission.
- Assigns clear tasks and purposes to the squads.
- Understands the mission and commander’s intent two levels up (company and battalion).
- Receives on-hand status reports from the platoon sergeant and squad leaders throughout the operation.
- Coordinates and assists in the development and implementation of the obstacle plan.
- Oversees and is responsible for property management.
- Works to develop and maintain situational awareness, and to the degree possible, situational understanding through the product of four elements:
- Attempts to know what is happening in present terms of friendly, enemy, neutral, and terrain situations.
- Knows the end state representing mission accomplishment.
- Determines the critical actions and events occurring to move the unit from the present to the end state.
- Assesses the risk throughout the operation.
Platoon Sergeant
1-22. The platoon sergeant is the platoon’s most experienced noncommissioned officer and second-in-charge, accountable to the platoon leader for leadership, discipline, training, maintenance and accountability of assigned equipment, and welfare of the platoon’s Soldiers. The platoon sergeant sets the example in everything, advises the platoon leader, and assists the platoon leader by upholding standards and platoon discipline. The platoon sergeant’s expertise includes tactical maneuver, employment of weapons and systems, sustainment, administration, security, accountability, protection, and Soldier care. As the second-in-charge, the platoon sergeant assumes no formal duties except those prescribed by the platoon leader. However, the platoon sergeant traditionally—
- Ensures the platoon is prepared to accomplish its mission, which includes supervising precombat checks (PCCs), precombat inspections (PCIs), and rehearsals.
- Updates platoon leader on appropriate reports and forwards reports needed by higher headquarters.
- Prepares to assume the role and responsibilities of the platoon leader.
- Takes charge of task-organized elements in the platoon during tactical operations, which may include but is not limited to, quartering parties, special purpose teams, and security patrols.
- Monitors the morale, discipline, and health of the platoon.
- Positions where best needed to help the engagement (either with the assault element or base of fire element).
- Receives squad leaders’ administrative, logistical, and maintenance reports.
- Requests logistical support from the higher headquarters, and usually coordinates with the company’s first sergeant or executive officer.
- Ensures Soldiers maintain all equipment.
- Ensures ammunition and supplies are properly and evenly distributed after the platoon consolidates on the objective and while the platoon reorganizes.
- Manages the unit’s combat load prior to operations and monitors logistical status during operations.
- Establishes and operates the unit’s casualty collection point (CCP). This includes directing the platoon combat medic and aid/litter teams in moving casualties, maintaining platoon strength level information, consolidating and forwarding the platoon’s casualty reports, and receiving and orienting replacements.
- Employs the available digital command and control systems to the squads and platoon.
- Ensures Soldiers distribute supplies according to the platoon leader’s guidance and direction.
- Accounts for Soldiers, equipment, and supplies.
- Coaches, counsels, and mentors squad leaders and team leaders.
- Upholds standards and platoon discipline.
- Understands the mission and commander’s intent two levels up (company and battalion).
- Assists with preparing the operation order (OPORD) (for example, determining Soldier load and for example, echeloning loads, load determination, and load tailoring [see ATP 3-21.18]).
- Assists with preparation for rehearsals and priorities of work.
Platoon Radiotelephone Operator
1-23. The RTO primarily is responsible for communication with its controlling headquarters (usually the company). During operations, the RTO—
- Establishes and maintains platoon communications with higher headquarters and subordinate elements; conducts regular radio checks and immediately informs platoon leaders about any change in communications status.
- Conducts radio checks with higher according to unit standard operating procedures (SOPs). If radio contact cannot be made as required, the RTO informs the platoon sergeant or platoon leader.
- Acts as an expert in radio procedures and report formats such as close air support (CAS), call for mortar and artillery fire, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), or casualty evacuation (CASEVAC).
- Acts as an expert in different types of field expedient antennas.
- Maintains the frequencies and call signs on self in a location known to all Soldiers in the platoon.
- Assists the platoon leader with information management.
- Assists the platoon leader and platoon sergeant employing digital command and control systems with individual squads and platoon.
- Determines combat load prior to operations and manages battery utilization during operations.
- Assists with preparing the OPORD (for example, developing the primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency [known as PACE]) communications plan.
- Assists with preparation for rehearsals (for example, building the platoon sand table).
- Maintains physical security of communications security devices.
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