Platoon Staff - Duties and Responsibilities

This is the Document Release Information
Article Number:	7CAV-R-011
Scope:	7th Cavalry Platoon Leader - Duties and Responsibilities
Version:	Version 1.0
Effective Date:	Unknown
Last Modified Date:	DDMMMYYYY
Approving Authority:	Regimental Commanding Officer
Point of Contact:	Regimental Chief of Staff

A Platoon Leader or PL is the commissioned officer in charge of a platoon. His direct superior is the Company Commander.

Role

The Platoon Leader is the lowest position held by a commissioned officer. He is appointed after successfully passing an officers board held by staff officers and NCO's in the battalion. The Platoon Leader manages his platoon through his Platoon Sergeant. Where the Platoon Sergeant is primarily concerned with the individual troopers, the Platoon Leader is primarily concerned with the platoon as a whole. The Platoon Leader is responsible for establishing policy and planning for the platoon. They ensure the platoon is focused on the correct training, and that the platoon as a whole maintains effectiveness and unit readiness. He is also responsible for ensuring that the Platoon Sergeant is meeting the minimum standards and is holding those below him to their standards. The Platoon Leader will be held personally responsible for the success or failure of the platoon. The Platoon Leader reports to the Company Commander, usually through the Executive Officer.

Responsibilities

The Platoon Leader responsibilities may vary by company. The following responsibilities are generally whats expected of a Platoon Leader in any company within the 7th Cavalry.

• Reviewing roll call reports from squads/sections under his command.
• Reviewing and completing the platoon report weekly.
• Conducting a Platoon Field Training Exercise once per month.
• Attending a section practice once or twice per month.
• Relaying information transmitted to him from the company command to the personnel under his command through his Platoon Sergeant.
• Ensuring Section Leaders are trained and equipped with the necessary knowledge, tools and training to effectively lead their sections.
• Ensuring Section Leaders are managing their sections effectively and duties are being performed per the governing procedures.
• Ensuring the platoon is combat ready.
• Perform administrative duties and paper work associated with his platoon. (ex: NCS, commendation)

See Also

• Standard Operating Procedures
• Platoon Sergeant
• Ranks