CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED // FOR TRAINING USE ONLY This document is a milsim training aid produced for the USASOC milsim community. It is not an official U.S. Government, Department of Defense, or USSOCOM document. Actual JSOC and USASOC unit METLs are classified. Task references below are drawn from publicly available doctrine — FM 7-15 (Army Universal Task List), CJCSM 3500.04G (Universal Joint Task Manual), and applicable SOF doctrinal publications — and adapted for simulation training purposes. Unit names, designations, and organisational references are used for milsim authenticity only.

What is a Mission Essential Task List?

A Mission Essential Task List (METL) defines the collective tasks a unit must be capable of executing to accomplish its wartime mission. Every task on the METL must apply to the unit as a whole — not just one sub-element. METLs are derived from the unit’s assigned wartime mission, external directives, and applicable doctrinal task frameworks.

Within this task force, the METL drives all training event design, operation planning, and readiness assessments. If a training event does not support at least one METL task, it is a low-priority event. If a unit cannot perform a METL task to standard, it is not ready to deploy.

Tasks are referenced against the Army Universal Task List (FM 7-15) using ART (Army Task) numbers. The standard format for each task is: Task · Conditions · Standard.

Element 1 — 1st SFOD-D / CAG

Task Force Green | Tier 1 Special Missions Unit
Counterterrorism · Direct Action · Special Reconnaissance · Personnel Recovery

• ART 2.3.3 — Conduct Reconnaissance
  • Conditions: Given a confirmed or suspected objective area, the element deploys a reconnaissance element under cover of darkness or limited visibility, using assigned infiltration means, with communications to higher established prior to departure.
  • Standard: The element occupies a covert observation post, collects all assigned intelligence requirements, and transmits a complete SALUTE report to higher within the assigned reporting window. The element is not compromised at any point during the reconnaissance phase.
• ART 1.2.3 — Employ Combat Patrols
  • Conditions: Given an assigned patrol task (raid, ambush, or reconnaissance), the element conducts a leader’s reconnaissance, issues a patrol order, and moves to the objective via a designated route with communications maintained throughout.
  • Standard: The element reaches the objective undetected, executes the assigned patrol task within the time specified in the order, and conducts controlled exfiltration with full accountability of personnel, equipment, and collected materiel.
• ART 1.4.1 — Conduct Lethal Direct Fire Against a Surface Target
  • Conditions: The element engages designated personnel or materiel targets at close quarters or at range, under the ROE established in the current OPORD, with positive target identification confirmed prior to engagement.
  • Standard: All engagements are conducted within ROE. No incidents of fratricide or unplanned collateral damage. Post-engagement SALUTE report submitted within 5 minutes of ceasefire.
• ART 1.5.5 — Conduct Landing Zone Operations
  • Conditions: Given a designated HLZ, the element establishes a secure perimeter, marks the LZ to the agreed signal plan, and maintains communications with the inbound 160th SOAR element throughout the approach.
  • Standard: The HLZ is secured and marked prior to the aircraft’s 5-minute call. The element executes load or offload within the time specified in the Air Mission Brief. Departure is clean with no personnel or equipment left on the LZ.
• ART 5.1.3 — Execute Tactical Operations
  • Conditions: Given an OPORD with a defined mission, the element executes all phases of the operation — infiltration, actions on objective, and exfiltration — in accordance with the issued order and applicable SOPs.
  • Standard: All phases are executed as planned or adapted through an effective battle drill with commander’s intent maintained throughout. Significant deviations are communicated to higher in real time. Post-operation debrief completed within 2 hours of exfiltration.
• ART 6.2.3 — Plan Personnel Recovery Operations
  • Conditions: Prior to each operation, the element develops an isolated personnel plan covering E&E routes, authentication procedures, CASEVAC locations, and recovery signals. All personnel are briefed at the mission briefback.
  • Standard: Every operator can articulate their individual recovery plan, E&E route, and CASEVAC 9-line without reference to notes. PJ link-up procedures are confirmed with the 24th STS attachment prior to mission launch.

Element 2 — 160th SOAR Detachment

Task Force Brown | Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
Infiltration · Exfiltration · Rotary Wing Fire Support · FARP Operations

• ART 1.5.5 — Conduct Landing Zone Operations
  • Conditions: Aircrew conducts approach to a designated HLZ using NVG/FLIR profiles, in degraded visibility or under EMCON, with ground element communications confirmed prior to final approach.
  • Standard: Aircraft arrives at the designated HLZ at H-Hour plus or minus 30 seconds. Load or offload is completed within the time specified in the AMB. Departure is executed without compromise of the ground element.
• ART 4.1.2 — Provide Transportation Support (Infiltration / Exfiltration)
  • Conditions: Aircrew inserts or extracts a special operations ground element from a designated point using the assigned flight profile, with all route, LZ, and contingency data briefed during the Air Mission Brief.
  • Standard: Ground element delivered or recovered intact at the correct location and time. No mission abort attributable to aircrew error or preparation failure. All contingencies briefed and understood by all crew members prior to departure.
• ART 3.2.1 — Employ Fires (Rotary Wing CAS / Attack)
  • Conditions: Aircrew receives a 9-line CAS brief from the ground JTAC or initiates an attack run based on positive target identification, with ROE confirmed and applicable deconfliction completed prior to weapons release.
  • Standard: Target engaged within ROE with no fratricide. BDA reported to higher within 5 minutes of engagement. All weapons expenditure logged and reported in the post-mission debrief.
• ART 4.1.3 — Provide Supplies (FARP Operations)
  • Conditions: The detachment establishes or utilises a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point to sustain operations beyond single-sortie range. FARP location, security, and procedures are established prior to the first aircraft arrival.
  • Standard: Aircraft rearmed and refuelled within 20 minutes of arrival. All aircraft depart the FARP at mission-capable status. FARP security is maintained throughout without compromise.
• ART 5.1.3 — Execute Tactical Operations
  • Conditions: Aircrew executes the assigned mission profile in accordance with the Air Mission Brief, including planned infil/exfil, alternate profiles, and contingency actions for loss of communications, LZ denial, or aircraft emergency.
  • Standard: Mission executed per AMB. All deviations communicated to the Ground Force Commander in real time. Post-mission debrief completed within 1 hour of aircraft return.

Element 3 — 24th STS Attachment

Joint Special Operations Air Component | Combat Control / JTAC / Pararescue
Joint Terminal Attack Control · Combat Air Traffic Control · Personnel Recovery · Combat Medicine

• ART 3.1.1 — Conduct the Targeting Process
  • Conditions: The JTAC/CCT conducts target development, confirmation, and nomination in support of the Ground Force Commander’s scheme of manoeuvre, with the air picture maintained and ROE confirmed prior to any call for fire.
  • Standard: Target nominated with a correct 9-digit grid, authentication, target description, and ROE confirmation prior to weapons release. No target engagement proceeds without positive identification by the JTAC.
• ART 3.2.1 — Employ Fires (Joint Terminal Attack Control)
  • Conditions: The JTAC controls a CAS asset through a properly formatted 5-line or 9-line brief, maintains communications with both the aircraft and the Ground Force Commander, and provides clearance for weapons release within the established control measures.
  • Standard: CAS mission executed with no fratricide and no unplanned collateral damage. BDA reported to higher within 5 minutes of weapons impact. All JTAC actions are consistent with applicable CAS doctrine and the ROE in the current OPORD.
• ART 1.5.5 — Conduct Landing Zone Operations (Combat Control)
  • Conditions: The CCT establishes, marks, and controls a LZ or austere airfield in denied or semi-permissive conditions, providing air traffic services and aircraft sequencing for inbound and outbound elements.
  • Standard: LZ or airfield is established and communications with inbound airframes are confirmed before the first scheduled arrival. All aircraft are sequenced without conflict. The CCT maintains positive control of the airspace throughout the operation.
• ART 6.2.3 — Plan Personnel Recovery Operations
  • Conditions: The PJ element maintains a current recovery plan for all personnel in the task force’s operational area, including CASEVAC routes, CCP locations, MEDEVAC 9-line data, and forward deployment procedures.
  • Standard: All CASEVAC plans are confirmed and validated at mission briefback. The PJ element is capable of forward deployment within 15 minutes of a recovery trigger. Recovery plans are updated for each new operational area.
• ART 4.3.1 — Provide Combat Casualty Care
  • Conditions: The PJ element responds to a casualty under fire or in a permissive environment, conducts a primary and secondary survey, applies TCCC-standard interventions, and prepares the patient for CASEVAC or MEDEVAC.
  • Standard: All TCCC interventions are applied correctly and in sequence. Patient is packaged and transferred to the designated higher care echelon within the CASEVAC timeline specified in the OPORD. All interventions are documented on a TCCC card.

REFERENCES FM 7-15, The Army Universal Task List (HQ DA, 27 Feb 2009, w/ Changes 1–10 through 29 Jun 2012) CJCSM 3500.04G, Universal Joint Task Manual (Joint Staff J-7, 14 Apr 2023) FM 3-18, Special Forces Operations (HQ DA, 2014) JP 3-05, Special Operations (Joint Staff, 2014) ATP 3-60, Targeting (HQ DA, 2015)

DISCLAIMER This METL is a milsim training document. Task titles and ART reference numbers are drawn from publicly available U.S. Army and Joint doctrine. Actual unit METLs for 1st SFOD-D, 160th SOAR, and 24th STS are classified. This document makes no claim to represent official U.S. Government, DoD, USSOCOM, or JSOC policy, doctrine, or operational procedures. Unit names are used for simulation authenticity under milsim community standards