Little Green Handbook

THE UNOFFICIAL

SOLDIER’S HANDBOOK Sergeant Andrew Dangerfield

INTRODUCTION This handbook is a ready reference for your mission. It contains only essential information and will be one of your most important tools. Use it daily. You will be supplied with any extra material necessary. I. YOUR MISSION You have been called as “a Warrior and a member of a team” to stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.” It is important to understand the nature of your mission. Your oath of enlistment charges you to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.” As a non-commissioned officer, your “two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in [your] mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers.” As you accomplish these tasks you will gain the confidence of your men, find pride in your service, and return home with honor. Through dedicated service, your mission will also bring you closer to the Lord than ever before. It will strengthen the very foundation of your testimony, work ethic, patriotic devotion, and commitment to your family. Your family is the eternal unit in the gospel. Through letters, emails, and phone calls you must continue to fellowship and strengthen each other. As you serve your country also “serve [the Lord] with all your heart. might, mind and strength that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day... For behold the field is white already to harvest; and he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul."

II. MISSION POLICY A. Your platoon has a platoon leader who is responsible for training, discipline, and accomplishing the mission of his organization. He instructs and supervises platoon personnel in the following: truck and convoy operations, driver maintenance, and methods of loading. He is assisted by a platoon sergeant who assists in training the platoon and supervises both its tactical and technical operations. B. Your platoon is divided into squads, which in turn are divided into fire teams with their respective squad and team leaders. Squad and team leaders work regularly with their soldiers. Ordinary problems should be directed to the squad and team leaders, but special problems can be directed to higher as appropriate. III. SPECIAL MISSION GUIDLINES A. Write and call home at least once a week. B. Post weekly to keep friends and extended family informed of your condition and progress. Be extremely sensitive to operational security – never revealing information that would compromise fellow soldiers or the mission. C. Avoid getting into debt and pay ALL of your financial obligations before deploying overseas. Avoid, as much as possible, borrowing anything from anyone or loaning money. This complicates relationships and can easily damage valuable esprit de corps. D. In order to drive any military vehicle, a dispatch must be issued and a rigorous PMCS performed. E. Respect the local customs and traditions where you are deployed. Never make light of matters or objects that are sacred or otherwise significant to the people who are native to your area of operations. F. Wear your uniform according to FM 670-1 with pride. Shave daily, without exception.

G. Avoid being alone with anyone of the opposite sex and always act as a professional, avoiding even the appearance of inappropriate conduct. H. Conduct yourself with Christlike dignity. Telling or listening to vulgar stories and reading of other than wholesome literature must be avoided. Read books and magazines that build your testimony, character, knowledge, and tactical/technical proficiency. Remember that contentious arguments and heated discussions are not in harmony with the Spirit of the Lord. I. Maintain your living quarters in a way that contributes to the effectiveness of your work. IV. STANDARDS Subject to missions and op tempo: A. Read the Book of Mormon 30 minutes every day. B. Work on certification 30 minutes every day. C. Write one blog post every day. D. Study Personal Development 15 minutes every day. E. Work out in the gym each Mon, Wed, and Fri. F. Run at least 30 minutes each Tues and Thurs. G. Prepare tactically and technically ___ hours every week. V. PREPARATION Establish a regular time, consistent with operations, for personal duties such as haircuts, PX, laundry, living maintenance, vehicle maintenance, physical training, email home, posting, etc. All you do must not offend the Spirit of Lord or your work as a soldier and NCO. Use “For the Strength of Youth” and FM 6-22 as guides to your conduct. VI. SPIRITUAL PREPARATION A. Seek and follow the Spirit in all that you do. “They had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth: for they were men of sound understanding and they had

searched the scriptures diligently that they might know the word of God. But this is not all: they had given themselves to much prayer and fatling: therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught they taught with power and authority of God." B. Love your soldiers. Make them a part of all you do. Help them to succeed. Pray for your soldiers and their families. C. Ponder gospel principles. Spirituality is developed by reading the word of God and pondering its intent. Meditation and prayer develop spirituality and sound testimonies. D. Ponder leadership principles. Army leadership is developed not only by studying Army doctrine, but by observing your own leaders and serving your soldiers diligently. E. Lose yourself in the work. Put thoughts and discussions of home, school, worldly things in their proper place. Forget yourself in the service of soldiers. "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things shall be added unto you." F. Fast only once a month except in unusual circumstances and then be wise that you are always able to do the work you are called to. VII. MENTAL PREPARATION "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word. And then shall your tongue be loosed: then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men." A. Focus your study on the gospel, leadership, motor transport operations, and squad infantry tactics. After that, study those things that interest and uplift you also.

B. Learn a few new words in Arabic each day. VIII. CHARACTER A. Smile. B. Look people in the eye. C. Shake hands firmly but gently. D. Be genuine. E. Work to meet your goals. F. Be positive about everything. G. Make up your mind to succeed. H. Let your speech be uplifting… avoid complaining at all times. I. Be grateful. "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up… but charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love.” IX. PHYSICAL PREPARATION A. Practice healthy eating habits i. Avoid caffeine and carbonation. ii. Drink lots of water. iii. Balance carbohydrates, fat, and protein. iv. Get lots of fiber, particularly from fruits and vegetables. B. You must make a conscientious effort to safeguard your health. Care for your eye glasses and contact lenses, particularly. C. You should also remember that our Father in heaven will bless you through priesthood administration. X. CONCLUSION As a soldier and leader, follow these basic guidelines of preparing for the challenges of your mission. Use these guidelines for your personal safely and well being. Exercise your love for your Heavenly Father, your soldier, and the local

population; then you will be guided by the Spirit to accomplish your mission and lead your soldiers well. It will be a critical part of the foundation of your temporal as well as your eternal life. I am an American Soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier.