1. CONVOY OPERATIONS
(ADMIN)

2. TASK: CONDITION: STANDARD:
Determine requirements for convoy movements and conduct convoy operations.
CONDITION:
Given a class room environment determine prior, current and post
requirements for convoy operations within a theater of operation.
STANDARD:
Upon completion each individual will have a working
knowledge of the difficulties, and restrictions involved
in establishing convoy operations.

3. RESOURCE REFERENCES REFERENCES: FM 55 - 30 FM 55 - 10 SAFETY BOOK

4. PRE-TEST
1. What are the three types of road classifications as determined
by STANAG 2174?
A) 1,2, B) X,Y,Z C)Traffic, oversized, limited
2. The green convoy flag goes on the lead vehicle of a convoy.
A) True B) False
3. What is the largest element of a convoy?
A) march unit B) serial C) column D) convoy commanders

5. PRE-TEST
4. Who is responsible for the vehicles and personnel of a convoy
from SP to RP?
A) company commander
B) squad leader
C) plt sgt
D) convoy commander
5. How many different types of Convoy Support Centers are there?
A) five B) four C) three D) two
6. What does the first two numbers on a march credit stand for?
A) number of vehicles in the convoy
B) date of the convoy move
C) hour of move

6. ___________________________________________
PRE-TEST
7. What can cause a problem in a convoy?
___________________________________________
8. What is the time limit for a routine march credit for standard vehicles?
A) 5 days B) 10 days C) 7 days D) 2 days is fine
9. What is the time limit for a routine march credit for oversized/overweight
vehicles?
A) 7 days B) 3 weeks C) 10 days D) 1 month

7. PRE-TEST 10. How many miles are there in a line haul?
A) 20 MILES B) MILES C) 144 KM D) 90 MILES

8. CONVOY DEFINITIONS

9. CONVOY SERIAL A GROUP OF MOTOR VEHICLES ORGANIZED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
CONTROL AND ORDERLY MOVEMENT WITH OR WITHOUT ESCORT
PROTECTION. A CONVOY IS ALSO DEFINED AS, ANY GROUP OF SIX OR
MORE VEHICLES TEMPORARILY ORGANIZED TO OPERATE AS A COLUMN
WITH OR WITHOUT ESCORT PROCEEDING TOGETHER UNDER A SINGLE
COMMANDER OR THE DISPATCHING OF 10 OR MORE VEHICLES PER
HOUR TO THE SAME DESTINATION OVER THE SAME ROUTE.
SERIAL
AN ELEMENT OR GROUP OF ELEMENTS WITHIN A SERIES WHICH IS
GIVEN A NUMERICAL OR ALPHABETICAL DESIGNATION FOR
CONVENIENCE OF PLANNING, SCHEDULING, AND CONTROL. IT IS THE
LARGEST ELEMENT OF A CONVOY, AND IT MOVES AND HALTS AT THE
ORDER OF ONE COMMANDER.

10. MARCH UNIT COLUMN CONVOY COMMANDER
A SUBORDINATE ELEMENT OF A SERIAL WHICH MOVES AND HALTS AT
THE ORDER OF ONE COMMANDER
COLUMN
A SUBORDINATE ELEMENT OF A MARCH UNIT WHICH MOVES AND
HALTS AT THE ORDER OF ONE COMMANDER. A FORMATION IN WHICH
ELEMENTS ARE PLACED ONE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE OTHER.
CONVOY COMMANDER
THE OFFICER OR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE
VEHICLES AND OPERATING PERSONNEL OR A CONVOY, DESIGNATED
AS SUCH BY THE PERSON AUTHORIZING THE MOVEMENT.

11. MARCH
CREDITS
MARCH
CREDITS

12. MARCH CREDITS ( what are they? )
A March Credit is nothing more than a Convoy Clearance number. This number
is given by the approving headquarters in whose area the convoy originates and
is designated at the time the request for convoy clearance is approved. This
number is shown by the convoy during the entire movement for control purposes.

13. MARCH CREDITS PLACEMENT
01GEFO51157
BOTH SIDES
(all vehicles)
01GEFO51157
FRONT
(first vehicle)
REAR
(last vehicle)
01GEFO51157

14. MARCH CREDIT NUMBER MARCH CREDIT # 01GEFO51058
FIRST 2 NUMBERS DAY OF THE MONTH MOVEMENT BEGINS. EXAMPLE 01 MAY
FIRST 2 LETTERS NATIONAL SYMBOL OF THE CONVOY AUTHORIZING MOVE. EXAMPLE :
GE = GERMANY
SECOND 2 LETTERS -- AUTHORITY GRANTING CLEARANCE. EXAMPLE: FO=BAVARIA
(HMCT KATTERBACH)
SECOND 2 NUMBERS-- ADMINISTRATIVE NUMBERS OF CLEARANCE FOR DATE
THIRD 2 NUMBERS MONTH OF CLEARANCE. EXAMPLE 05 = MAY
LAST NUMBER YEAR OF CLEARANCE. EXAMPLE 7 = 1998
* THE LAST THREE NUMBERS OF A MARCH CREDIT ARE FOR HMCT ADMINISTRATIVE
PURPOSES ONLY. THE NUMBER WHICH SHOULD BE CHALKED ON ALL VEHICLES IN A
CONVOY IS THE MARCH CREDIT NUMBER MINUS THE LAST THREE NUMBERS. FOR THE
EXAMPLE ABOVE, THE CONVOY COMMANDER SHOULD CHALK # 01GEFO51 ON HIS
VEHICLES.

15. ROUTINE MARCH CREDITS
ROUTINE MARCH CREDIT BIDS MEET THE TIME FRAMES LISTED BELOW FOR
SUBMISSION TO THE HMCT. THEY ARE USED FOR PEACETIME MISSIONS AND
COMPANY OR BATTALION SIZED FIELD TRAINING EXERCISES (FTX). SUBMISSION
REQUIREMENTS LISTED BELOW DO NOT INCLUDE THE DAY OF SUBMISSION,
THE DAY OF THE MOVEMENT, WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS (GERMAN AND
AMERICAN). IF A MARCH CREDIT BID IS FAXED TO THE HMCT AFTER THE HOURS
OF BUSINESS, THE DATE OF SUBMISSION BECOMES THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.
STANDARD OVERSIZED/OVERWEIGHT
IN GERMANY DAYS DAYS
BORDER CROSSINGS INTO ALL DAYS DAYS
COUNTRIES EXCEPT DENMARK
BORDER CROSSINGS INTO CALENDAR CALENDAR
DENMARK DAYS DAYS
EXCEPTION TO POLICY DAYS DAYS

16. LATE (SPECIAL) MARCH CREDIT BID
A LATE MARCH CREDIT BID DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM TIME REQUIREMENTS
SUBMISSION FOR A LATE MARCH CREDIT BID REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING:
A. A COMPLETE E FORM 1060 OR 55-IN
B. A HAND WRITTEN OR TYPED REASON FOR WHY THE REQUEST WAS LATE
(MAY BE EITHER IN A SEPARATE MEMORANDUM OR ANNOTATED ON THE
BOTTOM OF THE MARCH CREDIT BID.
C. AUTHENTICATION BY A LTC (-5) THIS AUTHENTICATION MAY BE EITHER
ANNOTATING THE NAME, RANK, DUTY POSITION AND PHONE NUMBER ON
THE MARCH CREDIT BID BELOW THE REASON FOR LATENESS OR SUBMITTING
A LETTER OF LATENESS. IN EITHER CASE, THE SIGNATURE OF THE
AUTHENTICATING OFFICER IS REQUIRED.
THE AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL SHOULD BE FROM THE UNIT WHICH CAUSED
THE MARCH CREDIT TO BE LATE.

17. CONT. LATE MARCH BID
LATE REQUEST ARE PROCESSED IN SEQUENCE AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO
MOVE ON THE REQUESTED DATE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO SUBMIT THE REQUEST FOR MARCH CREDITS AT THE
EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE ACTUAL MARCH CREDIT
REQUEST HAS THE MAXIMUM PROCESSING TIME AVAILABLE. NO LATE MARCH
BIDS WILL BE GRATED UNLESS THE AUTHENTICATION REQUIREMENT IS MET!
FAILURE TO PLAN MOVES FOR TRAINING EXERCISES IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE
REASON FOR SUBMITTING A LATE REQUEST. INSUFFICIENT PLANNING IS NOT A
VALID REASON FOR MAKING A SPECIAL REQUEST. THE FOLLOWING ARE
EXAMPLES OF UNACCEPTABLE REASONS FOR LATE MARCH BIDS:
A. UNIT NEEDS TO RUN GAS OUT OF VEHICLE SO THEY CAN TURN THEM IN
B. UNIT DID NOT REALIZE A MARCH CREDIT WAS NEEDED.
C. CHANGE IN TRAINING
D. REASONS STATING WHY THE UNIT NEEDS TO MOVE, NOT STATING WHY
THE MOVE IS LATE.
BOTTOM LINE: AN APPROVED LATE MARCH CREDIT BID SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY THE RULE, NOT THE STANDARD.

18. EXCEPTION TO POLICY
AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY IS A ROUTINE MOVEMENT BID WITH A REQUESTED
MOVE THAT FALLS ON A RESTRICTED TIME PERIOD. AN ETP LETTER SIGNED BY
A COL (O-6) OR ABOVE IN A COMMAND POSITION FROM THE UNIT REQUESTING
THE MOVEMENT OF ASSETS (CUSTOMER) IS REQUIRED WITH THE MARCH BID
REQUEST.
ETP LETTERS REQUIRE 12 WORKING DAYS TO PROCESS FOR OVERSIZED
EQUIPMENT AND 7 WORKING DAYS FOR ROUTINE MOVEMENTS. THIS LETTER
IS NOT GUARANTEED APPROVAL FOR THE REQUESTED DATE.
REQUESTED MOVES WHICH EXCEED BOTH A 50 MILITARY LOAD
CLASSIFICATION (MLC) OR GREATER AND THE DISTANCE OF 75 KMS, MUST
HAVE A LETTER REQUESTING AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY SIGN BY A BRIGADE
COMMANDER IN THE RANK OF COLONEL. COST SAVINGS WILL NOT BE VALID
EXCUSE FOR PREFERENCE OF HET USE OVER RAIL. THE LETTER SHOULD
ALSO STATE: WEIGHT HEIGHT WIDTH LENGTH(LOADED AND UNLOADED), REAL
WEIGHT WEIGHT PER AXLE, DISTANCE BETWEEN AXLES, WHEELS PER AXLES,
WIDTH PER WHEEL AND THE AXLE WITH THE MOST WEIGHT. THIS INFO IS RE-
FOR TRUCK AND TRAILER. THESE MARCH CREDITS MUST BE APPLIED FOR AT
THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME.

19. RECURRING MARCH CREDIT
A PRE-ARRANGED MOVEMENT BID WHICH WILL BE UTILIZED BY THE
UNIT AT LEAST 15 TIMES DURING THE YEAR. A UNIT MUST ACTIVATE A
RECURRING MARCH CREDIT 72 HOURS (THREE WORKING DAYS) PRIOR
TO THE REQUESTED SP TIME. THE REQUEST IS SENT TO THE
CORRESPONDING HMCT, UTILIZING THE BID’S ADMINISTRATIVE
REFERENCE NUMBER. RECURRING MARCH CREDITS MUST BE UPDATED
ANNUALLY. IF A RECURRING MARCH CREDIT IS NOT USED THE MINIMUM
OF 15 TIMES THE BID ADMINISTRATIVE NUMBER WILL BE
AUTOMATICALLY CANCELED. RECURRING MARCH CREDITS MAY ONLY
BE GRANTED FOR MOVES WITHIN A SINGULAR GERMAN STATE.
RECURRING MARCH CREDITS CANNOT BE MADE FOR MOVES CROSSING
STATE BORDERS. PROCESSING TIME IS APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS.

20. CONVOY ESTABLISHMENT

21. placard
placard
REAR
VEHICLE
RECOVERY
VEHICLE
SERIAL /
CONVOY
CDR
PACE
VEHICLE
* Convoy Commanders vehicle : can be anywhere within the convoy except the first or last vehicle
and will be outfitted with a diagonal black/white flag and commo
* Rear vehicle : will be outfitted with a green flag/commo and a placard visibly displayed on the
rear of the tailgate that reads in the host nations language and in English “CONVOY AHEAD”
* Pace vehicle : will be THE SLOWEST VEHICLE in the convoy and will be outfitted with a blue
flag/commo and a placard visibly displayed on the front of the grill that reads in the host nations
language and in English “CONVOY FOLLOWS”
* Recovery vehicle : will be capable of recovering the largest vehicle in the convoy and will be
equipped with commo and a rotating Rawls light

22. CONVOY IDENTIFICATION
FLAGS: 12” HIGH, 18” WIDE ON LEFT SIDE OF DESIGNATED VEHICLE
COLORS: BLUE FLAG -- FIRST VEHICLE
GREEN FLAG -- LAST VEHICLE
BLACK AND WHITE FLAG -- MARCH UNIT COMMANDER
MARKINGS: CLEARANCE # PROMINENTLY MARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF
EACH VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE LEAD VEHICLE IS
REQUIRED TO HAVE THE CLEARANCE # ON ITS FRONT HOOD.
THE LAST VEHICLE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE THE CLEARANCE #
ON THE REAR. THE LEAD VEHICLE WILL ALSO HAVE A SIGN
WITH THE WORD “CONVOY FOLLOWS” AND “KOLONNE FOLGT”.
THE LAST VEHICLE WILL HAVE THE WORDS “CONVOY ENDS”
AND “END DER KOLONNE”. THE SIGN WILL BE IN 3” LETTERS
ON A BACKGROUND BOARD 18” BY 48”. LETTERING WILL NOT
OBSCURE TAILLIGHTS, DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS OR FACTORY
INSTALLED REFLECTORS.

23. WARNING LIGHTS: LEAD VEHICLES WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE (BUT NOT
MORE THAN TWO) ROTATING AMBER WARNING LIGHTS(RAWLS) THE
CONVOY COMMANDER WILL DETERMINE WHICH REMAINING VEHICLES
SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH WARNING LIGHTS BASED ON VISIBILITY,
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CONVOY SPACING. THE LAST VEHICLE WILL
HAVE AT LEAST ONE ( BUT NOT MORE THAN TWO) ROTATING AMBER
WARNING LIGHTS.
LIGHTS: THE HEADLIGHTS ON ALL VEHICLES IN THE CONVOY WILL BE
ON LOW BEAM IN THE DAYTIME.
AMMUNITION HAULING: VEHICLES CARRYING AMMUNITION MUST HAVE
AN ORANGE PLACARD ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF VEHICLES.

24. CONVOY BRIEFING

25. BRIEFING BEFORE A CONVOY DEPARTS ON A MISSION, THE COMMANDER BRIEFS
ALL CONVOY MEMBERS. THE FOLLOWING AREAS SHOULD BE COVERED
WITH ADJUSTMENTS TO SUIT THE LOCAL CONDITIONS:
1. SITUATION:
- FRIENDLY FORCES
- SUPPORT UNITS
- ENEMY SITUATION

26. CONVOY BRIEFING 2. MISSION - TYPE OF CARGO - ORIGIN - DESTINATION
3. EXECUTION
- GENERAL ORGANIZATION
- TIME SCHEDULE
- ROUTES
- SPEED
- CATCH-UP SPEED
- VEHICLE DISTANCE
- EMERGENCY MEASURES
- ACTION OF CONVOY AND SECURITY
PERSONNEL IF AMBUSH
- MEDICAL SUPPORT

27. CONVOY BRIEFING 4. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS: - PERSONNEL CONTROL
- BILLETING
- MESSING
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL
- CONVOY COMMANDERS LOCATION
- ASSISTANT CONVOY COMMANDER DESIGNATION
- SECURITY FORCES COMMANDER’S ACTION
- SERIAL COMMANDERS RESPONSIBILITIES
- ARM AND HAND SIGNALS
- OTHER PREARRANGED SIGNALS
- RADIO FREQUENCIES AND CALL SIGNS
6. SAFETY
- HAZARDS OF ROUTES
- WEATHER CONDITIONS
- DEFENSIVE DRIVING

28. STRIP MAP EXAMPLE OF A PLANNED VEHICLE ROUTE FOR OVERSIZED VEHICLES
PRIMARY HET ROUTE
SLAV BROD - KUTINA : 116KM
KUTINA - BARCS : 91KM
BARCS - TASZAR : 86KM
TOTAL : 293KM
MSR BRANDON
HTD
LETENYE
TASZAR 7 61 12
KAPOSVAR
MSR CUPID
VARAZDIN 12
SZIGETVAR 3
ZELINA
BARCS
PECS
VEROVITICA
ZAGREB
DRAVASZABOLCS
ALTERNATE HET ROUTE
SLAV BROD - ZAGREB : 179KM
ZAGREB - VARAZDIN : 65KM
VARAZDIN - LETENYE : 39KM
LETENYE - TASZAR : 123KM
TOTAL : 406KM
V. ZDENCI
MSR PAUL
CSC PLESO
RON
MSR HOWDY
NASICE
LIPOVAC
E70
MSR SNYDER
DAKOVO
KUTINA
MSR STEVE
SLAVONSKI
BROD
OKUCANI
VALICA
KOPANICA
CROATIA
8TH MCT
KUTINA
ROM
LEGEND
BOSNIA
ROM POINT
CSC/ RON
CHOKE POINTS

29. CONVOY PROCEDURES

30. CONVOY PROCEDURES
DEVIATIONS OF MORE THAN 15 MINUTES TO THE DEPARTURE TIME
GIVEN ON THE MARCH CREDIT REQUIRES THE MOVING UNIT TO CALL
THE HMCT FOR A NEW SP TIME.
UNIT/CONVOY COMMANDERS ARE PROHIBITED FORM CHANGING
ROUTES AND COMPOSITION OF CONVOYS WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL
OF THE HMCT THAT ISSUED THE MARCH CREDIT.
MARCH UNITS WILL NOT EXCEED 25 VEHICLES.
AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES WILL SEPARATE MARCH UNITS.
AT LEAST 15 MINUTES WILL SERIALS.
INTERVALS BETWEEN VEHICLES IN AN COLUMN MARCH UNIT WILL BE A
MINIMUM OF 100 METERS ON AUTOBAHNS AND 50 METERS ON
SECONDARY ROADS.
INTERVALS BETWEEN VEHICLES IN CITIES REDUCED TO 25 METERS.

31. CONVOY PROCEDURES CONT.
THE CONVOY COMMANDER MUST HAVE THE COMPLETED AE FORM 55-1
(ROAD MOVEMENT BID AND MARCH CREDIT GRANTED FORM) WITH THE
VALID MARCH CREDIT NUMBER AT ALL TIMES.

32. REST STOP ACTIONS
CHECK
LOAD
REFUEL
STAGE
D-PMCS
CHOW
DEPARTURE 1 2 3 4 5 6
* 1 Vehicles with limited range capability will refuel upon entering rest stop
* 2 All vehicles will stage at a designated area away from civilians and establish security
* 3 Upon stopping all personnel will assist with D-PMCS actions
* 4 Upon completion of D-PMCS all personnel will check load security
* 5 Once all actions are complete personnel will establish security and determine chow priority for personnel
* 6 Once all personnel have eaten a sensitive item inventory and personnel accountability will be conducted prior to commencement of Convoy Operations

33. CONVOY
COMMANDER
RESPONSIBILITIES

34. CONVOY COMMANDER’S DUTIES
1. STARTS INITIAL PLANNING STEPS
A. ALERTS UNIT OPERATION
B. REVIEWS OPERATION ORDER
2. SCHEDULES CONVOY COMMANDERS BRIEFING WITH THE BATTALION S3 OFFICER.
3. ATTENDS CONVOY COMMANDER’S BRIEFING TAKES NOTES, AND UPDATES MAPS.
4. PREPARES CONVOY COMMANDERS CHECKLIST.
5. CONDUCTS A MAP RECONNAISSANCE TO SELECT AND MARK ROUTES / SITES NOT DICTATED
BY HIGHER HEADQUARTERS.
6. CONDUCT A GROUND RECONNAISSANCE (IF TIME PERMITS) AND NOTES ON THE MAP CLEARANCES
OF OVERHEAD STRUCTURES/OBSTACLES; LOAD CLASSIFICATIONS: SPEED LIMITS; AND REST, MESS
AND REFUELING SITES THAT WILL SAFELY ACCOMMODATE CONVOY PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT.
7. REVIEWS RECONNAISSANCE MAP AND MAKES FINAL SELECTION OF PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE
ROUTES, AND REST, MESS, AND REFUELING AREAS.
8. GIVES A COPY OF THE MAP WITH ALL CONVOY INFORMATION MARKED ON IT TO BATTALION S3 AND
REQUESTS A CLEARANCE IF NOT ALREADY INITIATED. ALSO REQUESTS THAT THE MOVE BE
PLOTTED AND A COPY OF THE MOVEMENT GRAPH BE ISSUED.

35. CONVOY COMMANDER’S DUTIES
CONT.
9. COORDINATES TO OBTAIN ARTILLERY SUPPORT WITH ARTILLERY UNIT.
10. MARKS ON THE MAP THE RANGE LIMITATIONS OF EACH ARTILLERY UNIT.
11. PLANS/COORDINATES WITH THE ESCORT AND SECURITY ELEMENTS (MILITARY POLICE UNITS)
SECURITY FIRE SUPPORT, AIR SUPPORT, AND CONVOY COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS.
12. DIRECTS THE PLACEMENT OF THE GUIDES AND SIGNS ALONG THE CONVOY ROUTES.
13. ISSUES WORK ASSIGNMENTS TO SUBORDINATE ELEMENT COMMANDERS AND BRIEFS THEM ON
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REQUIRED.
14. DIRECTS OPERATION SECTION TO PREPARE STRIP MAPS AND/OR OVERLAYS (AS REQUIRED).
15. PREPARES FOR VEHICLE MOVEMENT.
A. PERFORMS VEHICLE PMCS
B. MARKS VEHICLES FOR CONVOY MOVE.
C. ESTABLISHES CONVOY COMMUNICATIONS. D.

36. AAR