| Every type of unit in the Army National Guard, from | | | | Platoon Leaders. In most cases, the new commander |
| Divisions to Companies have a unit Mission Essential | | | | will not make any significant changes to the current |
| Task Listing, also known as the METL. The METL | | | | METL. However, there are a few exceptions. For |
| features the mission essential tasks a unit must be | | | | instance, if the unit re-structured with a new wartime |
| able to accomplish, in order to complete its wartime | | | | mission, the METL could change. |
| mission. | | | | Once the commander finishes reviewing the current |
| Most METLs have between 4-7 tasks. All METL tasks | | | | METL; he or she will prepare a memorandum for |
| must pertain to the entire unit. For example, if your | | | | record and submit it to the battalion commander for |
| company had different types of platoons (e.g. supply, | | | | approval. Once the battalion commander approves |
| transportation, maintenance) the METL would only | | | | the METL, the company commander should brief his |
| lists the tasks that all Platoons must accomplish. In | | | | or her soldiers about the METL. That way, soldiers |
| this example, sample company METL tasks could | | | | understand the "big picture;" why the unit exists. |
| include deploy, defend, establish area of operations, | | | | In conclusion, the METL is a very important |
| provide combat service support and so forth. | | | | document. All Army units have specific missions. Each |
| When a new company commander first takes | | | | unit's METL outlines the mission essential tasks a unit |
| command, he or she should review the unit METL | | | | must be able to do to complete its wartime mission. |
| with the First Sergeant, Executive Officer and | | | | |