Which of the following is a Platoon Sergeant duty?

• A. Rides in last A/C for control purposes
• B. Maintains commo with HQ
• C. Issue operations order and conducts rehearsals
• D. Briefs chalk leaders

Answer: (A)

In air assault operations, the platoon sergeant keeps the platoon under tight, real-time control during lift and movement. Riding in the last helicopter provides the best vantage to monitor the entire formation, maintain accountability, and stay in close contact with the platoon leader and higher headquarters. From that position, the platoon sergeant can quickly spot and address issues as troops load, move, and dismount, ensuring nothing is left behind and tempo is preserved. This setup centralizes leadership during the critical lift phase and helps maintain discipline, safety, and coordination across all chalks.

The other tasks tend to be managed by the platoon leader or specific staff roles: maintaining comms with HQ is typically handled by the unit’s communications NCO or the platoon leader; issuing operations orders and conducting rehearsals are responsibilities of the platoon leader (and the staff during planning); briefing chalk leaders is usually done by the platoon leader or the senior RSO/ training leader, not the platoon sergeant as a routine duty.