Staging and Preparation

The most critical moment in any convoy is before it starts moving. Proper staging ensures that every team, vehicle, and lead knows their role, their position in the order of movement, and the purpose of the movement itself.

This prevents delays, confusion, and security breakdowns once wheels are in motion.

Objectives of Staging

Assign vehicle roles and responsibilities
Confirm vehicle order and spacing plans
Load personnel and supplies into correct vehicles
Conduct final checks and coordination
Ensure every lead understands movement phases and contingencies

Convoy Briefing Elements

Before departure, convoy leads should cover:

Order of movement (who leads, who follows, who supports)
Vehicle designations (e.g., Alpha-1, Logistics-2, Rear Security)
Primary route and fallback route
Expected contact or hazard points
Rally points, hold points, or dismount zones
Comms plan (lead channel, internal vehicle comms, cross-vehicle signals)

See also: Briefing Doctrine

Role Assignment

Every vehicle should have clearly assigned roles:

Driver – Responsible for navigation, spacing, and maintaining convoy pace
Vehicle Commander (VC) – Usually the senior person; manages radio, relays orders, handles navigation if not driving
Gunner (if applicable) – Provides 360-degree awareness and covers assigned arcs
Passengers – Responsible for dismount prep, internal security, and task loadout

Avoid redundant roles — every person in a vehicle should have a defined responsibility.

Load Discipline

Place teams in vehicles based on task or dismount grouping
Keep fireteams together when possible
Distribute critical gear (e.g., AT, medical, demo) across multiple vehicles
Brief each vehicle on what they are carrying and who they’re responsible for moving

Staging Considerations

Use covered or concealed areas when possible
Avoid choke points or high-ground exposure during loading
Use visible or verbal confirmation when each vehicle is ready
Final call should come from the convoy lead, not individual vehicle commanders

Final Pre-Movement Checklist

Before stepping off:

All vehicles identified and marked
All radios checked and on net
Movement order confirmed and briefed
Rally points and emergency breakoffs understood
All personnel briefed and mounted

A convoy that launches uncoordinated will operate uncoordinated.

Final Note

Staging is not downtime — it is structured, deliberate preparation. A good leader treats the pre-movement phase with the same seriousness as the fight ahead.

Fail to prep, and you’ll spend the first kilometer recovering from your own start.