7-236. Immediately on reentering a secure location or rejoining the unit, the patrol leader should positively verify all members of the patrol and attachments, and detainees are accounted for. The patrol leader should check in with the company or battalion command post as soon as possible after entering a secure location or rejoining the unit. Additional post patrol activities will include:
- Account for weapons and equipment.
- Debrief.
- Patrol report.
Accounting For Weapons And Equipment
7-237. The patrol leader is responsible for verifying all the patrol’s weapons, ammunition, munitions, and equipment are properly accounted for and reporting the status to the commander or the command post. Lost or missing equipment must be reported immediately. The patrol may be ordered to return to the area where it was lost, if it is assessed safe to do so, and try to find the item.
Debrief
7-238. The patrol leader should conduct a “debrief” with the entire patrol as soon as possible after entering the secure location or rejoining the main body. This allows the leader to capture low-level information while the Soldiers’ memories are fresh and information relevant. The leader should go over the notes taken by the patrol scribe chronologically to facilitate the discussion. Every patrol member should participate. If there was an interpreter or other attachments with the patrol, they should be debriefed as part of the patrol debriefing, allowing them to pass on information they obtained during the patrol.
7-239. Normally the debriefing is oral. Sometimes a written report is required. Information on the written report should include:
- Size and composition of the unit conducting the patrol.
- Mission of the platoon such as type of patrol, location, and purpose.
- Departure and return times.
- Routes use checkpoints, grid coordinates for each leg or include an overlay.
- Detailed description of terrain and enemy positions identified.
- Results of contact with the enemy.
- Unit status at the conclusion of the patrol mission, including the disposition of dead or wounded Soldiers.
- Number of isolated Soldiers’ platoon/squad unable to recover during execution of the mission.
- Conclusions or recommendations.
Patrol Report
7-240. The patrol leader is responsible for the patrol report and may be assisted by the APL and specialist personnel attached to the patrol. Immediately after the debriefing, the patrol leader should render the patrol report to the commander. This report may be verbal or written, simple, or elaborate depending on the situation and commander’s requirements.
7-241. The commander may have the patrol leader render the report to the battalion intelligence officer or to the duty officer at the battalion command post. The patrol report (see figure 7-30 on page 7-74) should include a description of the actual route taken by the patrol (as opposed to the planned route), including halt locations. If the unit uses digital command and control systems automatically tracking and displaying the patrol’s route, the information is known already. If not, the patrol leader reports it.
7-242. When Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are used by the patrol, gathering route information is easier and faster. The actual route the patrol took is important for planning future patrol routes and actions. Enemy intelligence operations attempt to identify patterns set by U.S. and coalition patrols, including the locations of halts. This may result in attack against locations regularly used by security forces.
7-243. Additional information may include the number of biometric enrollments and identification on the BEWL; was anyone detained according to the instructions on the BEWL; and what is the status? (See FM 3-24.2 for additional information.)
Figure 7-30. Patrol report, example
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