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FM/G224 · Leadership basics

Leadership succession and combat ineffectiveness

Passages: 7
Reading time: 2 mins
Views: 105
Owned by: Unit Command
Platforms: Every platform
Role cards: 23 cards
Published: 23 Sep 2026

On this page

Leadership succession in combat FM/BG-1044
Actions on taking command of a fireteam FM/BG-1045
Actions on taking command of a squad FM/BG-1046
Actions on taking command of a platoon FM/BG-1047
Identifying combat ineffectiveness FM/BG-1048
How to deal with unresponsive callsigns FM/BG-1287
Responding to combat ineffectiveness FM/BG-1049

Leadership succession in combat

When leadership casualties occur, others must step up. Every player should understand the roles one level above and below them to ensure leadership continuity when necessary.

Seniority Hierarchy: CoyCo → PltCo → PltSgt → 1SL/2SL/3SL → 1:1/2:1/3:1 FTLs → Most senior member

Actions on taking command of a fireteam

If your Fireteam Leader is killed or incapacitated, take these steps:

Announce: Declare on comms that you're taking command.

Act: Choose one:

Continue the previous order
Request new orders from SL
Exercise disciplined initiative aligned with the squad intent

Actions on taking command of a squad

If your Squad Leader is killed or incapacitated, take these steps:

Announce: Notify the squad on the net that you’re taking command.
Respond: Either:
- Continue the current mission
- Go firm to reassess if tactical situation permits
Report: Notify PltCo. Request CASREPs from teams.
Assess: Determine combat effectiveness.
Execute: Continue or adjust plan per PltCo’s intent.

Actions on taking command of a platoon

If your Platoon Commander is killed, take these steps:

Announce: Declare on command net that you’ve taken over.
Decide: Continue the mission or go firm to assess.
Delegate: Appoint a new SL to replace your previous role.
Report: Gather CASREPs/SITREPs from SLs and assess.
Command: Issue new orders aligned with the original intent.

Identifying combat ineffectiveness

A unit is combat ineffective if it cannot fulfill its mission or typical tasks. Common causes include:

Loss of leadership
Heavy casualties (KIA/WIA)
Lack of weapons/ammo

Indicators include:

Lack of movement or cohesion
Silence or no response to orders
Absence of return fire
Numerous KIAs/WIAs
Unit reduced to a small fraction of its size

How to deal with unresponsive callsigns

If a callsign is not answering you, try to reach them for a total of three times with several seconds passing in between. Each additional time they may add the information that they haven’t received anything, to make other stations aware of it.

If the suspected station is your superior you may assume that they may be incapacitated and/or killed and the next station in the Chain of Command needs to take command in their place.

Example

This example will cover a squad net on channel 250 consisting of Outlaw 1-0, 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3. 1-2 is trying to reach 1-0 without success:

Trying to contact
1-2: Actual, this is 2.
1-0: (1-0 is not responding so after a couple of seconds 1-2 tries again)
1-2: Actual, this is 2, nothing heard.
1-0: (1-0 is not responding so after a couple of seconds 1-2 tries for the last time)
1-2: Actual, this is 2, nothing heard OUT.
1-0: (1-0 is not responding so 1-1 needs to take command)

Succession of command
1-2: 1, this is 2.
1-1: 2 this is 1.
1-2: You need to take command.
1-1: This is 1, taking command..