PGR-ANC RC Guide: Building The Mission Plan

Page last changed: 10/20/2008 06:43:09 PM Central Time (server time)

CONTENTS:  

Plan Checklist  Plaque    Info Needed    Making the Plan   Staging  Escort/Transit  Special Plan Instructions   Timing Guidelines   Sample Mission Timing  Family Escort Timing

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The effort is in the details, and the getting of same. Once we have all that information, the creation of a plan is relatively straight forward.

This section of the document deals with the creation of a plan from the details already gathered, and the application of guidelines for planning to make a plan.  Guidelines include factors such:  how early do we need to arrive for visitations; where do we stage; do we escort the remains to ANC;  do we escort the family or not (safety and opportunity); do we need military mandated ID & gear, etc, etc, etc.

This section also discusses a checklist the RC should be using to ensure all facets of the plan have been considered and executed.

Plan / Mission Setup Checklist:         Top Of Page

Mission Setup checklist

 

Add a shorthand version to your Mission Sheet (see prior section)

Check off the completed items as they are done

 

__ Have lead?

__ Thread Created? (Pending / Confirmed)

__ Have CAO/CACO contact info?

__ Have family OK?

__ Plaque ordered or "dismissed? (See Plaque Discussion / Rules)

__ Have dates set?

__ Plan done?

__ RC assigned?

__ Plan Published?

__ Statewides issued? (VA MD PA DE WV)

__ Verified on ANC Schedule?
__ Updated your calendar?
 

 

Ordering a Plaque (or Not)         Top Of Page

  • Just about one of the first things that needs to be done once we have the family OK, is to decide about ordering a plaque.

  • Time is of the essence as we need 3-4 business days to take delivery - unless WE want to pay for faster shipment

  • Once we have the family OK, and a date of services at ANC, and the type of services - we have the info to decide

  • Key items for deciding:

    • will we have opportunity to deliver

    • can we get it in time

    • if a state has a mission, ask / tell them to get the plaque

  • Read: Ordering Plaques

  • Decide, order

Info Needed to Make the Plan:         Top Of Page

For the basic plan (excluding potential family escort)

  • Date (s) for ANC service (s)
  • Times for above
  • Location (s) of the services (Murphy's, Admin, Old Chapel, etc)
  • Type of Services:
    • FH Calling Hours / Visitation / Viewing
    • FH Chapel Service
    • Transport/Escort: FH to ANC, FH to church, church to ANC
    • ANC (with above or only)
    • Gate Meet (head of Memorial Drive)
    • Old Chapel, Memorial (new) Chapel

For family escort - more info is needed - optional mission element - constrained by safety considerations (more to follow)

  • When discussing potential family escort, emphasize:
    •  safety first,
    • may NOT be able to do it
    • set the right expectation
    • Cannot make the safety decision without the info below & the time of day of escort
  • Family Hotel info: Name, Address, Phone
  • Number of people, number of cars

Making the Plan!         Top Of Page

Staging:         Top Of Page

  • If there is no FH "remains" escort, we stage at Iwo Jima Memorial (Marine Corps War Memorial)

  • If there is  a FH "remains" escort, we stage at the FH

  • If there is church service and no "remains" escort from the FH, we stage at the church

  • If there is a family escort, we stage at some location reasonably close to the family hotel, then ride to the hotel -- this  is to avoid publishing / disclosing the hotel information for security reasons

  • If there is to be a "remains" escort, but traffic / safety / no-LEO considerations preclude staging everyone at escort start location

    • We will "officially" stage at Iwo

    • 1 or 2 riders will stage at the start location of the "remains" escort and do the escort

    • SEPARATE FROM THE PUBLISHED PLAN

  • If there is to be a family escort, but traffic / safety / no-LEO considerations preclude staging everyone at escort start location

    • We will "officially" stage at Iwo

    • 1 or 2 riders will stage at the start location of the "remains" escort and do the escort

    • SEPARATE FROM THE PUBLISHED PLAN

  • In all cases, these are guidelines and the mission RC has to make the call on how they are applied/not

Escort / Transit Guidelines:  (may affect planning and timing)

  • When we are escorting family or "remains":

    • We will fly large mounted flags - the more the better

    • We will follow the route specified by the FH if we are escorting from the FH, or the church, etc

    • If no FH involved,

      • We will plan our routed for the safest possible escort

      • We will escort to the main ANC gate (Memorial Drive)

      • We will proceed from there along the route specified by the ANC guard

        • To the Admin Bldg

        • Up the "white line road" to either of the FT Myer chapels

        • Or proceed to Ft Myer Memorial Chapel via the Hatfield (main) gate:

          • Only if directed by the guard (very rare)

          • Reverse out of Memorial Dr

          • Make the reverse/over our shoulder turn off the Drive into the 110 ramp

          • Exit from 110 onto 27 / Washington Blvd South

          • Keep right and exit to Ft Myer (Hatfield gate)

          • Once thru the gate, take the second left then a right into the Memorial Chapel parking area

           

  • When we are NOT escorting family or "remains":

    • We will NOT fly large mounted flags

    • We will proceed from Iwo staging to ANC as follows:

      • If headed to the Admin Bldg

        • Via Rte 50, GWP,  Memorial Drive, & the ANC Main entrance

      • If headed for either of the Ft Myer chapels

        • Via the Wright gate (behind Iwo)

Special Plan Instructions:

  • Each mission places different requirements on some execution variables

    • We DO NOT fly large mounted flags inside ANC past our initial parking of the bikes

    • We DO NOT fly large mounted flags into ANC if we are NOT escorting (family and/or remains)

    • We DO fly large mounted flags for all escorts - the more the better

    • We do NOT use large hand-held flags at graveside in ANC

    • We do use large hand-held flags for Honor Flag Lines at both Ft Myer Chapels

    • If we enter Ft Myer, we need to conform to military mandated ID, gear demands

      • Photo ID is required

      • Gear: long pants, long sleeves, reflective strap/vest when dark out, full finger gloves, face shield or goggles or windshield

    • This ID, gear requirement does not apply for other ANC services (non Ft Myer)

    • Iron horses are always preferred, but cages are always welcome

      • Aside: Cages will usually be placed at the end of our portion of the procession / transit group

    • These items are to be considered during the planning phase, and documented in the published plan

    • In all cases, these are guidelines and the mission RC has to make the call on how they are applied/not

Timing Guidelines         Top Of Page

Note: ANC Services have two times related to them:

  • Service time (ex. 1400 hrs) and

  • "Must be there by" time (ex. 1330 hours) - almost all cases is 30 minutes prior to service

Mission Staging Time Guidelines:

  • Additional key times are based off of the staging time

  • Such as: briefing, departure, transfer honors, etc

     

  • These guidelines are based around times set by either ANC or the FH or the church

     

  • Calling Hours -- Stage 30 to 45 minutes before official start time (at the FH)
  • FH Chapel Services  -- Stage 30 to 45 minutes before official start time (at the FH)
  • Church Services -- Stage 30 to 45 minutes before official start time (at the Church)
  • Remains Escort (FH to ANC / church) -- Stage 30 minutes before FH designated transport time
    • FH usually will load the remains 15 minutes before depart - so we can set Honor line
  • Admin Bldg services -- Stage at Iwo 75 minutes before service time
  • Old Chapel services -- Stage at Iwo 90 minutes before service time
    •  Allows us to be in place with flag line 15 minutes before family is supposed to be there
  • Memorial chapel services -- Stage at Iwo 90 minutes before service time
    •  Allows us to be in place with flag line 15 minutes before family is supposed to be there
  • Family Escorts - special cases in all cases - consider:
    • Start with the time the family "must be there"
      • most cases 1/2 hour before the service time at ANC
      • special case - cremains being transported also - the usually 3/4 hour before ANC service time
    • Allow enough time to get the group there through the traffic you expect at escort time (with a little to spare)
    • Allow enough time to brief the family drivers on what to expect, how to act, route, etc
    • Allow enough time for the family to be late to the briefing (they always are!)
    • Now you have the "be at the hotel time"
    • Allow enough time for the PGR group to get from stage to hotel
    • Allow time for PGR brief at staging, mount up and form up, etc
    • Now you have the PGR stage time

Exceptions / Combinations

  • Above are basic guidelines
  • Combinations of the above events will affect the timing
  • Use your judgment!
  • In all cases, these are guidelines and the mission RC has to make the call on how they are applied/not

Sample Mission Timing:         Top Of Page

  • Mission: Admin Bldg 1400 hrs - no remains escort stage at Iwo

Stage:   1245 hrs   Brief:  1250 hrs   Depart:  1300 hrs

  • Mission: Admin Bldg 1400 hrs - remains escort from FH (FH to depart at 1300 hrs, load remains at 1245)

Stage:   1230 hrs  Honors:  1245 hrs  Escort: 1300 hrs

  • Mission: Old Chapel 1400 hrs - no remains escort stage at Iwo  (set Flag Line at 1315)

Stage:   1225 hrs   Brief:  1235 hrs   Depart:  1245 hrs    Flag Line: on arrival

  • Mission: Old Chapel 1400 hrs - remains escort from FH (FH to depart at 1300 hrs, load remains at 1245)

Stage:   1230 hrs  Honors:  1245 hrs  Escort: 1300 hrs  Flag Line: on arrival

  • Mission: Calling hours 1700 hrs

Stage:   1615 hrs   Brief:  1620 hrs   Flag Line: 1630 hrs

  • Mission: Admin Bldg 1400 hrs with church service prior and remains escort from FH (FH to depart at 1300 hrs, load remains at 1245)

Stage:   1230 hrs  Honors:  1245 hrs  Escort: 1300 hrs  rest driven by church services timing

 

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