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

TEAM LEADER

AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER

AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER

RIFLEMAN

RIFLEMAN

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 CAPABILITIES / RESTRICTIONS

CONTROL FLEXIBILITY

SECURITY

FIRE TEAM WEDGE

BASIC FIRE TEAM FORMATION

EASY

GOOD

ALLOWS IMMEDIATE FIRES IN ALL DIRECTIONS

GOOD

FIRE TEAM FILE

CLOSE TERRAIN DENSE VEGETATIONS, LIMITED VISIBILITY CONDITIONS

EASIEST

LESS FLEXIBLE THAN THE WEDGE

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

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

GRENADIER RIFLEMAN

AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN

SQUAD LINE

TEAM LEADER

TEAM LEADER

AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER RIFLEMAN SQUAD LEADER RIFLEMAN

GRENADIER

AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN

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

WHEN NORMALLY USED SQUAD PRIMARY FORMATION CHARACTERISTICS CONTROL FLEXIBILITY GOOD FACILITATES MANEUVER, GOOD DISPERSION LATERALLY AND IN DEPTH LIMITED MANEUVER CAPABILITY (BOTH FIRE TEAMS COMMITTED). MOST DIFFICULT FORMATION FROM WHICH TO MANEUVER FIRE CAPABILITIES / RESTRICTIONS ALLOWS LARGE VOLUME OF FIRE TO THE FLANK LIMMITED VOLUME TO THE FRONT SECURITY ALL - ROUND

MOVEMENT FORMATION SQUAD COLUMN

FIRE TEAM FILE

WHEN MAXIMUM FIREPOWER IS REQUIRED TO THE FRONT

NOT AS GOOD AS SQUAD COLUMN

ALLOWS MAXIMUM IMMEDIATE FIRE TO THE FRONT

GOOD TO THE FRONT LITTLE TO THE FLANKS AND REAR

SQUAD FILE

CLOSE TERRAIN VEGETATION LIMITED VISIBILITY CONDITIONS

EASIEST

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

LEAST

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 R SL TL AR GRN R PLT LDR RATELO MG CREW TL GRN AR AR

LEAD SQUAD

X
FO FO RATELO MG CREW

LEGEND

R SL GRN AR TL R

CENTER SQUAD

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 AID MAIN (CLS)

TL GRN R SL TL GRN AR R AR

TRAIL SQUAD

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 TL TL TL

AR

GRN

GRN

AR

AR

GRN

GRN

AR

AR

GRN

GRN

AR

SL

SL

SL

X
PLT LDR RATELO R R

PSG AR

AID MAIN (CLS) FO MG CREW FO RATELO MG CREW

LEFT FLANK SQUAD

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

CENTER SQUAD

RIGHT FLANK SQUAD

SQUAD LEADER (SL) POSITIONS HIMSELF WHERE HE CAN BEST CONTROL THE SQUAD
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 TL GRN GRN AR AR

TL
GRN

AR

R FO

R PLT LDR RATELO SL MG CREW TL

PSG

MG CREW AID MAIN (CLS) TL GRN R SL

SL
TL GRN R AR FO RATELO

AR

GRN
R

AR

LEFT FLANK SQUAD

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 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 GRN R SL TL GRN AR FO FO RATELO R MG CREW R GRN

AR

SL

PLT LDR
RATELO AR TL GRN

PSG AID MAIN (CLS)

LEFT FLANK SQUAD

AR

MG CREW TL

RIGHT FLANK SQUAD

GRN SL TL R

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

AR

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
AR

TL GRN SL R

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 R

TL
GRN AR

LEAD SQUAD X PLT LDR

RATELO FO MG CREW FO RATELO

X
PSG
MG CREW AID MAIN (CLS) GRN

TL
GRN SL TL GRN R AR

TL
AR R SL

AR

R TL
GRN R AR

LEFT FLANK SQUAD

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

AR

GRN R SL

POINT SECURITY TEAM

X
FO

PLT LDR

FO RATELO RATELO
MG CREW TL GRN AR

TL MG CREW GRN AR R TL GRN AR R SL TL GRN AR R AID MAIN (CLS) R

FLANK SECURITY TEAM

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

FLANK SECURITY TEAM

PSG TL GRN AR R SL TL GRN AR R

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 CONTACT NOT LIKELY

CONTROL

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

SECURITY

TRAVELING

MOORE

LESS

FASTEST

LEAST

TRAVELING OVERWATCH

CONTACT POSSIBLE

LESS

MORE

SLOWER

MORE

BOUNDING OVERWATCH

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 AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN

GRENDIER

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

AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN

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)

CONSIDERATIONS PRIOR TO BOUNDING -

(CONT.)

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