INFANTRY OPERATIONS

BACKGROUND

The Infantry Battalion serves many roles on the battlefield. It engages most often
in close battles and may conduct raids or stay-behind operations as part of deep
operations. The battalion may participate in rear battle as part of a tactical combat
force. Also, due to their rapid deployability by air, infantry units are ideally suited for
executing strategic contingency plans and establishing lodgements. Limited visibility
is the basis for infantry battalion operations. It is the environmental condition that the
AFP seeks to take advantage of its technology and training. Darkness, fog, heavy
rain, and falling snow all limit visibility. A combination of technical ability (afforded by
NVGs) and tactical prowess (afforded by training) allows the infantry battalion to
operate routinely during these conditions. Limited visibility operations strike the
defender when the range of his weapons and the mutual support between his
positions are reduced.

CHARACTERISTICS
The Infantry Battalion is the infantry division’s close combat maneuver force.
It is composed of foot-mobile fighters, who are organized, equipped and trained to
conduct effective combat actions against light enemy forces. The Battalion is
designed for employment at all intensity levels of conflict, in all types of local
weather and terrain and in any visibility condition. The Infantry Battalion has limited
tactical mobility due to its limited organic vehicles. The battalion can only lift one
Rifle Company at any one time and relies on the Brigade and Division Headquarters
in transporting the whole Battalion. It has a logistical and administrative base to
sustain its operations for extended period of time relying on its own resources and
regular MOE even without additional support coming from higher headquarters. The
battalion has high foxhole strength. It also has a high leader to led ratio which
greatly increases small unit combat effectiveness. The battalion will still function
effectively even if 20% of its personnel strength is ineffective.

The Infantry Battalion has a Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)

and three rifle companies. The HHC contains the command and control, combat
service support and combat support elements.

MISSION
To close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver to destroy or capture
him or repel his assault by fire, close combat, and counterattack; to conduct stability
operations in an internal defense and internal development environment.

CAPABILITIES
A. The Infantry Battalion can:
1. Provide a base of fire and maneuver elements.
2. Seize and hold terrain.
3. Conduct independent operations.
4. Provide mortar fire support for organic and attached units.
5. Conduct long range patrols.
6. Operate in conjunction with heavy forces.
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7. Participate in air assault operations.
8. Participate in amphibious operations.
9. Maneuver in all types of local weather and terrain and in
any visibility condition.
10. Participate in counterinsurgency operations.
11. Provide mid-level maintenance of organic equipment.
12. Can lift one Infantry Company at any one time

B. The Infantry Battalion depends on the Brigade/DivisionHeadquarters for:

1. Additional Heavy lift transportation.
2. Artillery fire support.
3. Engineer support.
4. Higher level maintenance of equipment.
5. Dental services.

ASSIGNMENT

Organic to Infantry Division

OPCON to Infantry Brigade

CONCEPT OF EMPLOYMENT
The Infantry Battalion is designed for sustained internal security missions.
However, it has the inherent capability for external defense missions. It can be
deployed to any part of the country in response to any contingency. The Battalion
may be employed with minimal external support in a variety of scenarios. However,
it will usually be deployed as part of a Brigade with the attendant combat support
and combat service support from
Brigade/Division support units. The Infantry Battalion is normally employed
against light forces. However, it can also be used to confront heavy forces in certain
situations. The battalion is extremely effective when operating in areas that would be
unfavorable to heavy forces where the advantages of enemy armor and vehicular
mobility are diminished. The Battalion’s strength is in fighting in rough, restrictive
terrain such as forests, jungles and urban areas. When deployed in a hostile
environment, the Infantry Battalion may require additional artillery, and air defense
support. The Battalion relies only on small arms air defense and passive protective
measures to protect itself from hostile aircraft. Normally, it would require that local
air superiority be established. It is also vulnerable to attack by heavy forces and to
indirect fires.

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HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) provides command

and control, combat support and combat service support to the battalion. It contains
the battalion headquarters, mortar platoon, scout platoon, communications platoon,
intelligence platoon and support platoon. The battalion headquarters is the unit that
provides command and control to the battalion. It consists of the command section
and the battalion staff. Radio telephone operators and drivers for the battalion
headquarters are furnished by the communications platoon and the support platoon
respectively.

Combat Support

The combat support elements include the mortar platoon, scout platoon,
communications platoon and intelligence platoon. The battalion mortar platoon has
four 81mm mortars. They provide close and immediate fire support to the maneuver
units. They may be employed as a platoon, by section or by squad. The platoon may

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be placed under battalion control. However, the platoon or any of its sub-elements
may
also be attached to a supported unit. The scout platoon is the reconnaissance and
security element of the battalion. The platoon is extremely light and primarily foot-
mobile. They posses no crew-serve weapons. Its personnel are scout ranger
qualified. The platoon normally operates under battalion control. The intelligence
platoon provides both human and signal intelligence to the battalion. It has a Sigint
Team for communications intercept and four Collection Teams for human
intelligence. The Bn S2 exercises supervision over the intelligence platoon. The
communication platoon provides the communications requirement of the battalion. It
consists of a platoon headquarters, a radio section and wire section and an
information system section. The battalion communication/signal officer is the
concurrent communications platoon
leader.

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Combat Service Support
The combat service support element of the battalion is the support platoon.
The support platoon provides supply, transportation support and combat medic and
casualty evacuation to the battalion. The Battalion’s transportation assets are
centralized in the support platoon. However, one ¼ ton utility truck is dedicated to
support each rifle company.

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MISSION
To provide command, control and supervision, combat support and combat
service support to the infantry battalion and attached units.

CAPABILITIES
A. The HHC can:
1. Provide command, control and supervision of the operations of organic and
attached elements of the infantry battalion.
2. Provide mortar fire support to the battalion and attached units.
3. Provide reconnaissance and security support to the battalion.
4. Provide communication support to include centralized unit level maintenance of
communications equipment.
5. Provide intelligence support to the battalion.
6. Provide battalion supply/resupply support.
7. Provide unit level administrative support to assigned and attached units.

B. The HHC depends on brigade/division for:

1. Unit level maintenance.

2. Additional Heavy/ medium lift transportation.
3. Personnel and administrative services.

ASSIGNMENT
Organic to Infantry Battalion.

INFANTRY COMPANY
CHARACTERISTICS

The Infantry Rifle Company is a soldier powered organization that can be

deployed rapidly and is foot-mobile. It has austere combat support and relies more
on professionally trained and disciplined soldiers under superb leadership. All
fighters are trained in day and night combat operations. All its weapons are man
portable. The company requires minimal support.

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ORGANIZATION
The infantry company has a headquarters platoon and three rifle platoons organized
as follows:

MISSION

To close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver to destroy or capture
him or repel his assault by fire, close combat and counter-attack. Dismantle politico-
military infrastructure in a barangay or clusters of barangay.

CAPABILITIES

A. The Infantry Company can:

1. Provide a base of fire and maneuver.
2. Close with the enemy to destroy or capture him
3. Repel enemy assault by fire, close combat and counterattack.
4. Seize and hold terrain.
5. Maneuver in all types of local weather and terrain.
6. Provide medium and light anti-tank protection.
7. Conduct combat operations under limited visibility.
8. Participate in air assault operations.
9. Participate in amphibious/waterborne operations.
10. Operate in conjunction with heavy forces.
11. Conduct SOT Operations

B. The Infantry Company depends on the HHC for:

1. Unit level administration.
2. Supply.
3. Unit level maintenance of communication equipment.
4. Transportation.
5. 81mm mortar fire support.

ASSIGNMENT
Organic to Infantry Battalion

CONCEPT OF EMPLOYMENT

The Infantry Company can be employed in a variety of scenarios. It is suited

for economy of force and contingency operations. It is also ideally suited for air
assault operations and is strategically mobile. The company is usually deployed as
part of the Battalion from whom it depends on combat support and combat service
support. The Company is extremely effective when operating in areas that would be
unfavorable to heavy forces. Its strengths include the ability to move in restricted
terrain; infiltrate through or around the enemy unobserved; employ accurate, intense,
small arms fire for short durations; use the environment to protect the force from
enemy fire and maneuver; and withstand the extremes of weather and terrain. There
are inherent weaknesses of the Light Infantry Rifle Company. It is not as mobile as
mounted forces in terrain favorable to vehicular movement. Against a heavy enemy,
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it may not have sufficient density of artillery or anti-armor weapons to sustain a high
volume of fire for a prolonged period. It is vulnerable to all classes of fire, including
CAS, once observed by
the enemy. During ISO it can be deployed to dismantle politico-military infrastructure
of the enemy using its Special Operations Squad/SOT Capable Squad while the one
or two squads secures it.

Headquarters Platoon
The headquarters platoon contains the command section, anti-armor section
and mortar section.
The company commander and his staff compose the command section. This
section provides command and control of tactical operations and coordinates re-
supply and evacuation of wounded personnel and equipments. It can also provide
limited equipment repair of organic equipments. The anti-armor section has one
man-portable medium anti-tank weapons (MAW). This section can provide medium-
range anti-armor fire support to the company and can also fight as infantry. The
mortar section has two 60mm lightweight mortars which are also man-portable. It
provides immediate indirect fire support to the company.

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Rifle Platoons
The infantry platoon is the smallest deployable unit having elements that will
confront the enemy face-to-face. It is organized and equipped to fight with SWIFT
and LETHALITY. Independent movement of squads shall always be part of the
platoon’s or as part of an operation of a larger force. They benefit from the support
of its parent unit, and from armor, artillery, mortars, close air and engineer assets.

The rifle platoons each has a platoon headquarters and three rifle squads.
With the platoon headquarters are the platoon leader, platoon sergeant, psyops sgt,
signal operator and machine gun crew. It has one general purpose machine guns
(GPMG) operated by a crew of two. These GPMGs provide sustained fire at longer
ranges and with better penetration than any of the platoon’s weapons.

Mission

The mission of the infantry platoon is to confront the enemy in order to defeat,
capture, repel his assault and weaken his fighting capability.

The success in battle hinges on the platoons’ and squads’ reactions during
engagements; their ability to close with the enemy and to appropriately act upon
contact, the proper employment of suppressive fires and the ability to maneuver to
vulnerable flanks determines the overall outcome of battle. The capacity of the
elements of the platoon to gain the support of the people and the community from
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which the enemy derives its financial, material, logistical and operational support
could tip the balance of tactical power that could enhance the security of the platoon
over its conduct of operations in a designated area of operations. These successful
actions heavily rely on the ability of the platoon leader and the quality of Soldiers in
the platoon and squads.

Capabilities

The infantry platoon is capable of operating independently, or together with

other forces, to perform the following:
a. Maneuver in all types of local weather and terrain.
b. Seize and hold any terrain.
c. Secure a designated area of operation for short and relatively long periods,
especially in counterinsurgency operations.
d. Infiltrate into enemy-controlled terrain or areas.
e. Conduct operations in semi- or urban areas.
f. Perform operations under limited visibility.
g. Conduct other operations like short range anti-armor offensives, air assault,
amphibious/riverine, and in conjunction with heavy forces.

Limitations

The infantry platoon and squad is entirely dependent on the battalion and the
company headquarters for:
a. Unit level administration.
b. Supply.
c. Unit level maintenance of communication equipment.
d. Transportation.
e. Medical support.
f. Mortar fire support.

Employment Considerations
The strength of the platoon lies in is ability to move in restricted terrain;
infiltrate through or around the enemy unobserved; employ accurate, intense, small
arms fire for short duration; use the environment to protect the force, and withstand
the extremes of weather and terrain. However, it not as mobile as mounted forces in
a terrain favorable to vehicular movement. It is vulnerable to all classes of fire.

Assignment Organic to the Infantry Company.

Characteristics

The operational character of “SWIFT and LETHALITY” of the infantry platoon

could be translated into the following fundamental organizational characteristics:

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 a. Soldier-powered organization.
b. All weapons are man-portable.
c. It is foot mobile; but it is transportable by land, water and air assets.
d. Trained in day and night combat operations.
e. Requires minimal support over relatively long periods, and has austere
combat support.

Infantry Platoon Organization.

The rifle platoon has a platoon headquarters and three rifle squads With the
platoon headquarters are the platoon leader (PL LDR), platoon sergeant (PL SGT
Radio-telephone operator (RTO), assistant RTO, PSYOPS/special operations
sergeant (PSO SGT), medical aidman (AIDMAN), machine gunner (MGR), and
ammo bearer. The MGR is skilled in the employment of a generalpurpose machine
gun (7.62 mm GPMG). For additional weapon systems (like RPG), the PSO SGT
will be the weapon handler with the assistant RTO as the ammo bearer.

Rifle Squads
The three rifle squads have nine men each. The nine man composition of the squad
is ideal and affords flexibility and effectiveness. It can still operate even if 20% of its
strength is ineffective. The rifle squad is broken down into two fire teams. Each fire
team has four men composed of a team leader who handles the light anti-tank
weapon, grenadier, automatic rifleman who can be armed with a squad automatic
weapon and rifleman who serve as medical aidman. Each squad has two 40mm
grenade launchers (GL), which are attached to the assault rifle, and two squad
automatic weapons (SAW), two LAW or combination. The SAW provides sustained
automatic fire for the squad. It is light enough to be operated by one man moving
with the rest of the squad in assault. Its range, penetration and sustained rate of fire
is lesser
than that of the platoon GPMG. The rest of the squad is armed with individual
assault rifles. The LAW provides short range anti-armor capability to the rifle
platoons. One of the squads of the rifle platoon is capable of SOT Operations. In

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addition to their normal designations, the members of this squad are trained in
different fields of specialization. It has the squad leader, four Psyops specialists, two
CI specialists and two OB specialists.

The infantry squad is the smallest unit having elements that will confront the
enemy face-to-face. It is organized and equipped to fight “SWIFTLY” and with
“LETHALITY”. Independent actions of squads shall always be part of the platoon’s
operation. They benefit from the support of the platoon and other units.

Mission.
The mission of the squad is to close with the enemy by means of fire and
maneuver to destroy or capture him or repel his assault by fire, close combat, and
counter-attack.

The success in battle hinges on the squads’ reactions during engagements; their
ability to close with the enemy and to appropriately act upon contact; the proper
employment of suppressive fires’ and, the ability to maneuver. Likewise, their
capacity to gain the support of the people and the community from which the enemy
derives its financial, material, logistical and operational support could tip the balance
of tactical power that could enhance the security of the squad during operations.

Capabilities
The infantry squad is capable of performing the following independent actions
as part of platoon operations:

a. Maneuver in all types of local weather and terrain.

b. Seize and hold any terrain.
c. Secure a designated area of operation for short and relatively long periods,
especially in counterinsurgency operations.
d. Infiltrate into enemy-controlled terrain or areas.
e. Conduct operations in semi- or urban areas.
f. Perform operations under limited visibility.

Limitations

The infantry squad is entirely dependent on the platoon and higher units for: a.
Unit level administration b. Supply c. Unit level maintenance of communication
equipment

Assignment Organic to the Infantry Platoon

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