Karkand 11/8: CO position revisited

[Muiron]

I joined up as USMC on the Karkand map early in the game and noticed a few people screaming for a CO. After my last (and first) stint as CO, in which we were wiped off the board on Sharqi, I was a bit hesitant. But I looked at the tickets and we were up by about 50 with 600 to go. A good handicap I thought, so I said what the hell.

Surveying the situation, USMC had taken control of the most of the western island but there was still a squad and a half sized oppfor scattered between the Hotel and the Suburbs and the rest of both forces were lining up in the familiar battle line along the river.

My philosophy as a CO and to some extent as a SL is to relay as much information as I can to my squads and to give general orders. I expect SLs to take initiative because I figure they have the best knowledge of what is actually occurring on the ground. Sample orders I give are: "Squad 5, secure the west side of the land bridge. If you see an opening, advance to the Cement Factory."

I attempted to root out the opposition on the west side some, but they dug in around the suburbs (which we were able to take back only once for a short time). After a large oppfor spawned at both the Square and Suburbs I noticed we had already lost the lead and were even. Since I hate getting bogged down along the river and we were making little progress rooting out the West I asked Squads 2, 5, and 6 (sorry, I never even bothered to look at your names, but I must say that all my squads were competently led) to force their way across the river.

After a few attempts, in which first Squad 5 took the Cement Factory for a few minutes, then the SL of Squad 2 swam across unoticed and made his/her way to the Factory, and finally Squad 6 charged across, we secured a foothold. By this time, we were now down 100 tickets with 300 to go! So much for grand strategies.

After a bloody mess at the Warehouse, we were finally able to secure it and sweep MEC off the East. In the meantime, Squads 1, 3, and 4 had been doing an admirable job harassing MEC at the bridge, Suburbs, and Square respectively.

With all of the heavy armor now in our hands, we proceeded to push back west across the river and bleed MEC. When time ran out we managed a 30 point with 50 tickets to go.

Thanks for all the support (and faith?) from my SLs. Next time I will try to communicate my philosophy better so as not to provoke to many "What are your orders, Sir!".

-Muiron