SOPs for Arma 3

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A guide that will: define, expunge on the capabilities and limits of SOPs that relate to Arma 3, how to plan, create and execute SOPs and the difference between SOPs and Warrior Skills...

What's an SOP ?

U.S. Army docrtine 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 consitent framework to set as an operational stndard.

For the ability of SOPs to standardized 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 for Arma 3

Capabilities: SOPs are very helpful for both tactical and non-tactical applications (gameplay/training).


Tactical Skills

1) React to various forms of contacts:

• "soft contact" (enemy unaware)

• "hard contact" (enemy aware)

• sensory (auditory/visual)

• indirect fire

2) Board/dismount vehicles and/or aircraft

3) Occupy an ORP:


4) MEDEVAC call out





Non-tactical Gameplay

1) Individual Soldier's Inventory

2) Gameplay modification:

• server "A" will use mods "1, 2 and 3"

3) Scheduled map changes:

• server "A" will change its map every Sunday

4) Training is every Monday at 2000hrs local time



Tactical Training

1) CAS


2) Indirect Fires

• artillery

• mortars

3) Vehicle/ aircraft use

SOP limits for Arma 3

SOPs do have some limitations:

• cannot be used to "solve" all tactical/non-tactical situations

• suffocates individual ideas/initiatives

• 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

2) Identify variables

• Ex: types of ambushes
  + hasty
  + deliberate

• Ex: forms of ambushes
  + linear
  + "L" shaped

• 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

• Assault force parallel to the target
  + uses IMT to close in on the OBJ

• SBF force perpendicular to the target and uses:
  + suppressive fires to isolate the target and facilitate the movement of the Assault force

• Security forces at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions

2) Actions before contact

• Security forces leave the RP and gets into position first
  + covertly moves
  + claymores are set up for protection

• SBF follows by leaving the RP and gets into position
  + prepares 'hasty' fighting positions

• Assault forces moves from the RP and moves to the last covered/concealed position
  + covertly moves

3) Action during contact

• Ambush inititiation
  + SBF TL opens fire with tracers
  + the rest of SBF uses a 'rapid' fire rate

• Assault advances to the 'shift fire' marker using IMT

• Shift fires
  + SBF TL uses flare to signal 'shifting fire'
  + Assault force advances to the 'lift fire' marker

• 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

• Special teams
  + EPWs clear and secure the OBJ
  + demo team set charges
  + aid and litter team provides medical care to injured players

5) Actions after contact

• Withdrawl signal
  + yellow smoke

• Withdrawl order
  + first SBF, then Assault and finally Security forces

6) Reconsolidation

• No enemy activity
  + link up at the ORP

• Enemy activity
  + link up at 'Rally Point-Alpha'

Example of a NON-tactical SOP

Soldier's Layout



Individual Soldier

• weapon, with 5 magazines

• 1 magazine, green tracers

• basic medical items

• 1 each, grenade/smoke

• map light

TM LDR

• 2 magazines, red tracers

• weapon optic

• grenade launcher with smoke/flares

• radio, short range

SQD LDR

• 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

• rangefinder

• map tools

Mortar, ammo bearer

• 1each: HE/flare/smoke load,

• rangefinder

• map tools

What are some BAD SOPs for Arma 3 ?

Several SOPs that are good for the 'real world' are not good for Arma 3.

Example:

How to set up a terrain model

Conclusion

SOPs can greatly improve team unit playing abilities.

It is important to remember to:

• pick SOPs relevant to Arma 3

• dissiminate to and reviewed by peers

• practice...practice...practice

[rye]

Soft contact can also be called a sighting.

[StarOx532]

Another good Guide, keep it going...keep your axe sharp.

[Greybeard]

sir waffles...Thank You ! !

[Sir waffles]

i have to say this is a brillent guide ^_^ very good job

[Greybeard]

Thanks for the feedback. I agree and called SOPs a 'framework' to help us understands its place.

[Roadhouse699]

Nice guide - it should help some players with no military background. However, there is one important thing everyone should know that I don't you emphasized enough: from interaction with them, every U.S. Army NCO will tell you the same thing about tactics and SOPs: Don't try to do everything by the book. Don't be that guy.