Cadre Interveiw: Platoon Sergeant
- Nordic Milsim
- Feb 4
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 5
Name: Jimmy Bodmar
Callsign: Trireme
Military background: Swedish Marine Reconnaissance (AMF.1) Event: The Segezha Strike
Faction: PMC Karpova
Position: 2nd Platoon, RUSFOR/PMC Karpova
Role: Platoon Sergeant
Nordic Milsim Staff positions "The Segezha Strike"
NATO
CO: TBA
XO: TBA
1ST SERGEANT: TBA
1ST PLATOON SERGEANT: TBA
2ND PLATOON SERGEANT: TBA
RUSFOR / PMC KARPOVA
CO: TBA
XO: TBA
1ST SERGEANT: TBA
1ST PLATOON SERGEANT: TBA
2ND PLATOON SERGEANT: JIMMY BODMAR
Section 1 – About you
1. Background
My background is primarily within military leadership as I hail from marine reconnaissance. I've thaught leadership on different levels but mainly on the squad level. I have been into milsim for the last three years and today I teach leadership professionally to milsim groups.
2. Why platoon sergeant?
To be honest I did not seek out a position within platoon leadership. However I do believe in taking responsibility and when asked about it I stepped up for the occasion.
3. Previous experience
Within an airsoft/milsim context I've led light infantry platoons during Bellum at two occasions. According to player feedback I seem to have done a good enough job. The lessons I've brought from those experiences are to trust my squad leads decisions and fully support them on their current path.
Section 2 – Platoon Leadership
4. Your leadership style
My leadership style is based on everyone's shared responsibility, meaning I do not micromanage the small details. Instead I trust my squad leaders to do their job and try and grant them as much support and tactical advise as possible. I look at my position in leadership as a mentor style leadership where I look out for what's best for the platoon and trust the people in it. This also means you must own up to your own consequences, and I do not tolerate trying to blame blunder away on others. However, a platoon can only do as good as it's leadership which means that when blunders do happen I as a leader take responsibility for it.
5. Leading from the front
I am where I'm needed at all times- as I do not attach myself to squads. During combat and movement, I make sure to be present along the whole “line” making sure I have as whole of a picture of the situation as possible. This means that I will be moving about very much as it is easier for me to get to a squad instead of them sending someone to report to me.
6. Command & Control
During high-tempo situations I work with my squad leads and grant them as much of my experience as possible. They in turn need to work with their squads to build up a chain of communication so that we are aware of our surroundings and any potential changes of situation at any time. This take us back personal responsibility which means that every member of the platoon need to do their part, as no matter how small it is still an important role within the line of communication.
7. Discipline & Initiative
It is my job as a leader to communicate the Rules of Engagement (RoE) and make it clear what is expected of everyone and what limitations are placed on players, squad leaders and individual squads. I expect initiative from everyone in the platoon, however it needs to be tempered by discipline within the understanding of the RoE. This in turn circles back to why the chain of communication is important for our operational success.
Section 3 – Working Within The Chain Of Command
8. Company intent
To translate orders from company to platoon to squad is a matter of need to know basis. My time in the military thought me the methods on how to do it. I break up the order into pieces which are of interest for the particular squad leaders with some overlap between them so that they all have a basic understanding of each others orders. It is then in turn their prerogative to break down that order for their own squads.
9. Coordination with other platoons
The successful cooperation between different platoons is of utmost importance as without it we are our own sinking ships. A single platoon can only do so much without support. With this in mind my intent is to make sure that when required I will make sure to be as helpful for my sister-platoons as possible.
10. Interaction with support elements
Without logistics we have no ammunition, without a QRF we have no mobile combat support and without reconnaissance we have no idea of our further surroundings. All of these support elements have their own key importance which cannot be overstated. Cooperation in this regard is key and once again it circles back to clear lines of communication. My intent is to use these elements as needed and not to underutilize them or for that matter over utilize them as to take it away from other platoons.
Section 4 – The Cadre System & Player Experience
11. Working with your player platoon leader
As platoon sergeant it is my mission to follow and enact the orders of the player platoon leader. However it is also my responsibility to help the platoon leader to make the correct decisions in the interest of the platoon as a whole.
12. Player well-being
To keep motivation during a whole game is a tricky thing, especially when bad weather affects us. The best way to keep up motivation is by giving purpose to any and all actions performed by the platoon. If there is no clear purpose to perform an action, there is no consequence and without it no reason. A sense of purpose needs to be installed from the highest to lowest position and with purpose comes a sense of being part of something. My hope is to be able to build unit cohesion within the squads and strengthen the platoon. People are much more willing to endure setback and hardships when they have a sense of belonging.
13. Handling Challenges
Challenges are inevitable and the fatigue and frustration brought by it is set off by unit cohesion. As I said before a sense of belonging will make people willing to endure more.
Section 5 – Immersion & Realism
14. Immersion in practice
Within milsim, immersion is professionalism, and I strive to act in a professional manner according to my mission. Harking back to my look at leadership I expect people to take responsibility and thus acting professional.
15. Following the command structure
My expectations are very simple. Follow the orders you receive to the best of your ability and if that is done, I can't fault myself or anyone else.
16. Consequences & learning
When we fail we learn, this is the only real time we actually learn anything useful. Every failure is an opportunity to become better and I cannot stress that enough. Because of tend to be very heavily involved with my squads I also make frequent use of after action reports to look at why certain things happened and why they happened no matter if they are successes or failures as both need to be looked at.
Section 6 – Nordic Milsim & Segezha Strike
17. Why Nordic Milsim
What sets Nordic Milsim apart is the fact that it strives to present itself and act in a professional manner. There is no need of whimsy or nonsense to hide a bad product or bad planning. It is what it strives to be, a simulation of an armed conflict between peers.
18. What players should expect
Mentally I'd say that everyone should prepare to take a loss with grace, it's a game just enjoy the moment with other like-minded people. Prepare yourselves for long days and potential harsh conditions. Tactically everyone should expect to be held accountable for your actions and strive to perform too the best of your ability.
Section 7 – Message To Your Platoon
19. To your squad leaders
Failure is okay even helpful sometimes, blaming your squad is not. Respect and follow orders however most importantly take care of your squad first and foremost. You are only as strong as your squad and a demoralized squad is tactically useless. Take responsibility and demand the same from your higher ups.
20. To every rifleman
Help your squad leader as much as possible, he/she will be under a lot of pressure. Take care of your buddies and report any fatigue or demoralization upward in the chain of command. Without the riflemen us leaders are useless and serve no purpose.
21. Final Words
Before stepping of make sure you have everything you need with you. Remember to take care of yourselves and those around you. Trust your squad leaders and do the best to your ability. You don't have to win you just have to be there and create a memorable moment.
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