MOVEMENTTECHNIQUES

AND 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

THE FIRE TEAM FORMATIONSTHE FIRE TEAM FORMATIONS

Formations. Formations are arrangements of units and of soldiers in relation to each other. We use formations for control, security, and flexibility.

(1) Control. Every squad and soldier has a standard position. Soldiers can see their team leaders. Fire team leaders can see their squad leaders. Leaders control their units using arm-and-hand signals.

(2) Security. Formations also provide 360-degree security and allow units to give the weight of their firepower to the flanks or front in anticipation of enemy contact.

(3) Flexibility. Formations do not demand parade ground precision. Squads and fireteams must retain the flexibility needed to vary their formations to the situation. The use of formations allows soldiers to execute battle drills more quickly and gives them the assurance that their leaders and buddy team members are in their expected positions and performing the right tasks.

MOVEMENT FORMATIONS

Vietnam was a war, not a movie. I don't doubt that with constant rotation of personnel, and a lot of young lieutenants, that some of the silly things you see in Vietnam-era War movies actually took place. Point is not a job for some green kid because he's more expendable. Point is the most important job in the patrol. I suppose if your patrol is undisciplined, noisy, high on drugs, listening to portable radios, and stumbling along through the jungle loaded down with comic books and all kinds of other crap there is VERY GOOD CHANCE you are going to get ambushed. In the movies these patrols put cherries on point because they know they are going to get hit. This is the stupidest, most screwed up, irresponsible bag of shit I can think of. If you think you are doing anyone any good by running your unit in this manner you should be shot on sight. You go on patrol for a lot of reasons, but you don't do it to kill off your own people. Your job is to give the enemy the best opportunity that you can to die for him to die. It's not the other way around. Other things you see in movies that would get you slapped for trying on a patrol:

Rolling your sleeves up for any reason. Wearing camouflage paint in some silly "war paint" design. Carrying your weapon on your shoulder. Sauntering along like you are on a nature hike. Not wearing camouflage at all times. Stumbling, falling, tripping, making noise of any kind. Dropping anything on the ground. Talking of any kind

Beginners NO-NO’s

Movement refers to the shifting of forces on the battlefield. The key to moving successfully involves selecting the best combination of formations and

movement techniques in each situation. Leaders consider the factors of mission, enemy, terrain, and troops and time available (METT-T) in selecting the best route and the appropriate formation and movement technique. The leader's

selection must allow moving teams to--Maintain cohesion. Maintain momentum. Provide maximum protection. Make contact in a manner that allows them to transition smoothly to offensive or defensive action.

Movement

PointHis mission is to provide security, NOT to navigate. The point man should not stray

too far ahead. The Team Chief must be able to control his direction and see him at all times. The point must be very alert for booby traps, ambushes, and enemy patrols, positions, etc. The point man walks in front If the point man does not keep an eye on the patrol, and the patrol stops for any reason, they will break contact. The point man is the patrols primary defense against ambush. They must be able to spot an ambush before the patrol gets within the kill zone. They will communicate by hand and arm signals. At night, or in dense vegetation, or rocky terrain, the point man will close up to the patrol. Tired men have a habit of looking at the ground in front of them. It is difficult to concentrate for long periods of time in a high-pressure situation like point. The point man should not be in place for longer than one hour. 30 minutes is a better time period. That way your point team will always be alert. If your patrol is not large enough to rotate the point, or you have other reasons, make sure that your point team is a good one.

Position responsibilities

Rear SecurityHis mission is to provide security behind the patrol. He must maintain contact

with the man in front of him by following. As a rule every third step the man takes he will turn around and check his rear. He is looking for a trailing element or any enemy’s flanking movement. Communication is done by hand and arm signals.

Position responsibilities

Fire team formations

• Team in File

• Team in Wedge

Wedge

The wedge is the most used movement formation. The wedge can expand orContract depending on terrain.

Fire team wedge

Basic formation

Easy Good Allows immediate fire in front

good

When used Control Flexibility Fire Capabilities

Security

WEDGE FORMATIONWEDGE FORMATION

• IS THE BASIC FORMATION FOR THE FIRE TEAM • THE INTERVAL BETWEEN SOLDIERS IS NORMALLY 10 FEET

• 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

Wedge formationsFire Team Wedge:

This movement formation is best in less dense areas. It provides the team with maximum firepower to the front and easiest control. The spread is 3-5 meters (5-10ft) between men. This formation is most common andeasiest to control.

Team Chief

Rifle man Rifle

man

WEDGE

File

When the terrain prevents the use of the wedge the team leader may use the Fire team file formation.

Fire team file

Dense foliage, limited visibility

Easiest Less flexible

Allows immediate fire to flanks

least

When used Control Flexibility Fire Capabilities

Security

File FormationsRanger File:

This movement formation is best used in extremely dense areas. However This does change the orientation of fires from the front to the sides.

Team Chief

Rifle man

(point)

Rifle man(rear

Security)

The last man in the formation Is “REAR SECURITY”

Fire team in file formation

Using this movement formation the Chief can bring rapid fires to his flanks.

Scenario using the incorrect movement style

Only one man can bring effective fireOn the enemy.

Scenario using the incorrect movement style

Only two men can bring effective fireOn the enemy.

This riflemanCant evenSee the enemy

Squad in column

The squad in column is the most common formation. It provides goodsecurity and still allows for excellent control. The lead fire team is the “base”Team in the formation and is the one most likely to make contact first. This allows the trailing fire team to maneuver on the enemy.

Squad in Column

Primary formation

Good Easiest to maneuver

Allows immediate fire to flanks

All around

When used Control Flexibility Fire Capabilities

Security

Squad in columnFire teams in Wedge

Squad Leader

B Team Chief

A Team chief

Sniper

RTO

Special Weapons

Squad in line

The squad in line allows maximum firepower to the front! This is most oftenused when the enemy location is uncertain but must be made.

Squad in line

Fires to the front are needed

Not as good as column

Limited Max fire to the front

Good to front, minimal to rear

When used Control Flexibility Fire Capabilities

Security

Squad in line

Squad Leader

A Team Chief

B Team chief

Squad in File

The Squad file has the same charactistics as Fire team File. If the SquadLeader wants to increase control of the movement he can lead from the pointOf this formation.

Squad in file

Close terrain, limited visibility

Easiest Most difficult to maneuver from

Allows fires to the flanks

least

When used Control Flexibility Fire Capabilities

Security

Squad in File

Squad Leader

A Team Chief

B Team chief

Squad Movement techniques

• Traveling over watch

• Bounding over watch

EXAMPLE OF SQUAD LEADER’S ORDER TO BOUNDEXAMPLE OF SQUAD LEADER’S ORDER TO BOUND

TRAVELINGOVERWATCH

This is the extended form of traveling the provides additional security when speed is desirable but contact is possible. The lead element moves continuously. The trail element moves at various speeds and may halt periodically to over watch movement of the lead element.

TRAVELINGOVERWATCH

BOUNDINGOVERWATCH

Bounding over watch is used when contact is expected. It is the most secure, but slowest, movement technique. The purpose of bounding over watch is to deploy prior to contact, giving the unit the ability to protect a bounding element by immediately suppressing an enemy force.

BOUNDINGOVERWATCH

Whenever you stop for any reason everyone must form a hasty perimeter. You must never stand up unless you are moving. The instant the patrol stops everyone quietly moves a few feet out and forms a defensive perimeter. This can be a simple cigar shape. When in formation everyone has a direction they will watch while stopped. You don't want everyone walking off to the left and leaving the right unguarded. It is important to know that whenever you stop this allows several things to happen. First everyone should take about 2 min to just look, listen and smell for any sign of enemy contact. Second the leaders should pass out information as well as any pertinent information to their men. Third don’t stop for long periods of time without setting sectors of fire to men.

Actions at halt

• A DANGER AREA IS ANY PLACE ON A ROUTE WERE THE LEADER THINKS THAT THE UNIT MIGHT BE EXPOSED TO ENEMY OBSERVATION, FIRE, OR BOTH. IF A UNIT MUST CROSS A DANGER AREA IT DOES SO WITH GREAT CAUTION AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

• TYPES OF DANGER AREAS:

- OPEN AREAS: CONCEAL THE UNIT 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 UNIT 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 UNIT- ENEMY POSITIONS: PASS ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE. BE ALERT FOR TRIP WIRES AND WARNING DEVICES.

A word about Danger Areas

- 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

- OBSTACLES: AVOIDE OBSTICALES (THE ENEMY COVERS OBSTACLES WITH OBSERVATION AND FIRE).

• CROSSING OF DANGER AREAS: WHEN A UNIT 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.

A word about Danger Areas