Does a Reserve unit Headquarters Platoon need a Platoon Leader?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2020 13:00:46 -0400

I'm trying to get an additional 2LT for a PL position I have open for my unit, but I have a third if a headquarters platoon needs a PL. We are a combat support MP company and if it is necessary does that Officer have to be an MP Officer or can they be something akin like Logistics etc... Thank you for any answers.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 9 at 2020 1:04 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 09 May 2020 13:04:56 -0400

What does your MTOE/ TDA say? You just don't get to go officer shopping

Response by LTC John Shaw made May 9 at 2020 1:10 PM

LTC John Shaw — Sat, 09 May 2020 13:10:56 -0400

Your asking the wrong question. They Army has already decided how your Company is structured including number personnel by rank for officers and enlisted. Your Modification table of organization and equipment (MTOE) is an authorization document that prescribes the modification of a basic TOE necessary to adapt it to the needs of a specific unit or type of unit. TOE or MTOE is what you need to ask your company commander about or BN S3 or someone in that shop.
Here is a link that should help.

https://fas.org/man/dod-101/army/unit/toe/toenum.htm

US Army Table of Organization and Equipment

Response by COL J. Todd Johns made May 9 at 2020 6:47 PM

COL J. Todd Johns — Sat, 09 May 2020 18:47:58 -0400

Your company MTOE usually provides the intended structure. If you have an Executive Officer, they are the one that typically oversee/lead the headquarters section, unless there is a specific platoon within the HQ. I guess my question would be if you have an XO to oversee and synchronize the operations, personnel and logistics, what would the HQ platoon leader be doing?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2020 9:04 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2020 21:04:30 -0400

https://fmsweb.fms.army.mil/ request an account there and search for your UIC. You’ll see your MTOE information and a listing of what’s allowed.

An easier route might be to check with your S3 or reserve full time staff. They can pull a UMR that will show a listing of allocated positions for the unit. If it’s not there, you can’t have it.

FMSWeb

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made May 10 at 2020 11:41 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sun, 10 May 2020 11:41:18 -0400

MP companies have an XO slot on the MTOE. From my experience, they were always given the additional duty of HQ Platoon PL.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2020 9:28 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:28:48 -0400

In a typical combat support CO MTOE there is no actual headquarters PL. The XO usually manages the HQ section but mainly are under their respective NCOICs and section leaders. Now if your Company has an excess of LTs which I’ve seen in the Reserves, then I’ve seen an unofficial HQ PL that oversees them. This was true in my unit when there were literally 10 LTs on their books.

Response by CPT R Rosa made Jun 28 at 2020 4:16 PM

CPT R Rosa — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 16:16:43 -0400

God bless , yes it has to be an MP officer in order to be a platoon Leader position.

Response by SPC Joel Carter Sr made Jul 17 at 2023 5:31 PM

SPC Joel Carter Sr — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 17:31:41 -0400

I THINK EVERY PLATOON SHOULD HAVE A PLATOON LEADER