Moving your Unit: Line Command Theory and Practice

Theory

Who's theory? My theory. There are lots of theories about line command: what it is, what function it serves, and how to do it. This handout is about my theory of what line command is, based on a dozen years in the Midlands wall and a little bit of command time. Mileage may vary. Tax, titles, destination casualties and distaff royalty extra. No warranty express or implied. See General for details.

In other words if you like this Great! If you don't, well, take what you want from it for advice, and go search for something that appeals to you. This isn't a One Single Truth. However, this has proven to be one of the best ways to increase the effectiveness of any given SCA combat formation.


No - Theory Really!

A line commander is "the guy who shouts commands". Sometimes that's the whole unit, sometimes it's only select people who are trying to coordinate a unit action.

I think line command is best demonstrated outside the SCA by looking at Civil War unit command techniques. I highly recommend the movie Gettysburg both as entertainment and as an excellent example of line command in action. The Unit commander decides a course of action and gives the order. The line commanders then distribute that order and organize the troops into the appropriate formation or action. The line commanders are the Unit commander's eyes, ears, arms and occasionally firm boot in the rear end. This leaves the Unit commander able to assess the situation, take commands from HIS commander, and attend to other details that will need attending to.

Notice a very important point about that description: the unit commander does not get involved in the details of moving men around. He does not get directly involved in combat until the situation goes to pot. He's keeping eyes and ears open for opportunities, threats and mistakes. He has the broadest view of the situation, but I would not term him the "brains of the outfit". The brains, if there are such, are in the line commanders.

The line commanders are the ones most aware of how the unit is in contact with the opponent, where the unit is weak and in need of reinforcement, where the TuChux have appeared...... You get my drift. They are most useful immediately behind the front line of the unit, but may also be a part of that front line. The important thing is that they are able to see what is going on in the immediate unit and help maintain the effectiveness of the unit by keeping his little portion of the unit organized and the Unit commander informed of important information.

So, if the line commander is the real brain of the unit, what other implications does that have? A line commander must be able AND WILLING to adjust the formation locally to his position to achieve the task at hand. He must also remember that he's not operating in isolation. There's a full army unit around him to work with, and a commander that needs to know what the army is up against and where reserves are available - i.e. those troops that are not under pressure that can spare a body or two.

Perhaps more important to the line commander than his unit commander (who he may or may not care for) are his buddies in the line and other line commanders. He's there to make sure they get the support they need to succeed in the battle! Ideally a good set of line commanders can be left at a task without any other command staff to support them. They'll take care of business and continue to perform the task at hand.


Middle Kingdom Reality

Confusion. That's the reality in A.S. XXXVI at the kingdom level. Confusion about what a line commander is and how that function is filled. To elaborate a little:

Within the Middle Kingdom there exists a three tier command structure: the General of the Midrealm Army, the Regional Generals, and whatever unit structure exists within each Regional Army.

Then there's the shadow command structure. Knights and Masters at Arms, by definition of their order, are foremost. They are followed by the Captains of the Red Company. Serjeants of the Red Company are next, followed by everyone else.

Neither of these organizations specifically addresses line command for all units though. Logically the Serjeants would be line commanders, but that isn't always true. During this melee season as an example, Captains will command two of the Regional Armies, which contain Knights as members. In addition there are highly skilled and knowledgeable soldiers who do not hold formal rank of any sort but who are highly qualified to serve in command functions.

The question I'm getting to is, within the Midrealm Army, who is a line commander? The answer is that each Regional Army and each situation creates a different answer to that question. There are many ways of answering the question. On any given day, in any given scenario, the needed line commander may be YOU. If suddenly a situation develops and there is nobody serving the function of line commander, take charge!

That statement is especially true for members of the Red Company. They have been recognized for their skill in battle and their command abilities. With that recognition comes the responsibility to exercise your abilities in service to the Kingdom, and to train others in those skills.


Midlands Army Reality

The current structure of the Midlands Army puts line command responsibility primarily but not exclusively in two places. The first and most important is in the hands of the Warrant officers. They are expected to serve as line commanders. The second is with the Unit commanders. They are directing Warrant officers and troops directly.

However, as was mentioned previously, ANYONE may (and probably will) be called upon to serve in the capacity of line commander depending on the situation. That is why it is not a formally designated rank. With appropriate judgment a person may designate himself a line commander. Some people have a natural talent for this, and indeed are hard pressed to function as simple line troops! Some people have to consciously learn the knack.

Among the many manuals that have been written over the years on Midlands tactics that we should adopt, the philosophy of the Lance comes up again and again. A Lance has been defined as a group of anywhere from 3 to 6 troops that operates together. Each Lance winds up developing a line commander to direct it. The line commander logically develops from the Lance members in normal times. Sometimes, especially where a Lance is formed of primarily new and inexperienced troops, this doesn't naturally develop. That's when someone with experience needs to step in and provide the line command function. If someone doesn't, at least SOMEONE in the Lance needs to take charge! Organized troops doing the wrong maneuver are better than disorganized troops.

To present it in other terms, the Midlands army says that if you're successfully filling the job of a line commander where one is needed, then you are one. There are no special appointments required, only the desire, knowledge and opportunity. Some positions (such as Warrant officers) include line command in the job description, but that doesn't limit line command to only a Warrant officer.


So What do I Do?

I've rambled on at some length now about who is (or should be) a line commander, and how it fits into an SCA army (specifically, the Midlands Army).

But that doesn't really say what a line commander does or how they do it. The line commander has responsibilities to two sets of people: the troops on the line that he's commanding (that 3-6 person Lance), and the unit commander/army commander. He is "monkey in the middle" in this game, with both sides trying to get through him to the other side.

The largest part of being a line commander is shouting commands to the troops nearest you. These may be simple relayed commands someone has initiated, or ones that you perceive need to be made to keep the unit in good order at this location. That's the essence of the "monkey in the middle" function.

Let's start with the troops. They can be expected to be pretty darned motivated themselves, and a great deal of what I'm defining as line command this they may do naturally without much assistance. If that's the case, the line commander's job is really easy. But the line commander still has the responsibility of making sure that the following are available to the troops:

• What the immediate objective is. (Fight, stay, pursue, etc.)
• Immediate hazards. (Bad pothole, being flanked on the left, Atlantian Duke coming up on the right.)
• Are they positioned well or not. (You're ahead of the line, behind the line, move the line up, etc.)
• Where they are moving to (if this is not a static battle) and how. (Ravening pack of flying sticks, part of an organized formation, etc. and where it's moving to.)

• Understand and execute the plan.
• Tell the unit commander that there's an opponent and how pressed that section of the unit is. (Are reinforcements needed, is the line over-staffed?)
• Be flexible enough to carry out new orders despite still being engaged with an opponent, and able to tell the unit commander that there's a problem with those orders while still trying to carry them out.

There's a common theme to the responsibilities: communication. The line commander is primarily engaged in a big game of armored Telephone, complicated by the muffling effects of helmets, confusion of conflicting opinions from the line troops, and actions of the opponent that are preventing him from giving the problem his full attention at a given time!

The #1 best thing for the line commander to concentrate on is keeping the line organized. Leading from the front is a concept that, for me, comes from looking at Civil War tactics (you were wondering when that was going to come back around, weren't you?) and realizing that we have much the same problem in SCA combat. Troops with fairly light, inconsistent training and a desire to perform well in the service they've chosen to place themselves. (Let's not get distracted with the volunteer/draft issue or some of the other philosophical paths on this. It's a simple metaphor that works for my simple mind!)

The solution to the disparity in training and organization is to make sure a selected group of knowledgeable people lead the troops closely, sometimes (if necessary) from in front of the unit as an example to the troops. As long as everyone understands that for today's battle we're following so-and-so, it works fairly well.


Details, Details, Details

Line commanding is all about the details. Details such as who is the least skilled troop in your Lance so you can make sure he has the help to at least have fun while dying instead of dying dumb and alone. Details such as the where the rest of the Army is so that you and your 4 man Lance aren't victims of misunderstood commands and winding up in front of the Great Northern Army alone while the rest of the Midlands took a mistaken left turn into the side of Trimaris. (See above under: "Dying Dumb and Alone".)

Let's follow one possible sequence for a resurrection battle:

Arrive at pre-battle muster, help get today's army organized.

There's a couple parts to this. The first is that you arrive early enough and with your equipment in good shape so that you get your own things squared away and are available to organize things as it gets closer to show time. Yes, this means standing around sometimes. But you're no help in this stage if you get on the field too late to help with getting the unit lined up and in place for the start. Muster times are the least popular part of SCA battles, but sometimes the most necessary.

Line commanders need to be paying attention so they can answer questions from whomever, pass along new information (especially information that just came out two minutes ago), and have an idea of where people need to be. They also can be doing that quick visual check that everyone remembered to put on all their armor today, and that something new isn't broken. Help with the head-count. Help the quartermaster corp of the day haul water over.

Pick a spot (or have one picked for you) to fight in the initial formation.

Your position may have been chosen for you, or you may be choosing one. Once the unit starts to line up, pick a spot where you're able to direct a handful of people. To put it in other terms, create a Lance for yourself. Or perhaps you are playing with a Lance that has been training all summer. Either way you need to get yourself in with a group that you'll take responsibility for. Make sure they know what is going to happen when the battle starts, and that they're ready.

Battle Begins: enter battlefield with army and proceed to initial objective

Pretty self explanatory. Stick with your position and use whatever appropriate means (commands, nudges, leading from in front etc.) to help your Lance achieve the initial objective. Keep track of the Army too! If your Lance drifts off somewhere it is no longer of significant use to the Army until it returns.

Adapt to changing situation

If the original battle plan lasted for 2 minutes, it's highly successful. After that, everything is going to change. Be prepared for this! Help your Lance become aware of the change and what they need to do about it - maneuver, stand ready, advance, whatever. Frequently the changing situation is the arrival of new opponents, and the response is to make sure that the Lance isn't caught flat-footed congratulating themselves on surviving the first push.

Get Killed

This is not a goal. If you're good at this, you'll be able to both do line command work AND fight and not get killed. However, your opponent has a nasty habit of gunning for the guys doing command work. You'll either get killed or get better at defending!

Resurrect and re-enter battle

Go resurrect, get some water and air and get back into the battle. Normally you try to head back to your unit and pick up where you left off. However, you may be diverted to some other area for whatever reason. (Getting turned around counts as "diverted" BTW.)

Determine local situation and make yourself useful

Make yourself useful wherever you wind up, but don't step on toes if someone's already running the line where you wind up. Look around for the greatest need. If it's a heavy engagement, concentrate on defeating the opponent. You're still a line troop! Excess commanding is almost worse than no commanding. Even as a part of the line you can do some juggling of the line for support and to cover holes. Just don't let your attention wander too far from your opponent, or he'll send you back to the resurrection point! Remember, line command is an informal and always changing responsibility. Be flexible.

Get Killed

OK - you probably turned to tell someone to fill that hole on your right and a spearman gacked you while your attention was turned. File that under lessons learned and start the long walk back.

Get Water

Need I say more? Take care of yourself first! Keep an eye on your friends too, and make sure they're paying attention to themselves.

Resurrect and re-enter battle

Same as above.

Become attached to a "battle group" and make yourself useful

Let's say it's getting down to the end of the battle and you've been held by the Army command for use in a major push. Treat it like the start of the battle - pick out a spot, decide if you need to line command or not, and make yourself as useful as possible to the unit. This type of unit is going to have an aggressive mission - keep that in mind and contribute to that mission in every way possible.

End of Battle - post mortem and make sure everyone came out OK.

One of the responsibilities of command is helping put an accurate story together afterwards about what happened, what went right and what went wrong, and make sure everyone in the army came out OK or is at least accounted for. Since you were doing line command, you were paying more attention to the larger picture. You have some unique perspectives to be shared later when the battle gets discussed.

There's a few main obstacle to being highly successful at this job:

Lack of hearing/lack of carrying power in your voice.

This is the most common one. Helmets are never designed for clarity of hearing, and the adrenaline rush everyone gets makes it harder to be aware of what's going on around a person. By the end of Pennsic, my voice has been reduced to gravel from trying to be heard over the din of battle. You'll also struggle with the fact that when shouting many people sound angry when they aren't. If you are careful with your phrasing you can minimize this. Try to shout commands from deep in your chest rather than at the top of your voice. That's not a real helpful description, but ask someone who knows vocal projection if you have trouble with this.

Lack of peripheral vision in your helmet

Make sure you turn your head to look at things, rather than relying on your restricted peripheral vision. The danger of turning your head is your attention wandering away from the opponent that's trying to make you his latest spear decoration.

Confusion/poor understanding of actual mission

This can come from several sources. Command staff may not have clearly explained things to the army resulting in everyone having a different understanding of the mission, or individuals may not have paid attention and have a different conclusion about what's going on. Try to gracefully bring everyone onto one page and get clarification before the battle starts. Once the battle starts, if you see what's happening, adapt and get your Lance to adapt as well. Try not to let everyone scatter on the winds of confusion! A separated Lance is better than 5 separated troops.

Lack of acknowledged authority

There's not a lot you can do about this. Especially when you don't know the other troops around you, be cautious when first starting to perform line command functions. If they won't acknowledge your authority, just let it be. This is a hobby, we do this for fun. If you've been specifically given command responsibility and someone else comes over and starts giving commands, try to gracefully ask him to perform a different job.

Fundamentally, sometimes you're just stuck by knowing something different needs to happen but nobody wants to follow you.

Equipment failure

If you have armor or weapons that fail, exit the battle as gracefully as possible and let someone else know to take your place. A battle is no place to be fighting failed equipment.

And here, at the end of this pamphlet, I finally get to the details of "how do I get them to move"? Command language has never been completely standardized in the Middle Kingdom. Even within the Midlands it tends to change depending on who is on the command staff. The best command sets are the ones that are easily understandable though muffled helmets and confusion and take little training to execute and remember. That means no "playbooks" with dozens of variations. A skilled unit is going to have difficulties remembering that, to say nothing of the people who are enjoying their first season in armor!

Here are the command words I've found useful and understandable:

Form Shields

As in, form up a shield wall. The standard formation leaves enough room between shields to advance and maneuver. Line commanders will help form an even, regular line with no gaps.

Lock It Up

As a modifier after shields are formed up in a wall. This instructs shieldmen to overlap the shields, with the implication that you're going to receive. And receive and receive and receive and receive........ Line commanders will be nudging and sliding people around to get everyone in place.

Close Formation

You're in contact, or nearly so, with an opponent but you want to be able to move. Close formation means about 6" between shields but in a ready stance. Line commanders will have to help set distances and nudge people around.

Flank Right (Mad Dog Right)

Usually initiated with the call "GO!", this is a mad scramble around to the right of the opponent. Line commanders make sure it's pointed in the correct direction, and actually makes it around the flank, and that your own stragglers don't get picked off and make it into action effectively.

Flank Left (Mad Dog Left)

Same as above, but to the left.

Charge

Basically the same as above, but with additional utility. Charge is also called as a counter-charge, and may be called by local command/line commanders as needed to help repulse a particularly heavy attack that is pushing the unit back. Line commanders, once the charge is called LOUDLY, help keep momentum up any way they can, including pushing from behind.

Advance

Controlled advance, usually to come into weapons range. Line commanders are particularly important in keeping individuals lined up so that holes don't develop, and preventing people from going too far.

Back

Same as advance, but going the other way. Don't use the word "retreat", as it tends to promote pell-mell abandonment of stance and positions. Line commanders help to maintain individuals in an even line with no holes and prevent them from going too far.

Step

As in, take one step forward. Line commanders keep the line even.

Steady (Stay As You Are)

This serves several purposes, and is something peculiarly useful to the line commander. If a line starts to give, this reminds people not to give ground if they don't have to. It also can have a very reassuring effect on your line when presented with lots of troops on the other side. It's a way of telling people that there's someone back here in command, and they aren't going to die Dumb and Alone. NEVER, EVER USE THE WORD HOLD FOR THIS PURPOSE!

Double Time (Quick Step)

Advance quickly. Line commanders need to keep the line dressed and even with no holes and gaps, and make sure stragglers catch up or their position gets covered.

Slide Right

Everyone slides down to the right. Line commanders usually have to nudge people by the shoulders to get them to move down. Watch for holes!

Slide Left

Same as above, going the other way.

Wedge Charge
Refuse Right
Refuse Left
Wheel Right
Wheel Left

In all of these the line commanders are going to have a heck of a time trying to keep the unit in formation and together without things coming apart at the seams. If the entire unit is capable of line commanding, this will generally work OK because everyone is aware of the requirements of the maneuver and will pay attention to whomever is actually doing the commanding.


Final

I've spent a lot of paper trying to explain that line command is an important job that is done at the Lance level by whomever is available and informed. The purpose of line command is to grease the gears of the army so that everything works more smoothly. It involves directing people with simple commands, by action, and by example. It's command by consent, not command by right.

Gee. I could have said that at the start!

Everyone will find their place in this picture a little different. It doesn't come to people in full flower - it is a skill that has to be practiced. Take every opportunity you can to practice bits of it. You'll have a lot of fun doing it, and you'll find everyone else having more fun if you do it right.

Remember: this is a hobby, we do this for fun!

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This page maintained by Cerian Cantwr, cerian@minstrel.com. Last updated: 2004-01-20

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