Purpose
Establish the baseline standards of conduct, professionalism, accountability, and representation expected of all 21st Cavalry Division personnel.
Standards
- Treat members with respect and maintain a professional environment during unit activities.
- Follow lawful unit instructions and the established chain of command during organized operations and training.
- Arrive prepared for assigned duties and communicate early when an obligation cannot be met.
- Do not intentionally disrupt training, operations, administration, or other members' ability to participate.
- Represent the division appropriately when using unit names, insignia, channels, or public-facing spaces.
Accountability
Members are responsible for their own conduct and for correcting minor issues at the lowest reasonable level. Repeated or serious violations may be referred through the chain of command for administrative review.
Chain of Command
Routine questions and concerns should normally begin with the member's immediate leadership. Matters involving that leader may be elevated to the next appropriate level.
Purpose
Define participation, attendance, absence notification, and accountability expectations.
Attendance
- Members should attend scheduled events they have committed to and arrive ready before the announced start time.
- When unable to attend, members should notify their leadership as early as practical using the unit's established attendance or LOA process.
- Leadership should maintain accurate attendance records and distinguish excused absences from unreported absences.
Accountability
Repeated missed events without communication may trigger a leadership review of the member's status, assignment, or activity level.
Communication
Members are expected to keep leadership informed when work, school, family obligations, technical issues, or other conflicts affect participation.
Purpose
Provide a clear process for temporary leave while preserving communication and unit accountability.
Requesting LOA
- Submit an LOA through the designated personnel process when an extended absence is expected.
- Include the anticipated start date, expected return date when known, and enough information for leadership to understand the expected duration.
- Personal details beyond what is necessary to manage unit status are not required.
During LOA
Members on approved LOA are not expected to meet normal attendance requirements for the approved period. They should update leadership if the expected return date materially changes.
Return to Active Status
On return, the member should notify leadership and confirm assignment, qualifications, and any training or administrative items that need to be brought current.
Purpose
Establish common expectations for mission preparation, briefing, command relationships, execution, and post-operation accountability.
Pre-Mission
- Review the mission brief, assigned role, equipment requirements, communications plan, and chain of command.
- Element leaders verify personnel, equipment, and readiness before movement.
- Questions that affect execution should be resolved before step-off whenever practical.
Execution
- Maintain assigned command relationships and report significant changes through the appropriate net.
- Follow the mission plan while allowing leaders to adapt to changing conditions.
- Maintain accountability of personnel and critical equipment throughout the operation.
Post-Mission
Conduct accountability, report significant outcomes or losses, and participate in the after-action review when directed.
Purpose
Standardize radio discipline and common reporting expectations.
Radio Discipline
- Keep transmissions concise, relevant, and clear.
- Use assigned callsigns and nets.
- Avoid unnecessary traffic during active contact or priority communications.
- Acknowledge instructions when required and request clarification when information is incomplete.
Common Reports
- SALUTE — report relevant size, activity, location, unit/uniform, time, and equipment information when observing enemy activity.
- SITREP — provide a concise situation update covering current status, location, activity, and immediate needs.
- BDA — report observed effects following an engagement when requested.
- MEDEVAC — pass casualty evacuation information using the unit's current training format and communications plan.
Priority
Emergency, contact, casualty, and command traffic take precedence over routine conversation.
Purpose
Define the division's baseline approach to initial training, role qualification, instructor validation, and sustainment training.
Initial Training
- New members complete required basic training before being treated as fully qualified for independent unit duties.
- Basic training should cover unit standards, communications, movement, accountability, and other core procedures established by training staff.
Role Qualification
- Specialized roles may require additional instruction and demonstration of required skills.
- Qualification is recorded only after the designated instructor or evaluator confirms the standard has been met.
- A qualification may require refresher or revalidation when procedures materially change or proficiency has lapsed.
Instructors
Instructors are expected to teach the approved standard consistently, document completion accurately, and identify remediation needs without unnecessarily delaying progression.
Purpose
Provide common reference standards for infantry movement, formations, team integration, and ground-element coordination.
Movement
- Element leaders select formations and movement techniques appropriate to terrain, visibility, spacing, and the mission.
- Members maintain awareness of their assigned sector, spacing, and the location of adjacent teammates.
- Crossings, danger areas, and transitions should be controlled by the element leader.
Contact
- Report contact clearly and orient the element to the threat.
- Follow element-leader direction for movement, suppression, repositioning, or disengagement.
- Maintain ammunition, casualty, and personnel accountability during pauses in contact.
Integration
Ground elements coordinate with armor, aviation, medical, and other supporting elements through the assigned leadership and communications plan.
Purpose
Establish baseline expectations for aircrew coordination, flight operations, landing-zone procedures, and integration with supported ground elements.
Aircrew
- Pilots and crew confirm aircraft status, mission tasking, communications, and passenger/cargo requirements before departure.
- The aircraft commander or designated pilot maintains final responsibility for safe aircraft employment within the unit environment.
- Crew members report hazards, aircraft issues, and significant changes promptly.
LZ/PZ Operations
- Supported elements identify or confirm landing/pickup areas and communicate relevant hazards.
- Ground personnel remain clear of aircraft hazards and follow aircrew or designated ground-controller instructions.
- Loading and unloading should be organized to minimize unnecessary time in the landing zone.
Coordination
Aviation uses assigned callsigns and nets and maintains communication with the supported element during critical phases when practical.
Purpose
Define baseline responsibilities for vehicle crews, mounted movement, communications, and integration with maneuver elements.
Crew Responsibilities
- The vehicle commander coordinates the crew and maintains awareness of the supported mission.
- Drivers prioritize controlled movement and communicate mobility problems or route hazards.
- Gunners maintain assigned observation sectors and follow engagement direction established for the operation.
Mounted Movement
- Maintain appropriate spacing and formation for terrain and visibility.
- Report disabled vehicles, separations, and route changes promptly.
- Dismounted personnel coordinate mounting and dismounting through the vehicle or element leader.
Integration
Vehicle crews support the maneuver plan through communication with ground leadership and avoid operating independently of the assigned mission without direction.
Purpose
Clarify the relationship between rank, billet, responsibility, and advancement within the division.
Rank and Billet
Rank reflects recognized progression and responsibility; billet identifies the member's current organizational duty. A billet does not automatically guarantee a permanent rank change.
Advancement
- Promotions should reflect demonstrated reliability, proficiency, leadership potential, unit need, and completion of applicable requirements.
- Time in the unit alone does not guarantee promotion.
- Leadership appointments may include an evaluation period or required training before permanent advancement.
Leadership
Personnel holding leadership billets are responsible for communication, accountability, development of subordinates, and maintaining unit standards.
Purpose
Standardize applicant processing, onboarding, initial assignment, and entry into the training pipeline.
Application
- Applicants submit the required recruitment information through the approved unit process.
- Recruiting staff review the application and communicate the next step through the established unit channels.
- Acceptance into the community does not automatically equal completion of training or qualification for a requested specialty.
Onboarding
- Verify the new member's display name and personnel record.
- Assign the appropriate entry status, section, and initial billet when determined.
- Provide access to required unit information, SOPs, schedules, and training instructions.
Progression
New members complete required basic training and then proceed to section or role-specific training as applicable.
Purpose
Provide a general framework for personnel status changes, administrative records, discharge processing, and command actions.
Records
Personnel records should accurately reflect current rank, billet, section, qualifications, attendance status, and other approved administrative information.
Status Changes
- Promotions, reassignments, LOA status, reinstatements, and separations should be documented through the designated administrative process.
- Administrative changes should be made by personnel with the appropriate access or command authority.
- Members should report inaccurate personnel information for correction.
Separation
When a member leaves the division, leadership should update the member's status and preserve required administrative history while removing access that is no longer appropriate.
Review
Significant administrative actions should be documented clearly enough for authorized leadership to understand the action taken and its effective status.