The team leader at the holding area assigns each member of his team
a position. One MP is positioned in a concealed location at the entrance to
the holding area.
When vehicles approach, he moves to the center of the
road and directs the vehicles into the holding area. He tells the vehicle
driver or convoy commander where to park the vehicles. He returns to the
concealed position when the vehicles have cleared the entry point.
The second team member controls the exit to the holding area. He is
informed by the team leader when a vehicle or convoy may exit. He notifies
the vehicle's driver or convoy commander that the vehicles may move. Then
he locates himself on the road at the holding area exit to help the convoy
move onto the road. He remains in a covered and concealed position when not
moving vehicles out of the holding area.
The team leader controls the holding area operation from a position
overlooking the entrance and exit.
He receives instructions on when to
allow vehicles to move. Who determines when vehicles are to move depends on
the purpose of the holding area. If the purpose is to support a defile, the
team leader receives his instructions from the leader at the defile site.
When the purpose is to support a river crossing site, he has a movement
schedule to follow and receives information from the HTD or the crossing
area commander's staff.
If the area is very large, military police should establish a
control plan. An easy method is to mark the area off in several sections
and assign a letter or number to each area. If necessary, a traffic flow
pattern must be established.
Units are then assigned positions in the
holding area, based on size, number, and types of vehicles.
More than one team may be required to operate such a holding area.
When operating a large holding area, the leader may place men inside the
holding area to direct traffic and parking, and to make sure the using unit
complies with the flow plan. More than one team may be needed when security
is a problem. This would be particularly true if the entry and exit points
were located in such a manner that they were not mutually supporting.
c. Location. The HTD or provost marshal (PM) may designate the general
location for a holding area.
The squad or team leader with the mission
selects the exact location. The PM operations section is informed of the
holding area's precise location through reporting channels.
The PM
operations section then notes the location on the traffic control plan and
passes the information to the HTD.
When selecting a site for a holding area, there are three principles
that must be kept in mind (in addition to the general factors described
above):
o
The first vehicle in must be the first vehicle out.
o
Parked vehicles must face the exit so that they can be driven
from the area quickly.
MP1029
3-8
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