Observation And Reporting

SALUTE-C position, strength movement, Intelligent unit tactics rely upon information about the enemy: and the terrain through which the unit will move.

SALUTE-C Gathering this information is the job of reconnaissance teams. A common method used is to organise your observation into the SALUTE-C formula.  Size  Activity  Location  Unit  Time  Equipment  Condition

SIZE : How many personnel, vehicles, aircraft or buildings are visible? Try and give specific numerical answers, rather than general impressions of unit size, e.g.  “40 infantry in 10 vehicles”, rather than “Mechanised Platoon”,  “8 aircraft and 30 ground crew” rather than “One Flight”

SIZE Four Infantry (Not “Fire Team”)

ACTIVITY What is the enemy doing? Are they moving - re-deploying or patrolling? are they digging in? are they conducting a roadblock?

ACTIVITY Exiting the Water

LOCATION Both position, and if applicable, heading and speed. Position should be in the form of the most accurate grid reference that you can provide. If you cannot give a grid reference, try and determine the position in reference to terrain features (e.g. half way between the church and the railway station).

LOCATION , unknown heading 94

UNIT Any identifying marks, e.g. for infantry: TRF (Tactical Recognition Flash), stable belts, headgear and badges general uniform type/pattern For Vehicles flags unit markings

UNIT No ID Markings Wearing Black Wetsuits

TIME The time, or time period, of the sighting

EQUIPMENT List as much equipment as you can, as accurately as you can i.e. if you recognise a tank as a T-72, then put T-72, if you don’t know what it is, put MBT (Main Battle Tank). List both unit equipment (tanks, field guns, aircraft, satellite comms systems, etc) and personal equipment (rifles, personal comms systems, etc).

EQUIPMENT 2 x M4 Rifles, 2 unknown Breathing Apparatus, General diving gear

CONDITION This section is not always included in a report, as it relies on detailed observation, especially in the case of enemy personnel. Infantry/Personnel  Morale  Discipline/Training Vehicles/Equipment  Serviceability

CONDITION (DISCIPLINE + TRAINING) Seem well trained/disciplined – covering designated arcs, not chatting, etc

SALUTE-C 4 infantry Exiting the water , unknown heading Wearing wetsuits (time) M4 Rifles, breathing apparatus, general diving eqpt Well trained and disciplined, morale unknown.

SALUTE-C

Three Men in foreground, 3 vehicles with unknown number of personnel. Guarding (grid reference), stationary Wearing British Pattern Desert Uniform, Union Flag (time) Imaging Equipment, unidentified satellite type dish. Three Land Rover type vehicles. No weapons visible Discipline seems good – looks like they’re paying attention!

SALUTE-C

Four Men Artillery firing (grid reference), stationary Wearing a combination of desert and green cammo clothing, unknown pattern (time) Medium sized towed artillery gun, unknown type. No personal weapons visible Morale/Discipline difficult to tell.