SOP

Standard/standing operating procedures? You may or may not be familiar with this term and acronym. “The term standard operating procedure, or SOP, is used in a variety of different contexts, including healthcare, aviation, engineering, education, industry, and military. The U.S. military sometimes uses the term Standing — rather than Standard — Operating Procedure, because a military SOP refers to a unit’s unique procedures, which are not necessarily standard to another unit. ‘Standard’ could imply that there is one (standard) procedure to be used across all units.”

According to the U.S. Army, a Standard Operating Procedure, or SOP, is “a clearly written set of instructions for methods detailing the procedures for carrying out a routine or recurring task or study.” SOPs are used to define tasks ranging from inspections to cleaning duties. There are two types of SOPs: technical (to explain ways to perform duties in research labs and other such areas) and administrative. Each SOP requires information so that new users can be properly trained and regular users can be reminded, and provide continuity among military members.

If you are on this website then you are probably a prepper of some sort. Having a little military experience (about 15 years so far) and having siblings and in-laws also with military and combat experience we tend to approach prepping from the combative platform. Some of the things we love discussing are bunker ideas, wilderness survival, military tactics, and developing SOPs. Many military FMs, ARs, TMs, and any number of other official documents are available for general release and can be found hard copy or in PDF format. As you prep think logically about what situations you might encounter and standardize how you, your family, and other friends that might be hunkering down with you will respond. These might include signals and radio comms unique to you and those with you, to prioritizing who does what if your holdup area comes under fire by looters.

As you sit down with you family and discuss contingencies you can come up with a plan of action for most situations; and like everything else in prepping this can bring ease of mind and help organize your efforts. Make sure all the members of your party are familiar with what you have decided and are rehearsed in its material. As you develop your SOP don’t hesitate to draw entire sections and chapters word for word from regulations if they work for your circumstances. Attached is a PDF to help you get started, or enhance what you’ve already begun. Have fun and don’t give away your plans to people you don’t have full confidence in.

Jon

infantryTacsop (a good example)

atp3_90x90 (building tips)