MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES SPC BANKHEAD

TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE ACTION: IDENTIFY AND EXECUTE MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES. CONDITION: GIVEN A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT, POWERPOINT SLIDES. STANDARD: BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND CONDUCT MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES IAW FM 3/21.8

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.

ELO 1 FIRETEAM FORMATIONS

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

FIRE TEAM FILE USED WHEN THE TERRAIN PRECLUDES THE USE OF THE WEDGE RIFLEMAN AUTOMATIC GRENADIER TEAM LEADER USED WHEN THE TERRAIN PRECLUDES THE USE OF THE WEDGE

COMPARISON OF FIRE TEAM FORMATIONS CHARACTERISTICS CONTROL FLEXIBILITY FIRE CAPABILITIES / RESTRICTIONS SECURITY MOVEMENT FORMATION WHEN NORMALLY USED FIRE TEAM WEDGE FILE BASIC FIRE TEAM CLOSE TERRAIN DENSE VEGETAT- IONS, LIMITED VISIBILITY CONDITIONS EASY EASIEST GOOD LESS FLEXIBLE THAN THE ALLOWS IMMEDIATE FIRES IN ALL DIRECTIONS FIRES TO THE FLANKS. MASK MOST FIRES TO THE REAR LEAST

WHAT FORMATION IS THE BEST TO USE IN LIMITED VISIBILITY? QUESTION WHAT FORMATION IS THE BEST TO USE IN LIMITED VISIBILITY?

ELO 2 SQUAD FORMATIONS

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 SQUAD’S MOST COMMON FORMATION IT PROVIDES GOOD DISPERSION LATERALLY AND IN DEPTH WITHOUT SACRIFICING CONTOL, WHILE FACILITATING GOOD MANUEVERABILITY 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. RIFLEMAN AUTOMATIC GRENADIER TEAM LEADER SQUAD LEADER (PACE) (COMPASS) (POINT MAN)

SQUAD LINE THE SQUAD LINE PROVIDES MAXIMUM FIREPOWER TO THE FRONT. TEAM LEADER TEAM LEADER AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN GRENADIER GRENADIER RIFLEMAN 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 SQUAD LEADER (OPTIONAL) AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN RIFLEMAN GRENADIER TEAM LEADER SQUAD LEADER (NORMAL) SQUAD LEADER (OPTIONAL) RIFLEMAN TEAM LEADER (OPTIONAL)

COMPARISON OF SQUAD FORMATIONS WHEN NORMALLY USED CHARACTERISTICS MOVEMENT FORMATION FIRE CAPABILITIES / RESTRICTIONS CONTROL FLEXIBILITY SECURITY SQUAD COLUMN SQUAD PRIMARY FORMATION GOOD FACILITATES MANEUVER, GOOD DISPERSION LATERALLY AND IN DEPTH ALLOWS LARGE VOLUME OF FIRE TO THE FLANK – LIMMITED VOLUME TO THE FRONT ALL - AROUND 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 SQUAD FILE 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

WHAT IS THE PRIMARY FORMATION IN SQUAD MOVEMENTS? QUESTION WHAT IS THE PRIMARY FORMATION IN SQUAD MOVEMENTS?

ELO 3 PLATOON FORMATIONS

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, TERRAIN, TROOPS AVAILABLE AND TIME AVAILABLE) ANALYSIS

PLATOON COLUMN IS THE SQUAD’S PLATOON’S 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 LEAD SQUAD CENTER SQUAD TRAIL SQUAD X X TL GRN AR R SL LEAD SQUAD TL AR GRN R X PLT LDR FO RATELO FO RATELO MG CREW MG CREW TL CENTER SQUAD GRN AR 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 FO- FORWARD OBSERVER R SL GRN AR TL R X PSG AID MAIN (CLS) TL TRAIL SQUAD AR GRN R SL TL GRN AR 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 PLATOON’S 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 PSG R X PLT LDR R R R R R AR RATELO AID MAIN (CLS) FO MG CREW FO RATELO MG CREW LEFT FLANK SQUAD CENTER SQUAD RIGHT FLANK SQUAD NOTE: SQUAD LEADER (SL) POSITIONS HIMSELF WHERE HE CAN BEST CONTROL THE SQUAD 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

PLATOON - LINE, SQUADS – IN - COLUMN USED WHEN THE PLATOON LEADER DOES NOT WANT TO DEPLOY ALL PERSONNEL ON LINE. 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 TL AR GRN GRN AR AR GRN R X R X PLT LDR R PSG FO RATELO MG CREW SL SL SL AID MAIN (CLS) MG CREW TL TL TL AR GRN GRN AR AR GRN FO RATELO R R R LEFT FLANK SQUAD CENTER SQUAD RIGHT FLANK SQUAD 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

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.

PLATOON VEE LEFT FLANK SQUAD RIGHT FLANK SQUAD CENTER SQUAD X X TL TL AR GRN GRN AR R R SL SL X PLT LDR TL RATELO TL GRN AR FO AR GRN MG CREW FO RATELO R R X PSG LEFT FLANK SQUAD AID MAIN (CLS) MG CREW RIGHT FLANK SQUAD TL AR GRN SL R TL AR GRN R CENTER SQUAD 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 FO- FORWARD OBSERVER AID MAN – COMBAT LIFE SAVER

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 LEAD SQUAD X X RIGHT FLANK SQUAD LEFT FLANK SQUAD TL AR GRN R SL TL 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 GRN AR R LEAD SQUAD X PLT LDR RATELO FO MG CREW FO RATELO X PSG MG CREW AID MAIN (CLS) TL TL GRN AR R AR GRN SL R SL TL AR TL GRN GRN AR R R RIGHT FLANK SQUAD LEFT 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, VEGETATION, OR LIGHT CONDITIONS. DISTANCE 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 POINT SECURITY TEAM FLANK SECURITY FLANK SECURITY TEAM TL POINT SECURITY TEAM AR GRN R SL X PLT LDR FO FO RATELO RATELO MG CREW TL TL MG CREW GRN AR GRN TL R AR R GRN AR FLANK SECURITY TEAM R FLANK SECURITY TEAM SL TL GRN AR 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 AID MAIN (CLS) X 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 OVERWATCH BOUNDING OVERWATCH 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 FACTORS 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 FORMATION WHEN NORMALLY USED CONTROL FLEXIBILITY SPEED SECURITY TRAVELING CONTACT NOT LIKELY MORE 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 GRENADIER RIFLEMAN + 50 METERS SQUAD LEADER TEAM LEADER AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN GRENADIER RIFLEMAN

BOUNDING OVERWATCH USED WHEN CONTACT WITH ENEMY EXPECTED OR A DANGER AREA MUST BE CROSSED THE LEAD TEAM OVERWATCHES AS 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 THE BOUNDING TEAM’S ROUTE DICTATES HOW ITS SOLDIERS WILL MOVE

EXAMPLE OF SQUAD LEADER’S ORDER TO BOUND

SQUAD SUCCESSIVE AND ALTERNATE BOUNDS

ACTIONS AT DANGER AREAS A DANGER AREA IS ANY PLACE ON A ROUTE WERE THE LEADER’S ESTIMATE PROCESS TELLS HIM OR HER THAT THE SOLDIERS 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: AVOID WIRE OBSTICALES (THE ENEMY COVERS OBSTACLES WITH OBSERVATION AND FIRE). CROSSING OF DANGER AREAS: WHEN A TEAM/ SQUAD 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.

SUMMARY IN THIS LESSON, WE LEARNED THE MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES OF THE INFANTRY FIRETEAM, SQUAD AND PLATOON.WE ALSO LEARNED WHEN TO USE FORMATIONS SUCH AS THE WEDGE, FILE AND COLUMN. IDENTIFYING AND CROSSING DANGER AREAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FM 3/21.8.

CHECK ON LEARNING