1. Movement Formations
&
Battle Drills

2. For a Recon/Scout unit to be effective on the modern battlefield, it must be able to move with stealth and react to any contact if necessary. The lives of you and your fellow team members will depend on how well you learn these skills. These are the skills that must be rehearsed until they become second nature.

3. TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Action: Perform movement formations and
battle drills
Conditions: Given a field environment with
BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary
ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of
instruction.
Standards: Perform movement formations and
battle drills IAW team SOPS and FM 7-93.

4. Safety: General
Risk Assessment: Low
Environmental Considerations: None
Evaluation: Your evaluation for this class as well as all operational technique classes will come during the FTX. Your practical applications of battle drills and movement formations may determine if your patrol is a GO or a NO GO.

5. Up to this portion of the course you have learned communications and vehicle recognition. During the next week you will learn operational techniques that you can use as the basis for your team’s SOPs.

6. Enabling Learning Objective A
Action: Conduct tactical movement formations
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: Perform movement techniques and battle drills IAW team SOPS and FM 7-93.

7. BATTLE DRILLS AS PER SOP

8. Formations File- Thick vegetation / limited visibility / speed
Modified Wedge- Open terrain / 360 security
Wedge- Bounding movements- react to fire

9. File Formation TL
SSO
ATL
RTO
ARTO SO
Direction of Movement

11. Modified Wedge
ATL TL
ARTO
SSO SO
RTO
Direction of Movement

13. Wedge Formation TL SO
SSO
ARTO
ATL
RTO
Direction of Movement

15. What type of formation would you use for restrictive terrain?

16. What type of formation would you use for
restrictive terrain?
A file formation

17. Enabling Learning Objective B
Action: Conduct a security halt (short or long)
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: Conduct security halts IAW team SOPS and FM 7-93.

18. Movement into Halts Always conduct dogleg / fishhook into a halt
Normally large enough to fit the element
Always conduct SLLS
Minimum of 3-5 minutes

19. Short Halt TL
ATL
SSO
ARTO
RTO SO
Direction of Movement

20. Short Halt
SSO
RTO
ARTO SO
ATL

21. Long Halt Same procedure utilized as for short halt
Used for Angus or any long period of time
Emplace M18A1 claymores
Conduct a local reconnaissance

22. What should you always do first at a halt?

23. What should you always do first at a halt?
Conduct SLLS

24. How should you enter every halt?

25. How should you enter every halt? With a fishhook or a dogleg

26. Enabling Learning Objective C
Action: Cross a danger area (linear or open)
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: Cross danger areas IAW team SOPS and FM 7-93.

27. Linear Danger Area
* Streams are also linear danger areas

28. Principles of Crossing
Security left/right must be maintained at all
times
Utilize the road to your advantage
Moving quickly across the road is not always
the best

29. Principles of Crossing
(cont.)
Set security at a 45 degree angle across the road so that they can see each other and still maintain security
Never cross on azimuth
Never cross at intersections
Always counter-track

30. Crossing a Linear
Danger Area

31. SSO SSO TL TL RTO RTO ARTO ARTO SO SO ATL ATL
Cover
Cover TL
RTO
RTO
ARTO
ARTO SO SO
ATL
ATL

32. Can’t see up road
Can see up road

33. Crossing Improved
Linear Danger Area

34. Crossing Improved
Linear Danger Area
(cont.)

35. Crossing Improved
Linear Danger Area
(cont.)

36. Open Danger Area (Small/Large)
Always bypass if possible (contour or
detour bypass)
If crossing is inevitable, use an open
movement formation
Use overwatch positions (if feasible)
Avoid crossing during daylight

37. Detour Bypass Contour Original pace 100m 1840m + 270 270 100m 360
Estimated 100m
200m o
360 o m
1640m o o
360
270
Detour Bypass
Contour

38. What do you never do at a linear danger area?

39. What do you never do at a linear danger area?
Cross on azimuth

40. Which is the most preferred method for
bypassing an open area?

41. Which is the most preferred method for bypassing an open area?
The contour method

42. Enabling Learning Objective D
Action: Designate a rally/rendezvous point
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: Designate a rally/rendezvous point IAW team SOPS and FM 7-93.

43. Rally Point Rendezvous Point
Designated enroute
No “floating” rally points
Rendezvous Point
Designated in planning
Usually 2 hr, 4hr, 24 hr
Must be an easily identifiable location on the map and the ground
Use M-TETTC when choosing rendezvous points

44. 24/4/2 hr RV
TO SAFE
4/2 hr RV
2 hr RV LZ
OBJ

45. What is the difference between
an RV and an RP?

46. What is the difference between an RV and an RP?
RV is designated in planning, while an RP is designated on site

47. Enabling Learning Objective E
Action: Perform linkup
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: Perform linkup IAW team SOPS and FM 7-93.

48. Types of Linkup Team internal Friendly unit Partisan
Friendly forward lines during E&R

49. Characteristics of a Linkup
Easily recognizable terrain
Offers cover and concealment
Off natural lines of drift
Multiple routes of access and escape

50. Team Internal Linkup 1 stationary (Hide) and 1 moving element
(Surveillance)
All elements have FM communications
Far recognition- FM communications
Near recognition- IR flashes, IR chems, etc.

51. Friendly Unit Linkup Coordinated for by a face to face with the linkup
unit (LNO)
Recon element will always be the static unit if
possible
Emplace overwatch security even for friendly
linkup
FM communications for far recognition
VS 17, IR flashes, etc for near recognition
Have all elements ready to move if linking up for
extraction

52. Partisan Linkup Overwatch position required
Bone fides given to the partisan and returned
correctly
Never trust the partisan with your equipment
Be prepared to move out quickly if for extraction

53. Linkup with the FLOT During E&R
High chance of fratricide
Never approach the FLOT
Wait for a patrol to come into your vicinity
Signal the patrol at a safe distance (NOT 10
FEET)

54. What are some characteristics for selection of a link-up site ?

55. What are some characteristics for selection of a link-up site ?
Easily recognizable
Good cover and concealment
Off natural lines of drift
Defendable for short time
Offers multiple access and escape routes

56. What must you have in position prior to a partisan link-up?

57. What must you have in position prior to a partisan link-up?
An over watch position

58. 10
MINUTE
BREAK

59. Enabling Learning Objective F
Action: Establish a patrol base
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: Establish a patrol base IAW team SOPS and FM 7-93.

60. Location of a Patrol Base
Little tactical value to the enemy
Off natural lines of drift
Near a source of potable water
Defendable for a short period of time
In difficult terrain is a benefit (swamps, etc.)
Avoid
Ridges
Built up areas
Roads/trails
Enemy positions

61. Patrol Bases Purpose Rest/refit Change of mission planning
Maintenance of equipment
Resupply

62. Occupation of a Patrol Base
The location of the patrol base should be
decided on by map recon
Move into the vicinity of the patrol base and
conduct a long halt/SLLS
Conduct a recon for the best location for the
patrol base
Movement into patrol base (do a larger than
normal fish hook)

63. Occupation of a Patrol Base (cont.)
Maintain security at all times- most likely time to
get hit
Camouflage using natural vegetation and yetti
nets
Cache of unneeded equipment

65. Activities at the Patrol Base
Priorities of Work
Security- 360 at all times- all M18A1 claymores
emplaced
Communications- use low visibility antennas by
daylight
Maintenance- Field strip, oil, clean all equipment
Chow- Leave no trash
Personal Hygiene
Rest

66. Activities at the Patrol Base(cont.)
Other activities
Planning- security must be maintained while
issuing the order
Water resupply conducted as needed
Break out plans must be established- (“Black &
Gold” rally points)
Maintain security throughout

67. What is the first priority of work in a patrol base?

68. What is the first priority of work in a patrol base?
Security

69. What are some of the things that you should avoid when emplacing a patrol base?

70. Enemy positions-(known or suspected)
What are some of the things that you should avoid when emplacing a patrol base?
Ridges
Built up areas
Roads or trails
Enemy positions-(known or suspected)

71. Enabling Learning Objective G
Action: Identify hand & arm signals
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: Identify hand & arm signals IAW team SOPS and FM

72. Come to me
Enemy
Danger Area
Freeze
Rally
Increase Speed

73. Head Count
Map Check
Pace Count
Wedge
RTO

74. What level do you want to keep hand and arm signals?

75. What level do you want to keep hand and arm signals?
Below shoulder level

76. Enabling Learning Objective H
Action: Break contact
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: Break contact IAW team SOPS, FM 7-8, and FM 7-93.

77. Principles of Breaking Contact
Claymores are a bonus item-if you don’t use
them you have them for another day
Success is based upon speed of execution
Don’t fire if your not being fired upon-your only
giving your position away-hence you can’t see
the enemy through smoke

78. Breaking Contact (cont.)
Principles of
Breaking Contact (cont.)
Drop rucks only as a last resort
Practice man down drills - it happens

79. Contact Front Initial action is just going to ground and seeking cover
Initial deployment will depend upon terrain
and the enemy
TL takes charge of the lead element/ ATL the
rear element

80. Contact Front (cont.) The deployment of the trail element is the
opposite of the lead element. If the lead goes
left, then the trail goes right
Bound until contact is broken, or an escape
route is identified, then get in a file and move out
of the area to consolidate and reorganize

81. Break Contact Front

82. Contact Front (cont.)
1st
Bound
2nd
Bound

83. Contact Rear
The exact opposite of contact front

84. Contact Left

85. Contact Right
Exactly the opposite of contact left

86. How long should the time fuse be on a claymore for breaking contact?

87. How long should the time fuse be on a claymore for breaking contact?
30-60 seconds

88. Enabling Learning Objective I
Action: React to ambush/sniper
Conditions: Given a field environment with
BDU’s, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: React to ambush/sniper IAW team SOPS, FM 7-8, and FM 7-93.

89. Near Ambush Near ambush designed to draw you into kill zone
Team will rush through the ambush attempting to place a wall of lead into the ambush line

90. Far Ambush Use heavy smoke on the initial contact
React to far ambush the same as react to contact

91. React to Sniper On initial contact, throw smoke and allow it to
billow before moving
Utilize your man down drills
Move quickly out of the area using bounds

92. What must a Recon team do initially during a sniper attack?

93. Recon team do initially during a sniper attack?
What must a
Recon team do initially during a sniper attack?
Seek cover and throw smoke

94. Enabling Learning Objective J
Action: React to indirect fire/ air attack/ flares
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: React to indirect fire/air attack/flares IAW team SOPS, FM 7-8, and FM 7-93.

95. React to Indirect Fire When rounds are incoming, the team will go to
the prone to avoid casualties
After initial volley, the TL will give a distance
and direction to move (1 o’clock 300 meters)
After initial movement vary your direction
The team picks up and moves out as directed
Continue to do this until out of the danger area
Take advantage of any escape routes

96. 1 o’clock
300 meters

97. React to Air Attack Upon seeing aircraft, the team will freeze to
avoid the aircraft from seeing them
If seen, the team will take available cover
immediately, If no cover is available, the team
will disperse to minimize the damage a strafing
run will incur
The team will throw multiple smokes to confuse
the aircraft
After the aircraft makes a run, the team will pick
up and move to cover

98. React to Flares Aerial Flares
If the flare is going up, go to the prone
If the flare is already up, freeze and then get
down slowly
Ground Flares
Get out of the area as quickly as possible
Keep in mind to move out the opposite
direction

99. What is the first thing the team will do upon receiving indirect fire?

100. What is the first thing the team will do upon receiving indirect fire?
Get down on the ground

101. After initial movement, what should the team do?

102. After initial movement, what should the team do?
Change their direction

103. Enabling Learning Objective K
Action: Break from hide/surveillance
Conditions: Given a field environment with BDUs, LBE, rucksack, M4 carbine, all necessary ammunition and pyrotechnics, and a block of instruction.
Standards: Break from hide/surveillance IAW team SOPS, FM 7-8, and FM 7-93.

104. Break from Hide/Surv Sites
Well planned-alert procedures
Equipment packed at all times
Notify other site prior to breakout-if possible
Detonate all claymores simultaneously
Smoke (emplaced or thrown)
Bounding

108. SUMMARY Movement techniques and battle drills − Movement formation
− Security halts
− Danger areas
− Rally/rendevous points
− Perform linkup
− Patrol base
− Hand & arm signals
− Break contact
− React to ambush/sniper
− React to air attack/indirect fire/flares
− Break from hide/surveillance

109. QUESTIONS?

110. What is the purpose of using a file formation?

111. What is the purpose of using a file formation?
Thick vegetation, during limited visibility, or when speed is needed

112. When crossing a linear danger area where is security emplaced?

113. When crossing a linear danger area where is security emplaced?
Positioned behind cover

114. When are rally and rendezvous points designated ?

115. When are Rally and Rendezvous points
designated?
Rally points- enroute
Rendezvous points- during planning

116. Characteristics of a linkup?

117. Characteristics of a linkup?
Easily recognizable terrain
Cover and Concealment
Off natural lines of drift
Multiple access and escape routes

118. Purpose of a patrol base?

119. Purpose of a patrol base?
Rest / refit
Planning
Maintenance
resupply

120. When breaking contact, when
do we drop rucks?

121. When breaking contact, when
do we drop rucks?
Only as a last result

122. Prior to breaking from the hide/surveillance site what do we want to do?

123. Notify the other site prior if possible
Prior to breaking from the hide/surveillance site what do we want to do?
Notify the other site prior if possible

124. Next class
Cache
Take 10