MILSCI 1102 Final Review

What is a Battle Drill?

Standardized Collective Actions without the application of a deliberate decision making process

Battle Drills Are:

Initiated on a Cue

Require minimal leader orders

Vital to success in combat and critical to preserving life

Characteristics of Battle Drills

Require minimal leader orders

Used to train and establish procedures

require sequential actions

standard throughout the army

Emphasis for all Battle Drills

Shoot

Move

Communicate

Survive

Adapt

Key Steps of BD1

Begins when the enemy initiates direct fire contact

Element in contact returns fire and seeks cover

Element in contact locates the enemy and places well-aimed fire on enemy positions

Unit Leaders (PSG) move to the element not in contact to control movement and maneuver

Unit Leaders (PL) decide to conduct assault, bypass, or break contact

Unit Leaders report the contact to higher headquarters

Key Steps of BD4

Begins when the unit is moving tactically or stationary and receives accurate enemy direct fire within hand grenade range

Soldiers in the kill zone immediately return fire on known or suspected enemy positions

Soldiers not in kill zone place well aimed suppressive fire on the enemy

Unit assaults through the kill zone to destroy the enemy

Unit leaders report the contact to higher headquarters

Key Steps of BD9

Begins when any squad member alerts "INCOMING" or a round impacts

Soldiers immediately seek the best available cover

Units move to designated rally points after the impacts

Unit Leaders report the contact to higher headquarters

What is a military symbol?

Graphic representation of a unit, equipment, installation, activity, control measure, or tactical task relevant to military operations

Used in planning to represent a common operational picture on a map, display, or overlay

Instantly recognizable "picture" of a doctrinally based piece of information

Military symbols represent doctrinal ideas

Three Types of Orders

Warning Order (WARNO)

Operations Order (OPORD)

Fragmentary Order (FRAGO)

WARNO

A preliminary notice of an order or action that is to follow

OPORD

A directive issued by the commander to subordinate commanders for the purpose of effecting the coordinated execution of an operation

FRAGO

An abbreviated form of an OPORD issued as needed after an OPORD to change or modify that order

TLP's

Receive mission

Issue WARNO

Make a tentative plan

Initiate Movement

Conduct Reconnaissance

Complete the Plan

Issue OPORD

Supervise and Refine

OPORD Supply Class I

Rations, Water Plan (cycle): M-M-A

OPORD Supply Class III

POL

OPORD Supply Class V

Ammunition

OPORD Supply Class VII

Major End Items (Weapons)

OPORD Supply Class VIII

Medical

OPORD Supply class IX

Repair Parts

US Army Infantry Squad

SL

2 x TL

2 x AR

2 x GRN

2 x RFLM

TL

SGT, M4 Series

GRN

SPC, M320

AR

SPC, M249

RFLM

PFC, M4 Series

Composition of an Infantry Weapons Squad

SL, GT 1, GT 2, JAV 1, JAV 2

Gun Team

Gunner, AG

Jav Team

Gunner, AH

Gun Team Gunner

SPC, M240

AG

PFC, M4 Series

JAV Team Gunner

SPC, M4, Javelin

AH

PFC, M4

M4 Carbine

Standard Weapon

5.56 MM

Adaptable with M320 Grenade Launcher

MER 500-600 M

MR 3600 M

M240B Machine Gun

7.62mm

Belt Fed

27.6 LB

49.7"

MR 3725 M

MER 800m Bipod

FGM148 Javelin

Fire and Forget Anti-Tank missile attack weapon

49 LB

48"

MER 2500 M (1.6 MI)

M249 Squad Automatic Weapon

5.56 mm

Belt or Magazine Fed

Collapsible Stock and Shorter Barrel

MER 800 M

M320 Grenade Launcher

40 mm Cartridge

Top Mounted on M4 or with Buttstock

ER 150 M (Point), 350 M (Area)

MR 400 M

IMT's

High Crawl, Low Crawl, Rush

High Crawl

Route provides cover and concealment, poor visibility reduces enemy observation, speed is required

Low Crawl

Route provides cover or concealment less than 1 foot high, enemy has good observation, speed is not required

Rush

There is no cover or concealment along route, enemy fire allows brief exposure

Why we use formations

Control, Security, Flexibility, Fire

Fire Team Formations:

Wedge, File

Squad Formations:

Column, File, Line

Platoon Formations:

Column, Line, File, Vee, Wedge, Box

Fire Team Wedge

Basic formation, 10-meter interval between soldiers, expand / contract depending on terrain

Fire Team File

Used in close terrain, dense vegetation, limited visibility

10 meters between soldiers

return to wedge as soon as terrain permits

Movement techniques

Traveling

Traveling Overwatch

Bounding Overwatch

Traveling:

Contact not likely, speed is required

Traveling Overwatch

Contact Possible, slower speed

Bounding Overwatch

Contact Expected, slowest

Patrol Definition:

A detachment sent out by a larger unit to conduct a specific mission that operates semi-independently and returns to the main body upon completion of a mission

Principles of Patrolling:

Planning

Reconnaisance

Security

Control

Common Sense

Planning:

Quick and simple communicated to the lowest level. Plan and prepare to a realistic standard, rehears everything

Reconnaisance:

Confirm what you know, learn what you didn't already know

Security:

Along route, at halts, Departure of Friendly Lines, reentry of Friendly Lines

Control:

Clarify the Concept of the Operation and Commander's Intent coupled with communication

Common Sense:

Use available information and good judgement to make sound and timely decisions

Types of Patrols:

Combat

Reconnaissance

Combat Patrols:

Provide security and harasses, destroys, or captures enemy troops, equipment, or installations

Types of Combat Patrols:

Raids

Ambush

Security Patrol

Raids:

Surprise attacks against a position or installation for a specific purpose other than seizing and holding terrain. Always ends with a planned withdrawal

Ambush:

Surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted target. Does not need to seize or hold terrain

Security Patrol:

Sent out from a unit location when the unit is stationary during a halt to search the local area. Engages and destroys enemy dependent on capability and mission of patrol. Provides early warning to main body

Reconnaissance patrols:

Collects, confirms or disproves the accuracy of information previously gained. Avoids contact, confirms what you already know and identifies what you don't know.

Route Reconnaissance:

Obtains detailed information about a specified route and terrain where the enemy could influence movement along a route such as roads, railways, etc.

Area Reconnaissance:

Focus on obtaining detailed information about the enemy activity, terrain, or specific civil considerations within a prescribed area such as towns, neighborhoods, ridge lines, woods, and airfield, bridge, etc. Smaller than zone recon

Zone Reconnaissance:

A directed effort to obtain detailed information on all routes, obstacles, terrain, enemy forces, or specific civil considerations within a zone defined by boundaries. Deliberate time consuming process. Appropriate when the enemy situation is vague, existing knowledge of the terrain is limited, or combat operations have altered the terrain.

Leaders Reconnaissance patrol:

Reconnoiters an operational objective just before an attack or prior to sending support by fire elements forward

Leaders Recon takes:

The unit leader or representative, leaders of major subordinate elements, security personnel, unit guides

Leaders Recon will:

Confirm the condition o the Objective

Provide subordinate leaders a clear picture of the terrain

identifies parts of the objective which must be seized or suppressed

GOTWA

Going

Others

Time

What

Actions

Fundamentals of Reconnaissance

Ensure continuous reconnaissance

Do not keep reconnaissance assets in reserve

Orient on the reconnaissance objective

Report information rapidly and accurately

Retain freedom of maneuver

Gain and maintain enemy contact

develop the situation rapidly

Main Purpose of the Offense:

Defeat enemy forces, destroy enemy forces, and gain control of terrain, resources, and population centers

Additional reasons to conduct the offense

Deprive the enemy of resources

secure decisive terrain

deceive or divert the enemy

gain information

fix an enemy force in position

disrupt an enemy forces attack

set the conditions for successful future operations

Characteristics of the Offense

Surprise

Concentration

Audacity

Tempo

Offensive Surprise

Operations proceed under cover and concealment to prevent detection by the enemy

Offensive Concentration

Degree of force in which firepower personnel or other combat resources are massed against an enemy at a point or narrow area to exploit the power of an offensive operation

Offensive Audacity

Boldness marked by originality and willingness to accept risks disregarding normal restraints, which allows for doing the unexpected

Offensive Tempo

The speed and rhythm of military operations with respect to the enemy

Offensive Tasks

Movement to Contact

Attack

Pursuit

Exploitation

Movement to Contact

Develop the situation, establish or regain contact

Attack

Destroys or defeats an enemy force, seizes and secures terrain, or both

Pursuit

Normal follows a successful exploitation

Entails rapid movement and decentralized control

Exploitation

Usually follows a successful attack and is designed to disorganize the enemy in depth

Forms of Maneuver

Envelopment

Turning Movement

Frontal Attack

Penetration

Infiltration

Flank Attack

Envelopment

Avoids enemy strength by maneuvering around or near enemy defenses. Directed against enemy flanks or rear

Turning Movement

Avoids the enemy's principle defense positions by seizing objectives to the enemy rear and causing the enemy to move out of his current position

Frontal Attack

Useful to overwhelm a weak defense, security outpost, or disorganized enemy force

Penetration

Has three stages: Initial rupture, rolling up the flanks, and continuing the attack to secure a deep objective

Infiltration

Form of maneuver where an attacking force conducts undetected movement through or into an area controlled by enemy forces. The goal is to occupy a position of advantage behind enemy positions while exposing only small friendly elements to their defensive fires

Flank Attack

An attack on the weaker sides of the enemy defensive position

Purposes of the Defense

Regain the Initiative

Retrain Key Terrain

Deny Vital Area to Enemy

Attrite or fix enemy for future offensive operations

In Response to a Surprise attack by the enemy

Increase enemy vulnerability forcing them to concentrate

Characteristics of the Defense

Disruption

Flexibility

Maneuver

Mass and Concentration

Operations in Depth

Preparation

Security

Types of Battle Positions:

Primary Positions

Alternate Positions

Subsequent Positions

Supplementary Positions

Battle Position

A defensive location oriented on a likely enemy avenue of approach

Primary Positions

Covers the enemy's most likely avenue of approach into the area

Alternate Positions

Covers the same avenue of approach or sector of fire as the primary position, located slightly to the front, flank, or rear of the primary position

Subsequent Positions

Same AOA as Primary / Alternate but in different depth

Supplementary Positions

Different AOA or Sector of Fire

Common Defensive Control Measures

Battle Positions

Battle Handover Line

Forward Edge of the Battle Area

Main Battle Area

Engagement Area