INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENT

TECHNIQUES

LOW CRAWL
1. WHEN THE ROUTE YOU HAVE SELECTED
PROVIDES COVER AND CONCEALMENT
LESS THAN ONE FOOT HIGH
2. WHEN THE TERRAIN YOU ARE CROSSING
PROVIDES GOOD ENEMY OBSERVATION
3. WHEN SPEED IS NOT REQUIRED

HIGH CRAWL
1. WHEN YOUR MOVEMENT ROUTE
PROVIDES GOOD COVER AND
CONCEALMENT
2. WHEN POOR VISIBILITY REDUCES THE
POSSIBILITY OF YOUR BEING SPOTTED
3. WHEN THE TERRAIN OR VEGETATION ARE
ONLY SUITABLE FOR THE LOW CRAWL,
BUT SPEED IS REQUIRED

RUSH
1. WHEN YOU MUST CROSS OPEN
AREAS.
2. WHEN TIME IS CRITICAL.

Low Crawl

High Crawl

Rush

Wall Obstacle

Wire Obstacle

SMALL UNIT MOVEMENT

TECHNIQUES

THE FIRE TEAM COMPONENTS

THE INFANTRYMAN:
Supervises, leads, or serves as a member of an infantry activity that
employs individual or crew served weapons in support of offensive
and defensive combat operations

Most infantry operates in "Fire Teams" of three to four men, with two or three such teams to
squad. When attacking, each man in the team has a specific job.
1) Fire team leaders control the fire of their soldiers by using standard fire commands (initial and
supplemental) containing the following elements:
Alert, Direction, Description, Range, Method of fire (manipulation and rate of fire),
and command to commence firing
2) The Automatic Rifleman (or light machine gunner) tries to pin the enemy down.
3) The Grenadier (armed, usually, with an M203 or the equivalent) does two things:
helps the automatic rifleman isolate the enemy position, and looks for an opening to shoot a
grenade at it.
4) One or two men, under cover of the Automatic Rifleman and Grenadier, attempt to close with
the enemy position and kill the enemy.

THE FIRE TEAM FORMATIONS

WEDGE AND FILE
USED FOR CONTROL FLEXIBILITY AND SECURITY
LEADERS ARE UP FRONT IN THE FORMATION WHICH
ALLOWS THEM TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
FOLLOW ME AND DO AS I DO.
ALL SOLDIERS IN THE TEAM MUST BE ABLE TO SEE
THE LEADER

WEDGE FORMATION
IS THE BASIC FORMATION FOR THE FIRE TEAM
THE INTERVAL BETWEEN SOLDIERS IS NORMALLY 10
METERS
EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS DEPENDING ON TERRAIN
WHEN ROUGH TERRAIN AND POOR VISIBILITY OR OTHER FACTORS
MAKE CONTROL OF THE WEDGE DIFFICULT
- NORMAL INTERVAL IS REDUCED SO THAT THE
TEAM LEADER CAN SEE HIS OR HER SQUAD
- THE SIDES OF THE WEDGE CAN CONTRACT TO
THE POINT WHERE THE WEDGE RESEMBLES A FILE
WHEN MOVING IN LESS RUGGED TERRAIN WHERE CONTROL
IS EASIER, SOLDIERS EXPAND OR RESUME THEIR ORIGINAL
POSITIONS

FIRE TEAM WEDGE

TEAM LEADER

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

TEAM LEADER

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER

RIFLEMAN

RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER

FIRE TEAM FILE

TEAM LEADER

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER

RIFLEMAN

USED WHEN THE TERRAIN PRECLUDES THE USE OF THE

WEDGE

COMPARISON OF FIRE TEAM FORMATIONS

CHARACTERISTICS
MOVEMENT
FORMATION

WHEN
NORMALLY
USED

FIRE TEAM
WEDGE

BASIC FIRE
TEAM
FORMATION

FIRE TEAM
FILE

CLOSE TERRAIN
DENSE VEGETATIONS, LIMITED
VISIBILITY
CONDITIONS

CONTROL FLEXIBILITY

EASY

GOOD

EASIEST

LESS
FLEXIBLE
THAN THE
WEDGE

FIRE CAPABILITIES /
RESTRICTIONS

ALLOWS IMMEDIATE
FIRES IN ALL
DIRECTIONS

ALLOWS IMMEDIATE
FIRES TO THE FLANKS.
MASK MOST FIRES TO
THE REAR

SECURITY

GOOD

LEAST

SQUAD FORMATIONS

SQUAD FORMATIONS DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN

FIRE TEAMS IN THE SQUAD.
THEY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
SQUAD COLUMN
SQUAD LINE

SQUAD COLUMN

IS THE SQUADS MOST COMMON FORMATION

IT PROVIDES GOOD DISPERSION LATERALLY AND IN DEPTH
WITHOUT SACRIFICING CONTOL, WHILE FACILITATING GOOD
MANUVERABILITY
WHEN THE SQUAD MOVES INDEPENDENTLY OR AS THE REAR
ELEMENT OF THE PLATOON, THE RIFLEMAN IN THE TRAIL FIRE
TEAM PROVIDES REAR SECURITY

SQUAD COLUMN WITH FIRE TEAMS IN COLUMN.

(POINT MAN)
TEAM LEADER
(COMPASS)
AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER

(PASE)
RIFLEMAN

SQUAD LEADER

TEAM LEADER

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER
RIFLEMAN

SQUAD LINE

TEAM LEADER

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

TEAM LEADER

GRENADIER
RIFLEMAN

RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

SQUAD LEADER

THE SQUAD LINE PROVIDES MAXIMUM FIREPOWER TO THE

FRONT.
WHEN THE SQUAD IS ACTING AS THE BASE SQUAD, THE FIRE
TEAM ON THE RIGHT IS THE BASE FIRE TEAM

SQUAD FILE
IS USED WHEN NOT TRAVELING IN A COLUMN OR LINE
HAS THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS THE FIRE TEAM FILE
SQUAD LEADER CAN BE MOVED FROM NORMAL POSITION TO
THE FIRST OR SECOND POSITION:
- TO INCREASE CONTROL OVER THE FORMATION
- EXERT GREATER MORAL PRESENCE BY LEADING
FROM THE FRONT
- IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE TO MAKE KEY DECISIONS
ADDITIONAL CONTROL OVER THE REAR OF THE FORMATION CAN
BE PROVIDED BY MOVING A TEAM LEADER TO THE LAST POSTION.

SQUAD FILE
TEAM LEADER
SQUAD LEADER (OPTIONAL)
GRENADIER
AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN
RIFLEMAN
SQUAD LEADER (NORMAL)
TEAM LEADER
GRENADIER
AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN
TEAM LEADER (OPTIONAL)
RIFLEMAN

COMPARISON OF SQUAD FORMATIONS

MOVEMENT
FORMATION

WHEN
NORMALLY
USED

CHARACTERISTICS
CONTROL FLEXIBILITY

ALLOWS LARGE
VOLUME OF FIRE TO
THE FLANK LIMMITED
VOLUME TO THE FRONT

SECURITY

SQUAD
COLUMN

SQUAD PRIMARY
FORMATION

GOOD

FIRE TEAM
FILE

WHEN MAXIMUM
FIREPOWER IS
REQUIRED TO
THE FRONT

NOT AS
GOOD AS
SQUAD
COLUMN

LIMITED
MANEUVER
CAPABILITY
(BOTH FIRE
TEAMS
COMMITTED).

ALLOWS MAXIMUM
IMMEDIATE FIRE TO
THE FRONT

GOOD TO
THE FRONT
LITTLE TO
THE FLANKS
AND REAR

CLOSE TERRAIN
VEGETATION
LIMITED
VISIBILITY
CONDITIONS

EASIEST

MOST
DIFFICULT
FORMATION
FROM
WHICH TO
MANEUVER

ALLOWS MAXIMUM
IMMEDIATE FIRE TO
THE FLANK MASKS
MOST FIRE TO THE
FRONT AND REAR

LEAST

SQUAD
FILE

FACILITATES
MANEUVER,
GOOD
DISPERSION
LATERALLY
AND IN
DEPTH

FIRE CAPABILITIES /
RESTRICTIONS

ALL - ROUND

PLATOON FORMATIONS

PLATOON FORMATIONS CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING

- PLATOON IN COLUMN
- PLATOON LINE (SQUADS ON LINE OR IN COLUMN)
- PLATOON VEE
- PLATOON WEDGE
THE LEADER SHOULD WEIGH THESE CAREFULLY TO SELECT THE
BEST FORMATION BASED ON HIS MISSION AND ON METT-T
(MISSION, EQUIPMENT, TERAIN, TROOPS AVAILABLE AND TIME
AVAILABLE) ANNALSIS

PLATOON COLUMN

IS THE SQUADS PLATOONS PRIMARY MOVEMENT FORMATION

IT PROVIDES GOOD DISPERSION BOTH LATERALLY AND IN DEPTH
AND SIMPLIFIES CONTROL.
THE LEAD SQUAD IS THE BASE SQUAD.
NOTE: METT-T WILL DETERMINE WHERE CREW SERVED WEAPONS
WILL MOVE IN THE FORMATION. THEY NORMALLY MOVE
WITH THE PLATOON LEADER SO HE CAN QUICKLY ESTABLISH
A BASE OF FIRE

PLATOON
IN
COLUMN

TL
GRN

AR

LEAD
SQUAD

SL
TL
AR

GRN

RATELO

FO
MG CREW

PLT LDR

FO RATELO

MG CREW
TL

LEGEND

CENTER
SQUAD

AR

GRN
R
SL

PLT LDR PLATOON LEADER

PSG PLATOON SERGEANT
SL SQUAD LEADER
TL- TEAM LEADER
GRN- GRENADIER
R RIFLEMAN
AR- AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN
RATELO RADIO / TELEPHONE OPERATOR
MG CREW MACHINE GUN CREW
AID MAN COMBAT LIFE SAVER

GRN
TL

AR

PSG
AID MAIN (CLS)

TL
GRN
R

TRAIL
SQUAD

AR
SL
TL

AR

GRN
R

PLATOON - LINE, SQUADS ON - LINE

BASIC PLATOON ASSAULT FORMATION
THIS FORMATION ALLOWS THE DELIVERY OF MAXIMUM FIRE TO
THE FRONT BUT LITTLE FIRE TO THE FLANKS.
IS HARD TO CONTROL AND DOES NOT ALOW FOR RAPID MOVEMENT
WHEN TWO OR MORE PLATOONS ARE ATTACKING, THE COMPANY
COMMANDER CHOOSES ONE OF THEM AS THE BASE PLATOON.
THE BASE PLATOONS CENTER SQUAD IS ITS BASE SQUAD.
WHEN THE PLATOON IS NOT ACTING AS THE BASE PLATOON, ITS BASE
SQUAD IS ITS FLANK SQUAD NEAREST THE BASE PLATOON.
THE MACHINE GUNS CAN MOVE WITH THE PLATOON, OR THEY CAN
SUPPORT BY FIRE FROM A SUPPORT POSITION.

PLATOON - LINE, SQUADS - ON - LINE

TL

TL

TL

GRN

AR

AR

GRN

AR

GRN

SL

TL

TL

GRN

AR

AR

TL

GRN

SL

PLT LDR

GRN

AR

SL

PSG

R
AR

RATELO
AID MAIN (CLS)

FO
MG CREW
FO RATELO

LEFT FLANK SQUAD

NOTE:

MG CREW

CENTER SQUAD

RIGHT FLANK SQUAD

SQUAD LEADER (SL) POSITIONS HIMSELF WHERE HE CAN BEST CONTROL

THE SQUAD

LEGEND
PLT LDR PLATOON LEADER
TL- TEAM LEADER
AR- AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN
AID MAN COMBAT LIFE SAVER

PSG PLATOON SERGEANT

GRN- GRENADIER
RATELO RADIO / TELEPHONE OPERATOR

SL SQUAD LEADER
R RIFLEMAN
MG CREW MACHINE GUN CREW

PLATOON - LINE, SQUADS IN - COLUMN

USED WHEN THE PLATOON LEADER DOES NOT WANT TO DEPLOY ALL
PERSONNEL ON LINT. AND WHEN HE WANTS THE SQUADS TO REACT TO
UNEXPECTED CONTACT.
IS EASY TO CONTROL AND IS MORE CAPABLE OF RAPID MOVEMENT
THE PLATOON-LINE OR SQUADS-ON-LINE FORMATION.
DOES NOT FACILITATE RAPID MOVEMENT AS WELL AS A PLATOON IN
COLUMN
BASE SQUAD IS THE CENTER SQUAD
WHEN NOT SERVING AS THE BASE PLATOON, THE FLANK NEAREST THE
BASE PLATOON IS THE BASE SQUAD

PLATOON - LINE, SQUADS IN - COLUMN

TL
GRN

AR

GRN

FO

AR

GRN

AR

PLT LDR

RATELO

PSG

MG CREW

SL

SL

MG CREW
TL
GRN

TL

TL

SL

AID MAIN (CLS)

TL
AR

AR
FO RATELO

LEFT FLANK SQUAD

TL
GRN

GRN
R

CENTER SQUAD

RIGHT FLANK SQUAD

LEGEND
PLT LDR PLATOON LEADER
TL- TEAM LEADER
AR- AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN
AID MAN COMBAT LIFE SAVER

PSG PLATOON SERGEANT

GRN- GRENADIER
RATELO RADIO / TELEPHONE OPERATOR

AR

SL SQUAD LEADER
R RIFLEMAN
MG CREW MACHINE GUN CREW

PLATOON VEE
HAS TWO SQUADS UP FRONT TO PROVIDE A HEAVY VOLUME OF FIRE
ON CONTACT
ONE SQUAD SERVES AS EITHER OVERWATCH OR TRAIL FOR THE OTHER
SQUADS
FORMATION IS HARD TO CONTROL
MOVEMENT IS SLOW
THE PLATOON LEADER DESIGNATES ONE OF THE FRONT SQUADS TO BE
THE PLATOONS BASE SQUAD.

TL

TL

PLATOON VEE

AR

SL

SL

PLT LDR
TL

RATELO

TL
GRN

AR

FO

AR

AR

GRN

GRN

FO RATELO

GRN

MG CREW
R

LEFT FLANK SQUAD

PSG

MG CREW

AID MAIN (CLS)

RIGHT FLANK SQUAD

TL
AR

GRN
SL

TL
GRN

AR

R
LEGEND
PLT LDR PLATOON LEADER
TL- TEAM LEADER
AR- AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN
AID MAN COMBAT LIFE SAVER

CENTER SQUAD
PSG PLATOON SERGEANT
GRN- GRENADIER
RATELO RADIO / TELEPHONE OPERATOR

SL SQUAD LEADER
R RIFLEMAN
MG CREW MACHINE GUN CREW

PLATOON WEDGE

HAS TWO SQUADS IN THE REAR THAT CAN OVERWATCH OR TRAIL THE
LEAD SQUAD
PROVIDES A LARGE VOLUME OF FIRE TO THE FRONT OR FLANKS.
IT ALLOWS THE PLATOON LEADER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH A SQUAD
AND STILL HAVE ONE OR TWO SQUADS FOR MANEUVER.
THE LEAD SQUAD IS THE BASE SQUAD

PLATOON WEDGE

TL
GRN

AR

SL
TL

LEGEND

GRN

AR

PLT LDR PLATOON LEADER

PSG PLATOON SERGEANT
SL SQUAD LEADER
TL- TEAM LEADER
GRN- GRENADIER
R RIFLEMAN
AR- AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN
RATELO RADIO / TELEPHONE OPERATOR
MG CREW MACHINE GUN CREW
AID MAN COMBAT LIFE SAVER

LEAD SQUAD
X PLT LDR
RATELO
FO

MG CREW
FO RATELO

PSG
MG CREW

TL

AID MAIN (CLS)

TL
GRN

GRN

AR

SL

SL

TL

TL
GRN
R

AR

GRN
AR

LEFT FLANK SQUAD

AR

RIGHT FLANK SQUAD

PLATOON FILE

SINGLE PLATOON FILE WITH A FRONT SECURITY ELEMENT (POINT) AND

FLANK SECURITY ELEMENTS.
USED WHEN VISIBILITY IS POOR DUE TO TERRAIN, VEGITATION, OR
LIGHT CONDITIONS.
DISTIANCE IS LESS THAN IN OTHER FORMATIONS, TO ALLOW
COMMUNICATION BY PASSING MESSAGES UP AND DOWN THE FILE.
HAS THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS THE FIRE TEAM AND SQUAD
FILES

PLATOON FILE

TL
GRN

AR

POINT SECURITY
TEAM

SL

X
FO

PLT LDR
FO RATELO
RATELO
MG CREW

TL

MG CREW

GRN
AR

TL

TL
GRN
AR
R
SL

FLANK SECURITY
TEAM

TL
GRN
AR
R
AID MAIN (CLS)

LEGEND
PLT LDR PLATOON LEADER
PSG PLATOON SERGEANT
SL SQUAD LEADER
TL- TEAM LEADER
GRN- GRENADIER
R RIFLEMAN
AR- AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN
RATELO RADIO / TELEPHONE OPERATOR
MG CREW MACHINE GUN CREW
AID MAN COMBAT LIFE SAVER

PSG
TL
GRN
AR
R
SL
TL
GRN
AR
R

GRN

AR

FLANK SECURITY
TEAM

COMPARISON OF PLATOON FORMATIONS

MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES
A MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE IS THE MANNER A PLATOON USES TO TRAVERSE TERRAIN.
THERE ARE THREE MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES:
- TRAVELING
- TRAVELING OVER - WATCH
- BOUNDING OVER WATCH
THE SELECTION OF A MOVEMENT TECHINIQUE IS BASED ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF ENEMY
CONTACT AND THE NEED FOR SPEED
MOVEMENT TECHINQUES ARE NOT FIXED FORMATIONS.
THEY REFER TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SOLDIERS, TEAMS, AND SQUADS THAT VARY BASED ON
MISSION, ENEMY, TERRAIN, VISIBILITY, AND ANY
OTHER FACTO THAT AFFECTS CONTROL.
SOLDIERS MUST BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR FIRE TEAM LEADERS.
PLATOON LEADER SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE HIS LEAD SQUAD LEADER
LEADERS CONTROL MOVEMENT WITH HAND AND ARM SIGNALS. RADIOS ONLY WHEN NEEDED.
ANY OF THE THREE MOVEMENTS CAN BE USED WITH ANY FORMATION.

MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES AND CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICS
MOVEMENT
FORMATION

WHEN
NORMALLY
USED

TRAVELING

CONTACT NOT
LIKELY

TRAVELING
OVERWATCH

BOUNDING
OVERWATCH

CONTROL

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

SECURITY

MOORE

LESS

FASTEST

LEAST

CONTACT
POSSIBLE

LESS

MORE

SLOWER

MORE

CONTACT
EXPECTED

MOST

MOST

SLOWEST

MOST

NOTE: THE PLATOON LEADER WILL DIRECT WHICH MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE THE SQUAD WILL USE

TRAVELING
USED WHEN CONTACT WITH ENEMY IS NOT LIKELY AND SPEED IS NEEDED

TEAM LEADER

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

GRENDIER
RIFLEMAN

SQUAD LEADER
+ 20 METERS

TEAM LEADER

GRENDIER
RIFLEMAN

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

TRAVELING OVERWATCH
USED WHEN CONTACT WITH ENEMY IS POSSIBLE
ATTACHED WEAPONS MOVE NEAR THE SQUAD LEADER AND UNDER THIS
CONTROL SO HE OR SHE CAN DEPLOY THEM QUICKLY.
TEAM LEADER

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

GRENDIER
RIFLEMAN

+ 50 METERS

SQUAD LEADER
TEAM LEADER

GRENDIER
RIFLEMAN

AUTOMATIC
RIFLEMAN

BOUNDING OVERWATCH
USED WHEN CONTACT WITH ENEMY EXPECTED OR A DANGER AREA MUST
BE CROSSED
THE LEAD TEAM OVERWATCHES FIRST SOLDIERS SCAN THE AREA. SQUAD
LEADER USUALLY STAYS WITH THE OVERWATCH TEAM.
THE TRAIL FIRE TEAM BOUNDS AND SIGNALS THE SQUAD LEADER WHEN HIS
TEAM COMPLETES ITS BOUND AND IS PREPARED TO OVERWATCH THE
MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER TEAM
BOTH TEAM LEADERS NEED TO KNOW:
- IF SUCCESSIVE OR ALTERNATE BOUNDS WILL BE USED AND WHERE
WHICH TEAM THE SQUAD LEADER WILL BE IN.
- ROUTE, DESTINATION, POSSIBLE ENEMY LOCATIONS, ACTIONS TO TAKE
WHEN THEY ARIVE AT THEIR DESTINATION, AND HOW HE OR SHE WILL
RECEIVE HIS OR HER INSTRUCTIONS.
THE COVER AND CONCEALMENT ON TH BOUNDING TEAMS ROUTE
DICTATES HOW ITS SOLDIERS WILL MOVE

EXAMPLE OF SQUAD LEADERS ORDER TO BOUND

SQUAD SUCCESSIVE AND ALTERNATE BOUNDS

TRAVELING (PLATOON)
THE PLATOON LEADER DETERMINES AND DIRECTS WHICH MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE
THE PLATOON WILL USE.
TRAVELING IS USED WHEN ENEMY CONTACT IS NOT LIKELY AND SPEED IS NEEDED

LEAD SQUAD IN TRAVELING OVERWATCH FORMATION

+ 20 METERS

PLATOON HQ / WEAPONS
+ 20 METERS

+ 20 METERS

PLATOON SERGENAT, AIDMAN, WEAPONS (OPTIONAL)

+ 20 METERS

TRAVELING OVERWATCH (PLATOON)

TRAVELING OVERWATCH IS USED WHEN CONTACT IS POSSIBLE BUT SPEED

IS NEEDED
THE PLATOON LEADER MOVES WHERE HE OR SHE CAN BEST CONTROL THE
PLATOON
THE PLATOON SERGEANT IS FREE TO MOVE THROUGHOUT THE FORMATION
TO ENFORCE, NOISE AND LIGHT DISCIPLINE, AND DISTANCES BETWEEN
SQUADS
THE LEAD SQUAD USES TRAVELING OVERWATCH AND THE TRAILING
SQUADS USE TRAVELING.

TRAVELING OVERWATCH (PLATOON)

LEAD SQUAD IN TRAVELING OVERWATCH FORMATION

+ 50 TO 100 METERS

PLATOON HQ / WEAPONS
+ 20 METERS

+ 20 METERS

PLATOON SERGENAT, AIDMAN, WEAPONS (OPTIONAL)

+ 20 METERS

BOUNDING OVERWATCH (PLATOON)

BOUNDING OVERWATCH IS USED WHEN CONTACT IS EXPECTED
COMPONENTS FOR A BOUNDING OVERWATCH ARE:
- ONE SQUAD BOUNDING, THIS SQUAD BOUNDS FROWARD TO A
CHOSEN POSITION, THEN IT BECOMES THE OVERWATHCING
ELEMENT. THE BOUNDING SQUAD CAN USE EITHER TRAVELING
OVERWATCH OR BOUNDING OVERWATCH OR INDIVIDUAL
MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES (LOW AND HIGH CRAWL, AND SHORT
RUSHES BY FIRE TEAM OR PAIRS).
- ONE SQUAD OVERWATCHING. THIS SQUAD OVERWATCHES THE
BOUNDING SQUAD FROM A COVERED POSTION FROM WHICH IT
CAN SEE AND SUPPRESS LIKELY ENEMY POSITIONS. SOLDIERS
USE SCANNING TECHNIQUES TO VIEW THEIR ASSIGNED SECTOR.
NOTE: THE PLATOON LEADER REMAINS WITH THE OVERWATCHING SQUAD
NORMALLY THE PLATOONSS MACHINE GUNS ARE LOCATED WITH
THE OVERWATCHING SQUAD ALSO
- ONE SQUAD AWAITIN ORDERS. ONE SQUAD IS UNCOMMITTED AND
READY FOR EMPLOYMENT AS DIRECTED BY THE PLATOON LEADER.
THE PLATOON SERGEANT AND THE LEADER OF THE SQUAD AWAITING
ORDERS POSITION THEMSELVES CLOSE TO THE PLATOON LEADER.

BOUNDING OVERWATCH (PLATOON)

(CONT.)

CONSIDERATIONS PRIOR TO BOUNDING

-

THE REQUIERMENTS OF THE MISSION

WHERE THE ENEMY IS LIKELY TO BE
THE ROUTES TO THE NEXT OVERWATCH POSITION
THE ABILITY OF AN OVERWATCHING ELEMENTS WEAPONS TO COVER
THE BOUND
- THE FIELDS OF FIRE AT THE NEXT OVERWATCH POSTION
INSTRUCTIONS FROM PLATOON LEADER BEFORE THE BOUND
-

THE DIRECTION OR LOCATION OF THE ENEMY

THE POSITONS OF THE OVERWATCHING SQUAD
THE NEXT OVERWATCH POSTIONS
THE ROUTE OF THE BOUNDING SQUAD
WHAT TO DO AFTER THE BOUNDING SQUAD REACHES THE NEXT POSITION
WHAT SIGNAL THE BOUNDING SQUAD WILL USE TO ANOUNCE IT IS
PREPARED TO OVERWATCH
-HOW THE SQUAD WILL RECEIVE THEIR NEXT ORDERS
MACHINE GUN PLACEMENT, THE MACHINE GUNS ARE NORMALY EMPLOYED IN ONE
OF TWO WAYS.
- ATTACH BOTH GUNS TO THE OVERWATCH SQUAD(S)
- ONE MACHINE GUN WITH THE OVERWATCH SQUAD AND THE OTHER WITH
THE BOUNDING SQUAD. THIS TECHNIQUE REQUIRES TH GUNS TO MOVE
BETWEEN THE SQUADS AS THEY LEAVE THE OVERWATCH TO JOIN THE
BOUNDING SQUAD.

EXAMPLE OF PLATOON LEADERS ORDER FOR

BOUNDING OVERWATCH

PLATOON BOUNDING OVERWATCH

ACTIONS AT DANGER AREAS

A DANGER AREA IS ANY PLACE ON A ROUTE WERE THE LEADERS ESTIMATE
PROCESS TELLS HIM OR HER THAT THE PLATOON MIGHT BE EXPOSED TO ENEMY
OBSERVATION, FIRE, OR BOTH. IF A PLATOON MUST CROSS A DANGER AREA
IT DOES SO WITH GREAT CAUTION AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
TYPES OF DANGER AREAS:
- OPEN AREAS: CONCEAL THE PLATOON ON THE NEAR SIDE AND OBSERVE
THE AREA. POST SECURITY TO GIVE EARLY WARNING. SEND AN ELEMENT
ACROSS TO CLEAR THE FAR SIDE. WHEN CLEARED, CROSS THE REMAINDER
OF THE PLATOON AT THE FAR SIDE.
- ROADS AND TRAILS: CROSS ROADS OR TRAILS AT OR NEAR A BEND A
NARROW SPOT OR ON LOW GROUND
-VILLAGES: PASS VILLAGES ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE AND WELL AWAY
FROM THEM. AVOIDE ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY DOGS, WHICH MIGHT
REVEAL THE PRESENSE OF THE PLATOON
- ENEMY POSITIONS: PASS ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE (THE ENEMY MIGHT
HAVE SCOUT DOGS. BE ALERT FOR TRIP WIRES AND WARNING DEVICES
- MINEFIELDS: BYPASS MINEFIELDS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE EVEN IF IT
REQUIRES CHANGING THE ROUTE BY A GREAT DISTANCE. CLEAR A PATH
THROUGH MINEFIELDS ONLY IF NECESSARY.

ACTIONS AT DANGER AREAS (CONT.)

- STREAMS: SELECT A NARROW SPOT IN THE STREAM THAT OFFERS

CONCEALMENT ON BOTH BANKS. OBSERVE THE FARSIDE CAREFULLY.
EMPLACE NEAR AND FAR-SIDE SECURITY FOR EARLY WARNING. CLEAR
THE FAR SID, THEN CROSS RAPIDLY BUT QUIETLY
- WIRE OBSTACLES: AVOIDE WIRE OBSTICALES (THE ENEMY COVERS
OBSTACLES WITH OBSERVATION AND FIRE).
CROSSING OF DANGER AREAS: WHEN A PLATOON CROSSES A DANGER AREA IT MUST
-DESIGNATE NEAR AND FAR SIDE RALLY POINTS
-SECURE THE NEAR SIDE (RIGHT,LEFT FLANKS, AND REAR SECURITY).
-RECON. AND SECURE THE FAR SIDE
-EXECUTE CROSSING THE DANGER AREA.

CROSSING A DANGER AREA.

CROSSING A LARGE OPEN AREA.

CROSSING A SMALL OPEN AREA