THE UNOFFICIAL

SOLDIER’S
HANDBOOK
Sergeant Andrew Dangerfield
INTRODUCTION
This handbook is a ready reference for your mission. It contains only
essential information and will be one of your most important tools.
Use it daily. You will be supplied with any extra material necessary.
I. YOUR MISSION
You have been called as “a Warrior and a member of a team”
to stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of
the United States of America in close combat.” It is important
to understand the nature of your mission. Your oath of
enlistment charges you to “support and defend the
Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign
and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the
same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the
United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me,
according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military
Justice.”

As a non-commissioned officer, your “two basic responsibilities

will always be uppermost in [your] mind -- accomplishment of
my mission and the welfare of my soldiers.” As you accomplish
these tasks you will gain the confidence of your men, find pride
in your service, and return home with honor.

Through dedicated service, your mission will also bring you

closer to the Lord than ever before. It will strengthen the very
foundation of your testimony, work ethic, patriotic devotion,
and commitment to your family. Your family is the eternal unit
in the gospel. Through letters, emails, and phone calls you must
continue to fellowship and strengthen each other. As you serve
your country also “serve [the Lord] with all your heart. might,
mind and strength that ye may stand blameless before God at
the last day... For behold the field is white already to harvest;
and he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same
layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation
to his soul."
II. MISSION POLICY
A. Your platoon has a platoon leader who is responsible for
training, discipline, and accomplishing the mission of his
organization. He instructs and supervises platoon
personnel in the following: truck and convoy operations,
driver maintenance, and methods of loading. He is
assisted by a platoon sergeant who assists in training
the platoon and supervises both its tactical and
technical operations.
B. Your platoon is divided into squads, which in turn are
divided into fire teams with their respective squad and
team leaders. Squad and team leaders work regularly
with their soldiers. Ordinary problems should be
directed to the squad and team leaders, but special
problems can be directed to higher as appropriate.
III. SPECIAL MISSION GUIDLINES
A. Write and call home at least once a week.
B. Post weekly to keep friends and extended family
informed of your condition and progress. Be extremely
sensitive to operational security – never revealing
information that would compromise fellow soldiers or
the mission.
C. Avoid getting into debt and pay ALL of your financial
obligations before deploying overseas. Avoid, as much
as possible, borrowing anything from anyone or loaning
money. This complicates relationships and can easily
damage valuable esprit de corps.
D. In order to drive any military vehicle, a dispatch must be
issued and a rigorous PMCS performed.
E. Respect the local customs and traditions where you are
deployed. Never make light of matters or objects that
are sacred or otherwise significant to the people who
are native to your area of operations.
F. Wear your uniform according to FM 670-1 with pride.
Shave daily, without exception.
 G. Avoid being alone with anyone of the opposite sex and
always act as a professional, avoiding even the
appearance of inappropriate conduct.
H. Conduct yourself with Christlike dignity. Telling or
listening to vulgar stories and reading of other than
wholesome literature must be avoided. Read books and
magazines that build your testimony, character,
knowledge, and tactical/technical proficiency.
Remember that contentious arguments and heated
discussions are not in harmony with the Spirit of the
Lord.
I. Maintain your living quarters in a way that contributes
to the effectiveness of your work.
IV. STANDARDS
Subject to missions and op tempo:
A. Read the Book of Mormon 30 minutes every day.
B. Work on certification 30 minutes every day.
C. Write one blog post every day.
D. Study Personal Development 15 minutes every day.
E. Work out in the gym each Mon, Wed, and Fri.
F. Run at least 30 minutes each Tues and Thurs.
G. Prepare tactically and technically ___ hours every week.
V. PREPARATION
Establish a regular time, consistent with operations, for
personal duties such as haircuts, PX, laundry, living
maintenance, vehicle maintenance, physical training, email
home, posting, etc.

All you do must not offend the Spirit of Lord or your work as a
soldier and NCO. Use “For the Strength of Youth” and FM 6-22
as guides to your conduct.
VI. SPIRITUAL PREPARATION
A. Seek and follow the Spirit in all that you do. “They had
waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth: for they
were men of sound understanding and they had
 searched the scriptures diligently that they might know
the word of God. But this is not all: they had given
themselves to much prayer and fatling: therefore they
had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation,
and when they taught they taught with power and
authority of God."
B. Love your soldiers. Make them a part of all you do. Help
them to succeed. Pray for your soldiers and their
families.
C. Ponder gospel principles. Spirituality is developed by
reading the word of God and pondering its intent.
Meditation and prayer develop spirituality and sound
testimonies.
D. Ponder leadership principles. Army leadership is
developed not only by studying Army doctrine, but by
observing your own leaders and serving your soldiers
diligently.
E. Lose yourself in the work. Put thoughts and discussions
of home, school, worldly things in their proper place.
Forget yourself in the service of soldiers. "For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever
will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness and all things shall be added unto you."
F. Fast only once a month except in unusual circumstances
and then be wise that you are always able to do the
work you are called to.
VII. MENTAL PREPARATION
"Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word.
And then shall your tongue be loosed: then, if you desire, you
shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto
the convincing of men."
A. Focus your study on the gospel, leadership, motor
transport operations, and squad infantry tactics. After
that, study those things that interest and uplift you also.
 B. Learn a few new words in Arabic each day.
VIII. CHARACTER
A. Smile.
B. Look people in the eye.
C. Shake hands firmly but gently.
D. Be genuine.
E. Work to meet your goals.
F. Be positive about everything.
G. Make up your mind to succeed.
H. Let your speech be uplifting… avoid complaining at all
times.
I. Be grateful. "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and
envieth not, and is not puffed up… but charity is the
pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever and whoso
is found possessed of it at the last day it shall be well
with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto
the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be
filled with this love.”
IX. PHYSICAL PREPARATION
A. Practice healthy eating habits
i. Avoid caffeine and carbonation.
ii. Drink lots of water.
iii. Balance carbohydrates, fat, and protein.
iv. Get lots of fiber, particularly from fruits and
vegetables.
B. You must make a conscientious effort to safeguard your
health. Care for your eye glasses and contact lenses,
particularly.
C. You should also remember that our Father in heaven
will bless you through priesthood administration.
X. CONCLUSION
As a soldier and leader, follow these basic guidelines of
preparing for the challenges of your mission. Use these
guidelines for your personal safely and well being. Exercise your
love for your Heavenly Father, your soldier, and the local
population; then you will be guided by the Spirit to accomplish
your mission and lead your soldiers well. It will be a critical part
of the foundation of your temporal as well as your eternal life.

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of

the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and

proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of
the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.