Tweet
For want of a rally point the group was scattered.
For want of a group the people dispersed....
So catching up on "Walking Dead" and realized this is the 2nd time these knuckleheads have been run out of somewhere and due to lack of a RALLY POINT, have lost people because of it.
Clear rally points should always be established. Your not invulnerable. You may have to leave your current place- or any place- quickly. Maybe for good, maybe for a short time.
In the long long ago in the before before time, when I was taught patrolling by an SF vet from Vietnam, we always had rally points set up while we were out training. If it was a long patrol it would by necessity have to change regularly. Rather than this stupid designate every stump a rally point with the flourish of the hands and a point (that people forget 20 yards up the trail) crap I've seen at "small unit" classes, rally points should make SENSE, be easy to REMEMBER and preferably be either 1. Defendable or 2. a great "hide."
Usually an SOP was set up like for example- "the last place we stopped for a rest that is at least 500 yards from where we had contact." This does not include places you took a listening halt, but rather where you stopped for more than a minute or two. Maybe you took a quick rest there, did some admin stuff, dropped your packs there, etc.
While the rally point should make SENSE, it shouldn't be completely OBVIOUS. The nice big crater on the side of the trail that everyone is familiar with might fit the criteria for easy to remember and possibly defendable or "hide" but it's also OBVIOUS as all get out. OK, so USE THAT to your advantage- THINK HOW...
Now in the example of the "Walking Dead" they were more worried about Zeds than people for the most part, so this would change things a bit, but the overall criteria would stay the same.
So when they all went out on "runs" (love the terms they use lol) everyone could be shown the location with the explanation- "This is rally point 1, if the prison is taken we will meet here and if possible wait X days for everyone, then head to rally point 2."
So the stuff hits the fan, all those West Georgia Zeds (man I hope WiseOwl and RockRiver don't get bit LOL) start busting in the prison and it's time to bail. So run right to the rally point right? Just bust right in there, sit down and take a rest eat some pickled pigs feet and PB and Js?
Nope, get to the area and OBSERVE the rally point first from a distance. Perhaps you were wise enough to also tell everyone to make a "signal" or "sign" that the RP is inhabited now. So you observe and a red rag is tied around the door knob to the only door in the telephone relay station (nice high cyclone fencing all around it, nice concrete building, only problem just one way in or out- bad zombie Ju Ju!). Do you walk right up and say "Well hi!" Again caution is the rule but like all tactics, speed of action has to be balanced with security.
So you and Darryl (thank God he made it, people were gonna RIOT if he didn't! LOL) made it to the RP. You sit there for a few hours or so, swapping stories about how your older brothers are dirtbags. Then you realize "hey, some of the others might be coming, we should probably mount a watch."
Just before dark you see another group member, they are moving slowly and have come from the opposite side of where you would have expected them to come from when leaving the prison.
You are trigger happy cause well hell the "governor's" men are still out there and we can't be too careful. The group member spots the red rag tied on the door knob and walks out into the open and makes a specific hand gesture that you all pre-arranged. You open the door and they come in.
That's three.
What about everyone else? It's been two days now. The prison isn't that far away, maybe they didn't make it? Maybe if those were real people they would be scouting for and mopping up survivors now. We can't stay any longer.
You leave another sign, maybe the red rag is now tied to the cyclone fencing in the direction of travel. Hey, people are probably scared, tired, turned around, maybe they weren't paying much attention when you went over the 2nd RP with them. Maybe a little reminder written in code on the wall will help?
At the 2nd rally point further out, similar actions are taken and you wait a pre-designated time. Again this has to be somewhat flexible due to tactical considerations but in general should be at least the amount of time you stayed at the first RP. A dead drop should be used at RP2 if possible- "Glenn, we waited here for you for three days, you are probably out getting sushi, hopefully not driving in traffic. We will check the dead drop per SOP. Maggie"
These actions would have given them all more of a chance of grouping back up when something happens.
Rally points are a major consideration in survival plans, all the more so for real situations versus comic books ;)
Lowdown3
For want of a group the people dispersed....
So catching up on "Walking Dead" and realized this is the 2nd time these knuckleheads have been run out of somewhere and due to lack of a RALLY POINT, have lost people because of it.
Clear rally points should always be established. Your not invulnerable. You may have to leave your current place- or any place- quickly. Maybe for good, maybe for a short time.
In the long long ago in the before before time, when I was taught patrolling by an SF vet from Vietnam, we always had rally points set up while we were out training. If it was a long patrol it would by necessity have to change regularly. Rather than this stupid designate every stump a rally point with the flourish of the hands and a point (that people forget 20 yards up the trail) crap I've seen at "small unit" classes, rally points should make SENSE, be easy to REMEMBER and preferably be either 1. Defendable or 2. a great "hide."
Usually an SOP was set up like for example- "the last place we stopped for a rest that is at least 500 yards from where we had contact." This does not include places you took a listening halt, but rather where you stopped for more than a minute or two. Maybe you took a quick rest there, did some admin stuff, dropped your packs there, etc.
While the rally point should make SENSE, it shouldn't be completely OBVIOUS. The nice big crater on the side of the trail that everyone is familiar with might fit the criteria for easy to remember and possibly defendable or "hide" but it's also OBVIOUS as all get out. OK, so USE THAT to your advantage- THINK HOW...
Now in the example of the "Walking Dead" they were more worried about Zeds than people for the most part, so this would change things a bit, but the overall criteria would stay the same.
So when they all went out on "runs" (love the terms they use lol) everyone could be shown the location with the explanation- "This is rally point 1, if the prison is taken we will meet here and if possible wait X days for everyone, then head to rally point 2."
So the stuff hits the fan, all those West Georgia Zeds (man I hope WiseOwl and RockRiver don't get bit LOL) start busting in the prison and it's time to bail. So run right to the rally point right? Just bust right in there, sit down and take a rest eat some pickled pigs feet and PB and Js?
Nope, get to the area and OBSERVE the rally point first from a distance. Perhaps you were wise enough to also tell everyone to make a "signal" or "sign" that the RP is inhabited now. So you observe and a red rag is tied around the door knob to the only door in the telephone relay station (nice high cyclone fencing all around it, nice concrete building, only problem just one way in or out- bad zombie Ju Ju!). Do you walk right up and say "Well hi!" Again caution is the rule but like all tactics, speed of action has to be balanced with security.
So you and Darryl (thank God he made it, people were gonna RIOT if he didn't! LOL) made it to the RP. You sit there for a few hours or so, swapping stories about how your older brothers are dirtbags. Then you realize "hey, some of the others might be coming, we should probably mount a watch."
Just before dark you see another group member, they are moving slowly and have come from the opposite side of where you would have expected them to come from when leaving the prison.
You are trigger happy cause well hell the "governor's" men are still out there and we can't be too careful. The group member spots the red rag tied on the door knob and walks out into the open and makes a specific hand gesture that you all pre-arranged. You open the door and they come in.
That's three.
What about everyone else? It's been two days now. The prison isn't that far away, maybe they didn't make it? Maybe if those were real people they would be scouting for and mopping up survivors now. We can't stay any longer.
You leave another sign, maybe the red rag is now tied to the cyclone fencing in the direction of travel. Hey, people are probably scared, tired, turned around, maybe they weren't paying much attention when you went over the 2nd RP with them. Maybe a little reminder written in code on the wall will help?
At the 2nd rally point further out, similar actions are taken and you wait a pre-designated time. Again this has to be somewhat flexible due to tactical considerations but in general should be at least the amount of time you stayed at the first RP. A dead drop should be used at RP2 if possible- "Glenn, we waited here for you for three days, you are probably out getting sushi, hopefully not driving in traffic. We will check the dead drop per SOP. Maggie"
These actions would have given them all more of a chance of grouping back up when something happens.
Rally points are a major consideration in survival plans, all the more so for real situations versus comic books ;)
Lowdown3
Comment