RANGER | PATROLLING ELE ee CSM (R) Winston Clough & Bronston Clough yl MENTOR MILITARYRANGER PATROLLING Bou | be CSM (R) Winston Clough & Bronston CloughRanger Patrolling Guide Copyright © 2016-2021 Bronston Clough, CSM (R) Winston Clough All Rights Reserved All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from Mentor Enterprises, Inc. Printed in USA by Mentor Enterprises, Inc. PUBLISHED BY MENTOR ENTERPRISES, INC. 2" Edition, 5" Printing, 2021 and Edition, 4th Printing, 2021 2° Edlition, 3'¢ Printing, 2020 2™! Edition, 2’ Printing, 2020 2 Edition, 1° Printing, 2020 1" Edition, 6" Printing, 2019 1 Edition, 5" Printing, 2018 1* Edition, 4" Printing, 2017 1 Edition, 3" Printing, 2016 1 Edition, 2” Printing, 2016 1 Edition, 1* Printing, 2016 ISBN-13: 978-1-940370-05-7 ISBN-10: 1-940370-05-1 The views expressed in this book are those of CSM (R) Winston Clough and Bronston Clough, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Army, Defense Department, or the United States Government. No copyrights are claimed on material created by the United States Government.CONTENTS 1. Formations and Order of Movement....... Lead fire team HQ Elemernt...... Trail Fire Team M240B Team Leader Positions. Distribution of Personnel and Weapons. Security. Movement Techniques Traveling Overwatch Bounding Overwatc Distance Vegetation Terrain Visibility, Modified Wedge. Modified wedge: Key Leader/M240B.. Fire Team Wedge: Short Halt/Long Halt.. Modified Wedge Short/Long Halt...... The Ranger File. Formations and Orders of Movemen ABSOMUNNOOOHARWHNNER 2. Warning Orde Paragraph 1A: Enemy Paragraph 1B: Friendly Situation Paragraph 1C: Attachments/Detachments. Paragraph II: Mission....... Paragraph Ill: Execution Paragraph Ill; C: Tasks to Combat Support Units. Paragraph IV: Service and Support. Paragraph V: Command and Signal iii3. How to Prepare for a Patrol 4. Doctrinal Patrolling. 5. Crossing Linear and Open Danger Areas Pre-Mission Planning Lessons Learned. Complete Detailed Plan... Rehearsals and Final Inspections Brief Back. Sample Pre-Mission Preparation. Air Infiltration/ Exfiltration Techniques. Other Infil/ Exfil Methods Helicopter Characteristics Insertion by Helicopter.. Common Enemy Tactics Actions on the L2Z...... Use of Armed Helicopters Other Contingencies After Insertion. Helicopter Unloading Helicopter Landing Types of Patrols... Recon Patrols Fundamentals of Reconnaissanct Combat Patrols Tracking Patrols...... Linear Danger Area... Actions at the LDA wuss Actions on Enemy Contact. Open Danger Areas........ Small Open Danger Areas Large Open Danger Area: 1. Successive Bounds 2. Alternate Bounds... 3. Actions on Enemy Contact.6. Patrol Base Establishment and Activities 1. Start/Stop..... 2. Security Halt/Short Halt Posture (SHP) 3. SLLS/Pinpoint.... 4. Long halt (LHP)/Spotchec! 5, Five Point/BTL, ATL 6. Confirm Route..... 7. Inspect Ldrs RECON em 8. Conduct Recon of Patrol Base. g. Characteristics........ 10. SLLG......... 11, Clear, Secure/5 Point 12, Occupy/SHP. 13. SLLS/Pinpoin 14. /15. Long halt/Strongpoint 10-2-4-8 MG Tm. 16. R&S Team Conducts Recon 17. Security Plan/OPSKED.. 18. Priorities of Work (POW, 7. Jungle Considerations. 8. Desert Considerations..... g. Urban Operations 10. Mounted Operations Mounted Traveling Overwatch. Mounted Bounding Overwatch IED Attack. IED Examples ..11. Tools For Your Patrol. SALUTE/ SALT Report Troop Leading Procedure... Prep Soldiers, Weapons, and Equip in the ORI Fast Deployment Claymore g Line MEDEVAC......... Five Point Contingency Plan (GOTWA), vi Updates and corrections can be found online: http://asktop.net/rpg-2ed Access Code: RP20CLOUFORMATIONS AND ORDER OF MOVEMENT The most commonly used movement formation in the United States Army today is the fire team wedge. The fire team wedge is a fighting formation that allows you to have 360 degree security at all times with an equal distribution of personnel and weapons, and it is easy to control. LEAD FIRE TEAM At the apex of the formation is the lead fire team leader. He is responsible for frontal security, en route route se- lection, and land navigation. Approximately 10 meters to the lead fire team leader's left at a 45-degree angle is the automatic rifleman. About 10 meters to the lead fire team leader's right at a 45-degree angle is the rifleman/ compass man. A Soldier not carrying a key weapon system will have the additional duty as compass man becausethe lead fire team leader cannot adequately perform his other duties of frontal security, en route route selection, and land navigation with his nose buried in a compass. Approximately 10 meters to the rifleman/compass man's right at a 45-degree angle is the grenadier. HQ ELEMENT Next in the order of movement is the headquarters ele- ment. At the apex of this formation is the squad leader. He is responsible for accountability, command and control, and whatever the squad does or fails to do. Approximately 10m to the squad leader's right at a 45-degree angle is the RTO. Approximately 10m to the squad leader's left at a 45-de- gree angle is the M240B gunner. About 10m to the M240B gunners left at a 45-degree angle is the assistant gunner. TRAIL FIRE TEAM Last in the order of movement is the trail fire team. At the apex of this formation is the trail fire team leader. He is responsible for rear security and assisting the squad leader in accountability and command and control. Ap- proximately 10m to the trail fire team leader's right at a 45-degree angle is the automatic rifleman. About 10m to the fire team leader's left at a 45-degree angle is the rifleman. Approximately 10m to the rifleman’s left at a 45-degree angle is the Grenadier.M240B TEAM When the M240B team is on the left flank of the fire team wedge, it is known as a heavy left formation. If the M240B were on the right side, it would be considered a heavy right. As the squad leader, you will determine on which side you want your M240B team based on your METT-TC analysis and the enemy's most probable course of action. When moving, should you decide you need to move the M240B from the left to the right flank, all you have to do is point this out to your machine gunner. The M240B gun- ner and the AG can then switch positions with the RTO without halting the element. LEADER POSITIONS The squad leader and the trail fire team leader's positions are not fixed; they can move anywhere within their ele- ment to maintain control. That is to say, the squad leader can move anywhere within the squad to maintain control, and the trail fire team leader can move anywhere within his team to maintain control. However, this does not apply to the lead fire team leader. The lead fire team leader is at the apex of his formation so he can perform his three additional duties of frontal security, en route route se- lection, and land navigation. He is also at the apex of his formation to lead by example and immediately deploy his fire team since they are most likely to make contact first.DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONNEL AND WEAPONS The fire team wedge allows you to have an equal distri- bution of personnel and weapons. This allows the squad leader to fire in any direction with an automatic rifleman, a rifleman, anda grenadier with the hope of not losing the same two weapon systems on initial contact. The automatic rifleman in the lead fire team is on the left flank, and the automatic rifleman in the trail fire team is on the right flank. The rifleman and the Grenadier in the lead fire team are on the right flank, and the rifleman and the Grenadier in the trail fire team are on the left flank. If you were to be hit from the front, right, rear, or left flank, you have an automatic rifleman, a rifleman, and a grenadier to engage with. For example, if you were to be hit from the front, you have an automatic rifleman, a rifleman, and a grenadier from the lead fire team to engage with. If you were to be hit from the right flank, you have a grenadier and rifleman from the lead fire team and an automatic rifleman from the trail fire team to engage with. The same is true for the rear and the left flank. SECURITY The fire team wedge also allows you to have 360-degree security at all times. For example, the lead team leaderis responsible for frontal security from the 10 o'clock to the 2 o'clock. The rifleman in the lead fire team down to the automatic rifleman in the trail fire team is responsible for right flank security from the 2 o'clock to the 4 o'clock. The grenadier in the trail fire team is responsible for rear security from the 4 o'clock to the 8 o'clock. From the rifle- man in the trail fire team to the automatic rifleman in the lead fire team is responsible for left flank security from the 8 o'clock to the 10 o'clock. As you can see, the fire team wedge allows you to have an equal distribution of personneland weapons with 360 degree security at all times, and it is easy to control. MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES When moving in the fire team wedge, there are three movement techniques. The three movement techniques are the traveling, the traveling overwatch, and the bounding overwatch movement techniques. The traveling movement technique will be used behind friendly forward lines when contact is not likely. The distances between personnel will stay the same, but the distances between elements willbe approximately 20m. That is to say, the distance between the last man in the lead fire team to the first man in the headquarters element will be about 20m, and the distance between the last man in the headquarters element to the first man of the trail fire team will be approximately 20m.TRAVELING OVERWATCH The traveling overwatch movement technique will be used forward of the friendly forward lines when contact is possible. The only difference from the traveling to the traveling overwatch is the distance from the lead fire team to the headquarters element has increased to 50m. For example, the distance from the last man in the lead fire team to the first man in the headquarters element will be approximately 50m. BOUNDING OVERWATCH The bounding overwatch technique will be used forward of friendly forward lines when enemy contact is expected. You need to remember two things about the bounding overwatch: first, the squad leader along with the headquar- ters element will usually stay with the overwatch element and second, the bounding element will not bound more than small arms range or out of sight of the overwatch element, typically no more than 150 meters. DISTANCE | have discussed the distances between personnel and fire teams. Keep in mind that these distances are based on control but dictated by vegetation, terrain, and visibility.VEGETATION You may be operating through a thickly vegetated area such as the jungles of Panama. If you find yourself in this situation, you may have to close up the distances between your personnel and fire teams to maintain control. You may be operating in a sparsely vegetated area, such as Georgia in the wintertime. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to increase the distances be- tween your personnel and fire teams as Long as you can maintain control. TERRAIN You may find yourself in terrain such as the mountains of Afghanistan. Here you may have one fire team in the low ground and another cresting over the hilltop. If this hap- pens, you may have to close the distance between fire teams to maintain control. You may find yourself moving in the desert. In this situation, you may want to increase the distances between personnelin the fire teams as long as you can still maintain control. VISIBILITY There are two types of visibility: good visibility and lim- ited visibility. Good visibility will be a great asset during a patrol. But you may find yourself in limited visibility such as rain, snow, fog, and smoke from the battlefield, and 7of course, during hours of darkness. If you find yourself in this situation, you may have to modify your movement formation to the modified wedge. MODIFIED WEDGE The modified wedge is nothing more than collapsing the flanks of the fire team wedge into two columns. At the apex of the formation is the lead fire team leader. He is still responsible for frontal security, en route route selec- tion, and land navigation. Approximately 3-5m to the lead team leader's right at a 45-degree angle is the rifleman/ compass man. The rifleman/compass man still performs his additional duty as compass man, as we explained earlier. Approximately 3-5m to the rifleman/compass man's left at a 45-degree angle is the automatic rifleman. Approximately 3-5m to the automatic rifleman’s right at a 45-degree angle is the grenadier. This is the lead fire team. Approximately 3-5m to the grenadier's left at a 45-de- gree angle is the squad leader. He is still responsible for accountability, command and control, and whatever the squad does or fails to do. Approximately 3-5m to the squad leader's right at a 45-degree angle is the RTO. Ap- proximately 3-5m to the RTO's left at a 45-degree angle is the M240B gunner. Approximately 3-5m to the machine gunner's right at a 45-degree angle is the assistant gun- ner. This is the headquarters element.Approximately 3-5m to the AG's left at a 45-degree angle is the grenadier. About 3-5m to the grenadier's right at a 45-degree angle is the automatic rifleman. Approximately 3-5m to the automatic rifleman’s left at a 45-degree angle is the trail team leader. The trail team leader is still respon- sible for rear security and assisting the squad leader in accountability and command and control. Approximately 3-5m to the trail team leader's right at a 45-degree angle is the rifleman. MODIFIED WEDGE: KEY LEADER/ M240B Once again, the squad leader and the trail team leader's positions are not fixed. That is to say, while the trail team leader is the second to last man in the order of move- ment, he can move anywhere within his team to better assist the squad leader in accountability and command and control, and the SL can still move anywhere within the squad to maintain control. Once again, the M240B is on the left flank. This is not considered a heavy left or right in a modified wedge. As the squad leader, you will base this on your METT-TC analysis and the enemy's most probable course of action. You can still shift your machine gun from the Left or right without halting the element: tell the M240B gunner to switch out with the RTO.FIRE TEAM WEDGE: SHORT HALT/ LONG HALT While moving, it may be necessary to call a halt. For in- stance, you may want to conduct a map check, cross-load heavy equipment, or conduct a water break. Anyone can calla halt, but it is generally done by the lead fire team leader or the squad leader. While moving during hours of good visibility in the fire team wedge, the lead fire team leader may find it necessary to calla halt. If so, he will give the hand and arm signal to halt, move to the next available cover and concealment, and assume a good short halt posture. A good short halt posture is nothing more than taking a knee with your rucksack on your back, your weapon at the ready, and pulling security in your sector of fire. The rest of the fire team will do the same. The lead team has security from the 9 to the 12 to the 3 o'clock position. The squad leader will then continue to close the distance and gain interlocking sectors of fire. Once this is done, he will give the hand and arm signal to halt, and he and the rest of his element will assume a good short halt posture. At all halts, the SL must consider what to do with the gun team based on METT-TC, the most likely avenue of approach, and the enemy's most probable course of action. Since the team leader called the halt, you would leave the gun 10at the g o'clock until the squad leader finds out why he is halted. The trail fire team leader will continue moving forward until he has achieved interlocking sectors of fire with the lead fire team, then he would issue the hand and arm signal to halt, and would assume a good short halt posture, ensuring the rest of his team does the same. His team has security from the 3 to the 6 to the g o'clock position. He will ensure that the last man is pulling rear security from the 4 o'clock to the 8 o'clock Since the lead team leader called the halt, the squad leader will move to his location to find out why he has halted. En route, he will spot check the lead fire team to ensure they are in the proper short halt posture. Simulta- neously, the trail fire team leader will ensure that the last man is pulling rear security and spot-check his team to ensure they are in a good short halt posture behind avail- able cover and concealment. He will then move forward to the squad Leader's last known location, where he will wait for further guidance. En route, he will spot-check the headquarters team to ensure they are in a good short halt posture. Once the squad leader has moved up to the lead team leader's location, he will find out why he halted: for example, the lead team leader may have spotted a potential linear saedanger area. If the SL wanted to move out at this time, he would inform the TLs to get ready to move. If the SL wanted to calla halt, he would send the signal to halt either by hand and arm signal or by FM, and the squad would halt as previously described. The SL will then give the squad the hand and arm signal to conduct SLLS. SLLS stands for stop, look, listen, and smell You will stop all movement, you will look for signs of the enemy (trash, old fighting positions, or the actual enemy), you will listen for signs of the enemy (engines running, the enemy talking, or the enemy moving), and you will smell for signs of the enemy (food, smoke from fires, or fuels). SLLS willlast for 3 to 5 minutes or as long as the S_deems necessary. Once SLLS is complete, the SL will give the hand and arm signal for SLLS complete. Since the squad leader called the halt, the team leaders need to move to his location to see why we halted. The lead fire team leader will ensure that his rifleman/com- pass man is pulling frontal security from the 10 o'clock to the 2 o'clock. En route to the squad leader's location, he will also spot-check his fire team to ensure they are in a good short halt posture. At the same time, the trail team leader will ensure that the last man in his team is pulling rear security. He will then spot-check his team to ensure that they are in a good short halt posture. W/hile en route to 12the squad leader's location, he will check the M24oB team to ensure they are in the proper short halt posture. Once the team leaders reach the squad leader's location, he will brief them as to why they halted. For example, he needs to conduct a map check. The SL will give task, conditions, and standards on how he wants to pinpoint his location on the map. He will tell the trail team leader to start at the 3 o'clock position and work in a clockwise manner ensuring that the men are in a good short halt posture and pulling security. At the same time, the lead team leader and the SL will pinpoint their position on the map. Once they agree on where they are, the lead team leader and the trail team leader will change positions, and the trail team leader and the SL will confirm their location. Based on the map check, the SL will either move out or place the men in the long halt posture because they will be there for an extended period. For example, this is the security halt for the ORP, or he wants the men to take a break and drink water. The squad leader will then give the team leaders task, conditions, and standards to get their personnelin a good long halt posture. The long halt posture is nothing more than rotating the rucksack off your back, placing it frame side down on the ground, cat eyes facing toward the center of the perimeter, getting in a good prone position behind cover and concealment, and pulling security in your assigned sector of fire. The squad leader will then 13tell the lead fire team leader to move to the closest man to his 9 o'clock position and pull security for him while he gets in the long halt posture, assign him sectors of fire, show him where he is on the map and disseminate any information that the SL wants to have put out. Working in a clockwise manner, the lead fire team leader moves through the 12 o'clock and then to his 3 o'clock position and places his men in the long halt posture in the same manner. Next, he moves to the squad leader's location for further guidance. The trail fire team leader at the same time will move to the closest man at his 3 o'clock position and assume a good short halt posture pulling security for him while he gets in the long-halt posture. He will then move in a clockwise manner working his way through the six o'clock and then to the nine o'clock position placing his men in the long halt posture in the same manner as the lead fire team leader did. Once this is done, he will return to the squad leader's location for further guidance. | like to have both team leaders working on opposite sides. The reason for this is that if we make contact, | will not lose both leaders at the same time on initial contact. The squad leader will then ask if there are any questions. If there are no ques- tions, the squad leader will give them a time-hack for the team to accomplish this task. For example, it is now 141900 you have until 1g10 to complete this task. During the task, conditions, and standards if you decide you want the machine gunner at the 12 o'clock (which falls under the lead team), you'll task this out to that team leader for emplacing the M240B team. Once the team leaders have emplaced their men, they will move to the squad leader's location for further guidance. If the SL is ready to move out, he will issue task, conditions, and standards to the team leaders to get their men ready to move. The squad leader will tell the lead team leader to move to his closest man at the g o'clock position, pull security for that man, and place him in the short halt posture, ready to move out. Then move through the 12 o'clock to the 3 o'clock doing the same. Once this is done, you will move to the apex of your fireteam and give me a thumbs-up, so | know you are ready to move out. The trail team leader willmove to his closest man at the 3 o'clock position and place his men in the short halt posture, ready to move out. He will then move through the 6 o'clock position to the g o'clock position. Once this is done, you will move to the apex of your fireteam and give me a thumbs-up, so | know you are ready to move out. While they are do- ing this, the squad leader will get a headcount of all his personnel. He will be able to do this because they are operating during hours of good visibility. Once the squad leader receives his thumbs up from both team leaders he 15willthen give the hand and arm signal to move out to the lead fire team leader. When the lead team leader receives the hand and arm signal to move out, he will relay it to his team and move out in the direction of travel. He will move approximately 10m. After he has gone approximately 10m the automatic rifleman and rifleman /compass man will pick up and move out. In about 10m, the grenadier will pick up and move out. The squad leader based on the movement technique being used will wait for the last man to go that distance, relay the hand and arm signal to move out to his element, and move out. This will continue until everyone has picked up and moved out. MODIFIED WEDGE SHORT/ LONG HALT Ifyou find yourself moving during hours of limited visibility and in the modified wedge, keep in mind, anyone can call a halt. However, it usually is the lead fire team leader or the squad leader who calls it. While moving, if the lead fire team leader deems it necessary to calla halt, he will give the hand and arm signal to halt. Because you are moving during the hours of limited visibility, he will probably have to look over his left/right and move to the next man in the formation and tell him to halt. Every man in the formation will pass back the command to halt in the same manner to the last man. Once he has done 16this, he will move to the next cover and concealment and assume a short halt posture. Everyone on that right column will continue moving forward and close up the distance and gain interlocking sectors of fire. They will then face to the right, take two or three steps and assume a short halt posture. At the same time, everyone in the left column will continue moving forward and close up the distance and gain interlocking sectors of fire. They will then face to the left, take two to three steps, and assume a short halt posture. The reason they're taking two to three steps is to create a walkway for the leaders to move through the center of the perimeter without tripping over personnel. Since the lead team leader called the halt, the squad leader will move to his Location to find out why we halted. En route, the squad leader will spot-check the lead fire team to ensure they are in a short halt posture. At the same time the trail team leader will ensure the last man is pulling rear security. He will spot-check his team along with the headquarters element to ensure they are in a short halt posture while moving to the squad leader's last known location where he will wait for further guidance. Once the squad leader makes it up to the team leader's position, he will find out why they halted (for example, he wants to conduct a water break). If the SL wanted to move out at this time, 17he would give task, conditions, and standards on how he wants to move out. If the SL were to call a halt, he would pass the signal forward to the lead team leader or let him know to halt the squad by FM, and the squad would halt as previously described. Because the squad leader called the halt, both team leaders would need to move to his location. The lead team leader will ensure that his rifleman/compass man is pulling frontal security. En route, he will spot-check his people to ensure they are in a short halt posture. At the same time, the trail team leader will ensure that his grenadier is pulling rear security. En route, he will spot- check his team along with the headquarters element to ensure they are in a short halt posture. When both leaders have moved to the squad leader's location, he willinform them of why he halted, for example, to cross-load heavy equipment. The squad leader will give the team leaders task, conditions, and standards to his team leaders to conduct SLLS. During hours of limited visibility, the SL will tell the team leaders to go out and inform their men that SLLS starts now and will end when they come back to their location and inform them that SLLS is complete. The SLwill give them 5 minutes to do this and come back to his position. The squad will stop, look, listen, and smell for signs of the enemy for 3 to 5 minutes or as long as the SL deems necessary as previously described. Once 18SLLS is complete, the SL will pinpoint his position. Since it is during the hours of limited visibility, the SL will tell the trail team leader to start at the 3 o'clock position and work his way around the squad in a clockwise manner informing the men that SLLS is complete and ensuring they are in a good short halt posture pulling security in their sectors of fire. While the trail team leader troops the lines, the RTO will pull out his poncho and red lens flashlight. SL and the lead team leader will get under the poncho and pinpoint their location while the RTO ensures that no red light is escaping from the poncho. Once they have confirmed their location, the lead team leader will go out and change places with the trail team leader. Once the trailteam leader and the SL have confirmed their location, the SL will determine if he needs to continue to move or if he needs to stay here for an extended period. For this scenario, we will say that the SL wants to let the men rest and top off their canteens. The SL will call both TLs to his location and give them task, conditions, and standards to place the men into the long halt posture. The way they would do this is the lead team leader will move to his closest man at the g o'clock and pull security for him while he gets in a long-halt posture. The team leader will then move in a clockwise manner through the 12 o'clock to the 3 o'clock, placing each man in a long-halt posture the same as previously described. The trail team 19leader will do the same, but he will start at the closest man at the 3 o'clock position working his way to the 6 o'clock, the 9 o'clock, and then back to the SL's location. Once the squad leader is ready to move out, he will tell both team leaders to get their personnel ready to move out. Once the lead team leader has his men ready to move, he will move back to the apex of his fire team and wait. The squad leader will tell the trail team leader to get his personnel ready to move out. Next, come back to my location to let me know that you are ready to move. Then, continue moving forward two to three steps past the lead fire team leader, move to his left or right, and establish a chokepoint. While at the chokepoint, you will physically touch each person as you count them out. Once the squad leader has received the word from the trail team leader, he will follow him up until he reaches the lead fire team leader's position. The squad leader willask him if his people are ready to move. W/hen ready and the chokepoint has been established, the squad leader will tap the lead team leader on the shoulder and tell him to move out. The lead team leader will move out in the direction of travel for approximately 3-5m, ensuring that he is counted-out by the trail fire team leader. Once he has moved 3-5m, the squad will continue to move until the entire squad has picked up and moved out. When the trail team leader 20has counted everyone out, he will take up his place in the formation and will look over his shoulder to ensure that the grenadier is behind him. If the headcount is right, he will move to the automatic rifleman and tell him "head- count good.” The headcount will be passed in a zigzag fashion forward to the lead fire team leader. He will then send the headcount back to the rifleman. This willalso be passed back in a zigzag fashion until it reaches the trail fire team leader. This lets the team leader know that the headcount was passed forward. If the trail team leader's headcount is bad, the squad leader has two options: he can re-verify the headcount with a new one, or he can send a team back to find the lost Soldiers. THE RANGER FILE During limited visibility, there is a tendency and acceptance to want to move ina single line known as the Ranger File. Avoid this; instead, use the modified wedge. However, in extremely restricted terrain, it may be necessary to utilize the Ranger File. If moving in a single file, it is critical to keep a distance between each Soldier. This takes prac- tice and discipline because the tendency is to bunch up. Remember Rogers’ Rangers Standing Order #6, “When we're on the march we march single file, far enough apart so one shot can't go through two men” alFORMATIONS AND ORDERS OF MOVEMENT 1, MOVEMENT FORMATION: FIRE TEAM WEDGE (MG Team attached) | THREE MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES UTILIZED: A. TRAVELING technique used behind FFL when contact is not likely B. TRAVELING OVERWATCH forward of the FFL when enemy contact is expected C. BOUNDING OVERWATCH uses forward of the FFL when enemy contact is expected. lll. DISTANCES— based on (control) dictated by visibility, terrain, and vegetation. IV. ACTIONS AT NIGHT—MODIFIED WEDGE V. ACTIONS AT THE HALT—SHORT HALT & LONG HALT (DAY & NIGHT) VI. LEADERS’ LOCATIONS ARE NOT FIXED FIRE TEAM WEDGE MODIFIED WEDGE LEAD TL LEAD TL AR @ RICM ® RICM @ @ AR GR @ sL @ @sr O Oo sLO MG (RTO RTO asO O MGC) O Oae @ TRAILTL R R@ @ @* @ar oS TRAIL TL@ @sr 22WARNING ORDER AWarning Order is an advance notification of an upcoming mission, to allow subordinates maximum time to prepare men, weapons, and equipment and plan for the opera- tion. The Warning Order/ Patrol Order is the most critical element for a successful patrol. PARAGRAPH 1A: ENEMY You must identify the 3Ws in developing the enemy situation. They are the Who, What, and Where of the enemy. This information is found in the higher OPORD in Paragraph |; A; 1, 2, 3. To answer the “Who”: Higher OPORD Para I: Situation; Sub-Para A: Enemy; Line 1: Composition, disposition, and strength. 23Example: The People's National Revolutionary Movement (PNRM) To answer the "What": Higher OPORD; Line 2: Recent activity. Example: “Have been conducting aggressive offensive operations." To answer the “Where”: Higher OPORD; Line 3: Known and suspected enemy locations. Example: Fact: Our S-2 has divided our Area of Operations into Zones. If you plot those locations on the map, they are in zones A, B, and C. Keeping it brief, you will state “In zones A, B, and C." When issued, it will sound like this: The People's National Revolutionary Movement (PNRM) has been conducting aggressive offensive operations in Zones A, B, and C. Next is the development of the Friendly Situation. 24PARAGRAPH 1B: FRIENDLY SITUATION LINE 1: Higher’s Mission: You must identify the 4 W's in developing the Friendly Situation. They are the Who, What, Where, and Why of our friendly. They are found in the Higher OPORD mission statement. EXTRACT: 1* PLT B Co conducts area ambushes to destroy enemy personnel and equipment in Zone D to prevent enemy logistical re-supply and gather PIR Anytime you mention friendly forces, you willidentify the Task and Purpose. You will only have one Task but may have more than one purpose. LINE 2: Higher's Intent: Look at the higher OPORD in Para 1B, 2. Here you will find Higher's Mission and Intent one and two levels up. You need only to mention one level up. One level up from the squad is the platoon. Because a Commander's Intent is only at Company level and above, you will use the Com- pany Commander's Intent. However, in the absence of this paragraph, the intent will be the Task and Purpose of his mission statement. 25PARAGRAPH 1C: ATTACHMENTS/ DETACHMENTS Initial Task Organization. Only address significant unit changes. If assigned additional personnel — and you as the gaining unit are responsible for the logistical, admin- istrative, and disciplinary actions to include unit training of those personnel — then it is considered an attachment. If not, then those personnel are considered as OPCON (Operational Control). | will explain this later in Tasks to Combat Support Units. If any Soldier is not needed for the mission, he is a detachment. Ifyou have attachments/detachments, you must identify who, and the effective times those personnel are at- tached/detached. Now you will go to your map for the first time and do two things: 1. Orient: N,S,E and W Box: Box in the entire area of operations using GRID LINES. Trace: Trace each Zone by boundaries. Familiarize: Identify 3 natural & 3 man-made terrain features in each Zone. 2. Point out the Enemy and Friendly Situation on the Map Board 26PARAGRAPH II: MISSION We will answer the 5Ws (Who, What, Where, When, and Why). It is concise because you will state it twice (2x). Doctrinally, you don't need to state it twice, but it is the most critical paragraph of the entire order. You can extract this information from Higher’s OPORD Para Ill: A; 1 (Para Ill: Execution; Sub-Para A: Concept of the Operation; Line 1: Maneuver) Notice there are three mission statements developed by our PL. You must extract the one that per- tains to you as a squad and write it on the board. Who: SQD PLT co What: Conducts a point ambush to destroy (Task) enemy personnel and equipment When: NLT (DTG). Where: At NAI #. at GL, Why: IOT prevent (Purpose) enemy logistical re-supply and gather (Purpose) PIR Again, anytime you mention friendly forces, you have a task and purpose. 27Question: \X/hat is the TASK of our mission statement? PURPOSE? Answer: DESTROY enemy personnel and equipment. PREVENT enemy logistical re-supply and GATHER PIR. It will read as such: SQD. PLT conducts a point ambush to destroy enemy personnel and equip- ment NLT (DTG). at GL. IOT prevent enemy logistical re-supply and gather PIR. Go to the map for the second time and point out the location of our operation by identifying it with a grid, ter- rain feature, type of operation to be conducted, and asa courtesy point out our current Location. PARAGRAPH III: EXECUTION Concept of the Operation Go to the map for the third time. Since you have already completed Orient, Box, Trace, & Familiarize, you don't need to do it again. The concept of the Operation is nothing more than describing in general terms how the squad will accomplish the mission from start to finish. Address general direction, distance, mode of travel and time of travel. Address Key locations during the Concept and the primary task to be accomplished while there. 28For example: We will depart from the FFU Passage Point at grid, GL 192785, terrain feature there is a spur. Here we will execute a passage of lines. This begins our Ground tactical plan. We will move generally southwest to our ORP at grid GL 187778, terrain feature there is a draw for 1000 meters, on foot, and it will take 1 hour. Here will we finalize the preparing of Men, Weapons, and Equipment. We will then move generally southwest to our OBJ at grid GL 184774, terrain feature there is a ridge for 200 meters, by foot, and it will take us 30 minutes to an hour. The reason for this is stealth on the OBJ while we occupy our positions. Here we will conduct our ambush. Once complete, we will move generally northeast to our RRP at grid GL 190783, terrain feature there is a spur, for 1500 meters, on foot, and it will take us 90 minutes. Here we will request permission to probe the wire. Finally, we will move generally northeast to our Passage Point at grid GL 192785, terrain feature there is a spur for 500 meters, on foot, and it will take us 30 minutes. Here, we will conduct a passage of lines and where our Ground tactical plan ends. 29Tasks to Maneuver Units Tactical Instructions Tactical Instructions are instructions that provide guidance on how to execute the mission. | will utilize three keywords being Control, Movement, and AOO. Control is necessary to synchronize the actions of elements participating in a specific operation. Without control, we have chaos; Movement, because we will either be moving to or from the objective; and AOO, because if we're not moving to or from the objective, we are at the OBJ executing our mission. Planning Guidance is nothing more than the tasks | assign to my maneuver elements in the form of Teams, Special Teams, and Key Individuals. Question: What is a Team? Answer: It is two or more Soldiers assigned a specific task within their normal scope of duties. Question: What is a Special Team? Answer: It is two or more Soldiers assigned a specific task IAW the SL's estimate of the situation and mission requirements. 30Question: What is a Key Individual? Answer: He is one Soldier assigned a specific task. Lastly, we will utilize METT-T/C. We will use this acronym to develop our Tasks to Maneuver Units. For example, we need to identify our maneuver units. Using the M for Mission, which is an ambush, what is the proper Task Organiza- tion for an ambush? It is Support, Security, and Assault. | have assigned my ATM as the Security element, BTM as the Assault element, and HQ as the Support, because doctrinally the MG team does not travel with a fire team unless they are executing a battle drill. HQ l,as the SL, am responsible for whatever the squad does or fails to do, command and control, and with my RTO, who is responsible for communications with our PL. Based on control during movement and Actions On the Objective (AOO) and utilizing the T for troops available what team can | assign to be responsible for command, control, and communications? The answer is the HQ Element. To main- tain control of my two other maneuver elements during movement and utilizing the T for terrain, where would it make sense for the HQ to travel? Between the two ele- ments. | have already designated that the HQ element is the support element. For me to maintain control during 31AOO and utilizing T for troops available, what team can | assign the HQ to be responsible for placing supporting fires in the kill zone? Do you see the need for any other teams in the HQ element? Do you see the need for any special teams? Let us then develop Key Individuals. Because | am responsible for whatever the squad does or fails to do for me to maintain control during AOO and utilizing the M for mission and T for troops available, what key individual would it make sense to be responsible for observing the kill zone and controlling the squad? Based on control during movement and AOO utilizing M for mission, because we will gather PIR and using T for troops available, what key individual could | assign the HQ element to be responsible for collecting that information? AOO is complete when allinformation is disseminated, and the RTO calls in the OPSKED for mission complete. For me to maintain control during AOO and utilizing the M for mission (which is an ambush), and T for troops available, what key individual could | assign to the HQ element to be responsible for that information being disseminated? The RTO. Question: Do we need to develop additional planning guidance for the HQ element? Answer: No. a=ATM SGT John Rambo is excellent at land navigation. | know this because of past patrols. Because he is my ATL, for me to maintain control during movement, utilizing the T for troops available, what team would it make sense to have “lead the way” and be responsible for getting us to and from the OBJ? Due to this responsibility, where would it make sense for them to travel in the order of movement? For me to maintain control during movement and utilizing the T for terrain, knowing we will cross LDAs, and ATM has been clearing our route from the beginning, what team could ATM provide to clear and secure the far side of those LDAs? Ihave already designated the ATM as my security element during the task organization. For me to maintain control during AOO and utilizing the M for mission (which is an ambush), what team could ATM provide to ensure we have security to provide early warning and seal off the OBJ? | will now develop our Special teams. For me to maintain control during movement and utilizing the E for enemy and the T for troops available because we may make contact with the enemy and have prisoners, what special team could | assign the ATM in processing those personnel? EPW Team. For me to maintain control during move- ment and utilizing the T for troops available, because we 33may take casualties of our own, what special team can ATM provide to offer medical assistance to our fellow Soldiers? Aid and Litter Team. To maintain control during movement and utilizing the E for enemy and T for time, because we may have to destroy equipment along the way, what special team could ATM provide? Demo team. Actions on the objective begin at the security halt before the ORP. To maintain control during movement and AOO and utilizing the M for mission and the T for terrain, what special team could ATM provide to clear and secure our ORP? NOTE: Be careful not to over-task the ATM. We could assign other teams to BTM. | will now develop Key Individuals. Because ATM is the 1st in the order of move- ment and responsible for navigation for me to maintain control during movement and utilizing the T for terrain, what key individuals could | assign the ATM to ensure we maintain our course/azimuth and have traveled the cor- rect distance? Because ATM is the security element, for me to maintain control during AOO and utilizing the T for troops available, what key individual would it make sense to assign as the security element leader? And utilizing the T for terrain, where should he be placed? Question: Do we need to develop additional planning guidance to the ATM? Answer: No. 34BIM We already know ATM is 1°'in the OOM, HQis 2", for me to maintain control during movement and utilizing the T for terrain, where would it make sense for the BTM to travel? Because ATM is providing far side security for all linear danger areas, for me to maintain control during movement and utilizing the T for terrain, what responsibility could | assign the BTM? We have already designated the BTM as the assault element during our task organization. For me to maintain control during AOO and utilizing the M for mission, which is an ambush, knowing that | must engage targets in the kill zone and assault through, what team could | assign the BTM to accomplish this? Now we will develop special teams. For me to maintain control during AOO and utilizing the M for mission (which is an ambush), because we need to search our enemy for PIR, what special team could BTM provide to assist me in processing our EPWs and searching for that intelligence? In the event we do not achieve the element of surprise, and we take casualties, for me to maintain control during AOO and utilizing the T for troops available, what special team could | assign the BTM to process and administer first aid to our wounded? For me to maintain control during AOO and utilizing the M for mission(which is to destroy equipment), what special team could the BTM provide to assist me in accomplish- ing that task? For me to maintain control during AOO and 35utilizing the T for troops available, because | need security for both during my leader's reconnaissance and when | depart to pick up the remainder of the squad, what spe- cial team could | assign the BTM to provide surveillance on the objective and cover my movement? We will be conducting a passage of lines after our mission. For me to maintain control during movement and utilizing the T for terrain, what special team could | assign BTM in order to provide security during our reentry? Let's now develop our key individuals. For me to maintain control during movement and utilizing the T for troops available, should my ATM become exhausted with navigation, what two key individuals could | assign the BTM to assist us in maintaining the proper azimuth and moving the correct distance? Because the BTM is the assault element, in order for me to maintain control during AOO and utilizing the T for troops available, what key individual would it make sense to be the assault element leader? Question: Do we need to develop additional planning guidance for the BTM? Answer: No. NOTE: The ORP clearing team is one man from ATM and one man from BTM. 36PARAGRAPH III; C: TASKS TO COMBAT SUPPORT UNITS As explained earlier during attachments/detachments, if we are assigned personnel and are not responsible for the logistical, administrative, and disciplinary actions to include the unit training, then those personnel are con- sidered OPCON. This paragraph will be developed the same as Tasks to Maneuver Units. However, because it is unlikely we will have OPCON units at the squad level. we will simply state N/A. D. Coordinating Instructions LINE 1: Uniform and Equipment Common to All | use instructional notes of Per man, tailor load, No SOPs, and 2 Ways. This paragraph, utilizing METT-T/C. Notice | divided it into Sub-lines: Worn, LCE, Rucksack, and Optional. 1. Per man means these items pertain to the Soldier himself. 2. Tailor the load for your specific combat mission. Do not take anything with you that will not be needed. 3. If your unit does not have good SOP's, then | recom- mend you write out everything you take on the mission. 374. 2Ways. The first way is to explain in detail off of your WARNO board. The second way is to have a Soldier assist you by being in complete uniform as per the board. NOTE: Develop each item as you read it. WORN: We need a ballistic helmet to protect our head from ballistics and shrapnelin the event of a firefight. We need a camouflage cover and band to aid in securing our foliage to break up the outline. The luminous tape on the band is to assist us in locating each other during hours of limited visibility because not everyone has NVGs. We wear serviceable ACUs and undershirts to protect our bodies from the elements. A black/khaki cotton web belt with black/brass open-faced buckle has a few purposes like a tourniquet or a means to strangle/silence an armed sentry, but primarily to hold up our trousers. We protect our feet by wearing serviceable OD/black socks and blackened, un-shined combat boots. Because we are allservicemen, we willidentify ourselves with silenced ID tags on a break- away chain around the neck. We have them silenced to maintain noise and light discipline. They are placed on a breakaway chain to ensure we cause no further injury to ourselves during movement or AOO. The following items will be waterproofed to ensure serviceability, Ad- ditionally, we will place them in our left/right (technique) 38cargo pocket: Ranger Handbook, tactical and technical advice; Protractor and map, to assist us in navigation; Pen, pencil, paper, to take notes/sketches. We will place our /D card in our right breast pocket. Technique: An easy way to remember this is because that is where our nametag is. The Sterile fire-support overlay will be placed in the (SL) left breast pocket. Technique: An easy way to remember this is because our US Army nametape is there. LCE/ Vest: To hold the equipment pouches and canteens, we need a Pistol belt. To evenly distribute the weight of our LCE we need suspenders. To carry our magazines, we need two ammo pouches. To navigate, we need a compass. To carry our compass when not in use, we use a compass pouch, To carry our ammunition, we need seven 30-round magazines. To carry our water, we need two, 1 Qt canteens with covers or camelback. To pour our water into (whether it would be to conduct personal hygiene or to eat/consume beverages), we need a canteen cup. To bandage our wounds or our buddy's, we need a first aid dressing. To preserve/protect that dressing, we need a first aid pouch, To assist us in destroying personnel and equipment, we need four fragmentation grenades. RUCK: Post on 3x5 card IAW Winter/Summer packing list or write out on the board. 39You should conduct a layout immediately after the WARNO. OPTIONAL: Bug juice, knife. "550" cord, foot powder, black tape, and other equipment will be approved by me (SL) NLT plan complete time. NOTE: These are comfort items or items that are nice to have; they are not always necessary for the squad to accomplish its mission. LINE 2: Time Schedule | use instructional notes of Specified and Implied Times: Meaning the specified times are times established by Higher’s OPORD and implied times means times you have set internally to meet your specified times. An asterisk denotes specified times. I willalso utilize the 1/3 -2/3 rule of taking only 1/3 of the time for myself to plan and allowing the maximum or 2/3 time for the men to accomplish their assigned missions: Also, allowing 1/3 of the time for planning and 2/3 of the time for execution. Use your schedule to point this out. The next note of Reverse Planning means you start from your last specified time and plan backward from there allowing sufficient time to accomplish the next task. The schedule is divided into four sub-columns: When, What, Where, and Who. 40