PCC / PCI Checklist (Pre-Combat Checks & Inspections)
Run pre-combat checks and inspections by category with a Go / No-Go for every item, then track each no-go to a fix before the SP time.
What this worksheet covers
Name, rank, and unit prefill from your service profile.
Mission data
- Unit / element
- Mission / operation
- Date
- SP time
- Type
- Inspected by (rank, name)
- Strength (assigned / present / attached)
Personnel
- Personnel
Accountability, sensitive items, ID card and ID tags, eye and hearing protection, medications, water, uniform and load per the packing list.
Weapons, optics, and lasers
- Weapons, optics, and lasers
Function check, clean and lubricated, zero confirmed, optics and lasers mounted and bore-sighted with fresh batteries, magazines and ammunition counted.
Communications
- Communications
Radios filled and checked on each net, spare batteries, antennas, handsets, PACE plan, call signs, and frequencies known.
Vehicles and equipment
- Vehicles and equipment
PMCS complete (DA 5988-E), fuel, fluids, BII, tow bar or straps, load plan, dispatch, and ground guides.
Mission-essential equipment
- Mission-essential equipment
Maps and graphics, night vision devices, ammunition and pyrotechnics, medical (IFAK, CLS bag, litter), water resupply, and mission-specific items.
Soldier knowledge
- Soldier knowledge checks (mission, task and purpose, rally points, actions on contact, casualty procedures)
Deficiencies
- No-go items and corrective action
Every No-Go from above, the fix, who owns it, when it is due, and when it was re-inspected.
- Status reported to (rank, name) / time
How to fill out the Unit checklist
Pre-combat checks (PCCs) are what team leaders do with their Soldiers; pre-combat inspections (PCIs) are the squad or platoon leader verifying them. Together they are how a leader supervises preparation in TLP step 8 so that no one leaves the wire missing something. When: Put PCC and PCI times on the timeline in the WARNORD. Run PCCs early enough to fix problems, and the PCI far enough before SP to correct any no-go.
Step by step
- Enter the mission, date, SP time, and who is inspecting.
- In each table, list the items your SOP and the mission require, with the standard ("function checked", "zero confirmed", "fill loaded").
- Check each item and mark Go or No-Go, with who checked it.
- Carry every No-Go to the deficiency table with the fix, who owns it, and when it will be done.
- Report status to your leader and re-inspect the no-gos before SP.
What a strong one looks like
- Inspect to a standard. "Radio works" is weaker than "radio-to-radio check with platoon on primary and alternate nets".
- Personnel items worth listing: accountability and sensitive items, ID card and ID tags, eye protection and hearing protection, required medications, water, and the mission-specific load.
- Weapons items: function check, cleanliness, zero confirmed, optics and lasers mounted with batteries, magazines, and lubrication for the weather.
- Communications: fills loaded and checked, spare batteries, antennas, PACE plan known by every leader.
- Vehicles: PMCS on the DA 5988-E, fuel, BII, recovery straps, load plan, and ground guides.
Common mistakes
- PCI at SP time, so no-gos can't be fixed.
- Checking the leader's own gear last or not at all.
- No-gos marked but never re-inspected.