PREDEPLOYMENT/DEPLOYMENT /REDEPLOYMENT CHECKLISTS
(This checklist is not comprehensive. Adapt according to unit, type of operations and METT-TC considerations.)
PREPARATION PHASE
___ RS TACSOPS: Are they written and included in the unit TACSOP?
___ RS TACSOPS: Are they written and included in our Battle Book?
___ RS TACSOPS: Do subordinate UMTs have a copy of the BDE & DIV UMT TACSOPs?
___ RSPs: Are they written and do they include attached units, Unit RS and Area RS requirements?
___ Worship Flyers and Memorial Service stock: Are they printed and packed?
___ Communications: Do UMTs have basic communication procedure knowledge?
___ NBC: Do UMTs have NBC equipment and a plan for NBC ministry?
___ Land Navigation: Are UMTs full trained and capable in land navigation - both mounted and dismounted? Does each team member understand battlefield graphics?
___ Basic Load: Do UMTs have a tent, and other basic survival equipment? Are they trained in its use and maintenance?
___ Reporting Procedures: Is there a workable plan for sending and receiving reports to higher / lower / lateral UMTs? Has it been practiced?
___ Sensitive Items: Is there a plan for guarding and maintaining sensitive items.
___ Shipping Space: Is room in CONNEX containers reserved for the UMT?
___ Ecclesiastical Supplies: Have resupply kits been ordered through the S4 before deployment?
___ Ecclesiastical Supplies: Has the UMT determined a X-day (30 / 60 / 90 / 120) basic load necessary for deployment? Do they have basic load ready?
___ METLs: Are they UMT specific and directly related to the unit METL, and is trained to proficiency?
___ Load Plans: Is it part of your Battle Book? Is it up to date? Is it arranged according to the unload sequence plan? Has it been tested?
___ Current Religious Needs Assessment (RNA): Do you have the "spiritual pulse" of your unit? What can you expect for RS prior to deployment?
___ Denomination Lay Leaders: Is there an ongoing Extraordinary Members of the Eucharist (EME) program through the Catholic Chaplain? Who are the certified lay denominational leaders in your unit? Are they prepared to assist during combat operations?
___ CMD and Staff Integration: Does the key staff BOSs (Battlefield Operation System) understands and supports your religious support plan?
___ Religious Preference Report: Is it current? Do you have it in your battle book?
___ A workable plan, coordinated with the S1, for updating the RPP as replacements arrive?
___ Home Station Training: Are classes given that reflect combat readiness topics? Are their chaplain supervisors and BCT Chaplain NCOIC training the chaplain assistants?
___ UMT Information Update: Do you know the phone #, address, blood type, weapon #, mask #, SSN, clothing sizes, and next of kin for each UMT (BCT) and UMT member (BN/Squadron)? Keep this information in your field 'leader's book" for ready reference.
___ Unit Readiness Training: Do you and the assistant attend? Can the UMT assist in the conducting classes pertaining to the purpose and support of the UMT in combat and other classes? Has the UMT participated in unit and staff pre-deployment training?
___ UMT Casualty Replacement Plan: Has it been properly staffed? Does the Division Chaplains Office have a copy? What is their plan? What is the plan for both chaplain and assistant?
PREDEPLOYMENT PHASE
___ SRP Site: Is a UMT station located here? Is it equipped with Bibles, and literature for all faith groups?
___ Departure Schedule: Do you have an updated departure schedule from which to plan your ministry at home station, or a remote deployment site?
___ Communications: Do you have telephone numbers, radio frequencies, other means of communication at the departure site? These will facilitate solving problems.
___ Task Organization: Does each team member understand the attached/detached unit structure of the Task Force?
___ Area RS Coverage: Does each team member understand area RS responsibilities?
___ Mission Statement & Commander's Intent: Does each team member know and understand it, and does the RSP follow this guidance?
___ IPR Briefs: When are they scheduled? Who will attend?
___ Vehicle and Radio: Have pre-combat checks, maintenance, and repair been done?
___ Additional Supplies: What additional equipment / supplies are necessary for this deployment?
___ Religious Services: Are religious services scheduled? Are Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, and other services scheduled? Is there a plan to get the word out to soldiers?
___ Does each UMT have a calendar of the various religious holy days with them?
___ Communications: What is the plan for contact between UMTs on the move?
___ Prebattle RS Ministry of Presence: What is the plan to visit each unit and section?
___ Religious Preference Profile: Is there a copy for the slice units attached to the BCT?
___ Attend Command and Staff Meetings: Know what is going on.
___ Brief Higher UMT: Pass information and plans on to the BCT UMT and Division UMT concerning deployment, support needs, and FSG issues.
___ UMT Replacement: Fill the empty slots through the next higher UMT. Are there any additional UMTs deploying with you that is not normally part of your BCT?
___ Minister to other UMTs: Take time to minister to your deploying UMTs who feel the stress and uncertainty.
___ Total UMT: Make use of the total UMT. Back brief each other continually and use each other's experiences and expertise.
___ Know the passwords.
___ Area Assessment: Do you have a current area assessment to the AO? Have you briefed it to the command? Is it part of your RSP?
___ Holy or Special Religious Days: What are they for the indigenous religions of the AO? Will they impact soldiers of the same faith or ethnic background in your unit?
___ RSP of Higher Cmd: What is the RSP of the two next higher commands?
___ Prepare and Publish the RSP: Is it staffed? What is the distribution plan?
___ Support Commanders: Have you contacted them and introduced the UMT and the coverage plan? Does the commander have some special concerns?
___ Air/Ground Flow: What is the schedule? What UMT is first on the ground in the AO and last to leave home station?
COMBAT OPERATIONS
___ RSP: Is there a RSP made for each mission?
___ RSP: What intentional plans for worship opportunities cover for all denominations?
___ RSP: Have UMTs requested RS from BDE/DIV UMTs?
___ RSP Is the plan for unit Memorial Service/Ceremony exercised?
___ Ecclesiastical Resupply: Are requisitions for resupply made in a timely manner?
___ Rest: Is there an intentional rest/sleep/personal maintenance plan? Is it followed?
___ ROE: Does each team member know and understand the ROE and possess a ROE card?
___ Contingencies: What plans are written for foreseeable contingencies? Are the plans flexible enough to meet a broad range of problems?
___ Accountability: Is the UMT plan and location coordinated with the Command, and is there a workable way to contact the UMT at any time? Does the CTCP track the UMT?
. Other UMTs: Is there a solid working relationship with other UMTs in the AOR? Are there pre-coordinated plans to cover contingencies?
___ BCT UMT Guidance: Does the BCT UMT give guidance to subordinate UMTs on where to locate during the battle? Does the UMT observe the 1/3 - 2/3 planning time?
___ BCT UMT Follow-on: Is there an intentional plan (situational awareness) to push forward after the battle to assist in and provide ministry to subunit UMTs?
___ Land Navigation: Are UMTs equipped with maps, compass, and current battlefield graphics? Do they have a plan to get them if graphics are not in the distribution?
___ Radio Procedure: What nets does each UMT monitor? What are the call signs?
___ SOI: Does each UMT possess a BCT SOI to facilitate cross talk between the various UMTs?
___ Battle Tracking: Is each member of the team mission capable to understand and track the reported events of a battle?
___ Is each member of the UMT trained to talk on the radio?
___ Threat: Does each team member understand the threat?
___ Doctrine: Is each team member knowledgeable and trained in branch doctrine (FM 16-1)?
___ Maintenance: What is the maintenance plan for vehicle (PMCS), radio, weapon, and equipment?
___ Communication: How often and when? What are the critical topics? What are the ways to communicate beyond the radio?
___ Area Assessment and Demographical Study: Is it updated? Who needs to know? Is it briefed?
___ METT-TC: Is this considered for the RS planning process?
___ Overlays: Are they updated at least daily? Are mines, obstacles, Situational/incident, maneuver, CSS routes, NBC routes, religious/holy/historical sites, etc. plotted?
___ Host Nation Support: Are there any religious clergy in the host nation available to support your unit soldiers in worship?
POST BATTLE OPERATIONS
___ Medical Staff Support: What is the plan for religious support to the caregivers?
___ Survivors: What is the RS plan for the survivors of units who are noncombat effective and those with heavy losses? Is there a plan to minister to the leadership?
___ Operational Base: Where is the best position for RS: CTCP, BSA, TOC, etc.?
___ Assistance: Do you need additional UMT assistance from the BCT or Division for group counseling and Memorial Ceremonies or Services?
___ Journal: Is your journal updated reflecting critical information for RS planning?
___ UMT Ministry: Do other UMTs or members need spiritual assistance for combat stress?
___ RPP: Is the Religious Preference Profile updated?
___ Letters of Condolence: Can you assist your command in writing letters of condolence by supplying information and ministering to the command? Do you need to write to UMT member spouses who were lost in combat? Does the UMT carry samples to use as guidelines for themselves and others to follow?
REDEPLOYMENT
___ RSP: What is the plan for worship services?
___ RSP: Are Memorial Service / Ceremonies conducted?
___ RSP: What is the plan for ministry of presence?
___ Equipment: What is the plan for equipment maintenance / repair / cleaning?
___ Equipment: What is the plan for transporting equipment back to home station?
___ Echelon UMTs: Does the BCT UMT have a plan to echelon UMTs back to home stations? This plan provides for RS with units awaiting transportation and units arriving at home station.
___ AAR: Do BCT and DIV UMTs require written AARs? Is there some form of debriefing for all members of the UMT?
___ Reunion Briefings: Have you a preset reunion briefing/class for soldiers? What is the critical issues/problems command needs to be aware of?
___ Referral: What is the RS plan for home station counseling issues?
___ What is your plan for working the issues of redeployment? Have you scheduled reunion seminars/marriage enrichment seminars/group and individual counseling/single soldier debriefings?
POST DEPLOYMENT
___ Hospital Report: Who are in the casualties in the hospitals?
___ Equipment: Down load vehicle, repair, store and secure equipment and TA-50 for future operations. Reorder needed supplies as needed.-
___ AARs: Attend After Action Meetings to assist in reconstitution ministerial needs. File your report and back brief the higher UMT office.
___ UMT Ministry: Minister to other deployed UMTs.
___ FSG: Support by briefings/classes on family issues.
___ KIA/MIA/WIA: Minister to the command the families of killed in action, missing in action, and wounded in action soldiers.
ADDITIONAL PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR STABILITY OPERATIONS
The UMTs PRIORITY is always Religious Support to the US Military.
PREDEPLOYMENT
___ The UMT thoroughly knows the six Principles of Stability Operations and how they apply in a religious / moral / ethical manner to ongoing operations.
___ The UMT understands the unit mission including its goals and end state.
___ The UMT knows the RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (ROE) and how ROE is applied. They are ready to clear up misunderstandings among commanders and troops concerning what is intended. The UMT also understands that ROE can change with the METT-TC.
___ The UMT knows and understands orders and policies published for the mission. These often include such things as consumption of alcohol, relations with indigenous personnel, etc.
___ The UMT researches and attempts to understand indigenous religious, ethnic, and linguistic groups and their values. During your research, look for this necessary information: religious holidays, taboos, religious leaders and missionaries, non-governmental organization (NGO) workers. The UMT then serves as a resource to the command in helping the command understand the country, people and culture in which they are operating.
___ The UMT understands the Force Structure and its Command Relationships. [Joint/Multinational /Combined].
___ The UMT understands the organization of the religious staff supervision for the Joint/bi-lateral/unilateral Task Force. Things will operate differently if the senior chaplain is from another service, i.e. Navy, because of a difference in doctrine.
___ The UMT understands the Public Affairs Officer's (PAO) guidance for talking to the news media. It is incredibly easy to create a major problem for the command by careless communication with a member of the press.
___ The UMT integrates before deployment with Civil Military Operations (CMO) teams.