PRINCIPLES OF SQUAD MOVEMENT

By Redbeard Tactical
 Introduction

In the following slides we will cover the basic principles of moving a squad in rural areas. We
specifically dont talk about battledrills here, as those can vary from nation to nation and we
absolutely dont believe into the utility of set battledrills in a scenario as dynamic as combat.

By providing you with those basic principles you can modify them according to your use and your
mission, be it in the military or as a responsible civilian.

Why movement formations?

Combat formations are as old as warfare. We make use of them to make a squad:

• More lethal
• Enhance the squads survivability
• Enhance camouflage
• Make it easier to control the squad during and in combat
• Provide 360 security/ situational awareness

The following movement formations are the foundation of what every military around the world
uses. There are various additional formations, but those are the fundamentals.
 Staggered Column

The staggered Column is a travelling formation. You should use it when moving from point a to b
in friendly or neutral territory or when the terrain dictates it. It can also be used to protect the flanks
of a moving platoon.

Characteristics of the staggered column include:

• Easy to control.
• Good firepower to the sides.
• Lacks firepower to the front.
• Can be deployed in dense terrain.
• Vulnerable to fire from the front.
 Staggered Line

The staggered line is a combat formation. It is best used when moving in enemy territory or
approaching an objective. It protects the front of a moving platoon. It is also the best option to
search vast areas for enemy presence. It is harder to control, especially in dense terrain.

Characteristics of the staggered line include:

• Hard to control
• Good firepower to the front.
• Lacks firepower to the flanks
• Has difficulties in dense terrain.
• Vulnerable to flanking fire.
 Squad Organization

The Squad is organized into two fireteams.

Those fireteams can form independent maneuver elements in combat or provide overwatch
for each other during movement.

During traveling in friendly areas or areas with low propability of contact the squad moves as
a whole. Each fireteam has a leader. In small squads the squad leader also serves a secondary
purpose as a fireteam leader himself.

In the pictured staggered column the fireteams are divided into rear and front.

In the staggered line the left and right side are formed by the respective fireteams.
 Principles of Movement
1.- Squad Leader Position
While all other positions in a formation are fixed, the squad leader moves freely inside the
formation to enable a better overview and to reduce the risk of overcommunication.

Generally the squad leader has the best view and control from the center but may move
forward and backward to either communicate with fireteam leaders, RTOs or simply lead
from the front.

Depending on the size of your squad and the SOPs the squad leader may be accompanied by a
bodyguard or someone else who is assisting him.

Despite all this, movement inside the squad should be performed just as needed to reduce
the threat of the squad leader getting identified by enemy snipers.
 Principles of Movement
Spacing

Nothing is set in stone. But spacing should be as wide as possible and as close as necessary. In open
terrain with light vegetation, 10 meters are a good average spacing distance.

In dense areas like forests 5 meters are beneficial, as intersquad communication is performed by
handsigns. As long as every trooper can see the trooper next to him your spacing is as tight as
needed.

In wide open areas spacing can be increased to 15m or more.

Remember, nothing is set in stone. Wide spacing saves lifes and improves lethality.
 Responsibilities
1.- Keep Up Formation

It is the leaders and every troopers responsibility to keep the general formation in shape. Not only
spacing, but also the overall assembly of the formation should be kept in check.

The leader selects the formation, the troopers keep it up.

In the shown picture a squad started in a staggered column, which degraded to a straight, linear
column. Contact is made with an enemy GPMG, the enemy is likely able to take out the squad within
seconds.

Because of the degraded formation only the first trooper is able to return fire. Pictured mistakes
include:

• Wrong formation
• Wrong execution
• Bad spacing

It is every leaders and troopers responsibility to avoid mistakes regarding execution and spacing.
 Responsibilities
2.- Keep Up Spacing

Good spacing enables us to avoid detection by the enemy. In the pictured situation the squad kept
up the shape of the formation but the tight spacing still makes the formation more vulnerable than
necessary.

Besides being detected easily, the bad tight spacing of the squad renders it vulnerable and
defenseless against enemy fire from the front. Same goes for attacks by artillery and other area
weapons like grenades.

While the shape of the formation is executed well, the squad still made errors:

• Wrong formation
• Bad spacing

The leader and every trooper have to adjust spacing on the move. Increasing or decreasing of
spacing is signalled by handsigns.
 Responsibilities
3.- Select the right Formation

Its the responsibility of the leader to select the fitting formation. As you can see in
figure A the spacing makes it way harder to detect the moving formation.
Additionally the enemy has to spread fire way more to achieve his goal of taking
out the squad.

Figure B shows that half of the squad are able to return fire immediately and are
therefore able to buy precious time to react. As bad spacing has been eliminated
there is only one issue left:

• Wrong formation

If your squad is surprised during a travel in areas with little estimated enemy
presence you have to react from the staggered column.

However, if contact is a likely the squad leader should have changed the
formation to a staggered line long ago.

The right formation is the leaders responsibility.

 Responsibilities
3.1- Select the right Formation

Chose your formation with purpose.

The staggered line proves to be a way more suitable formation in the same
formation. The closer you get to the enemy, the more you should consider a
staggered line formation.

The staggered line is superior here as:

• All troopers can fire immediately

• The enemy has to spread fire
• Less casualities are inflicted to your squad
• You are providing crossfire
• You can immediately react by forming a firing and a maneuvering element
 - Battles are won
by principles, not by
a plethora of
rigid templates.
 Responsibilities
4.- Halting / Sectors

Your squad acts as a single moving and breathing individual.

When marching and when halting the squad provides 360 degrees of security. Each
trooper has an own sector he constantly has to cover. If possible create
overlapping sectors.

The figure on the left shows a squad providing 360 security when halting. But the
same arcs have to be provided on the move.

The trooper on the rear of the squad checks the rearward area by a peak every 10
meters.

The same principle applies for halting in the staggered line.

 Styles of movement
1.-Travelling Enclosed

The easiest and fastest way is moving your squad as a whole. This allows easy
control and fast travel.

Traveling as a single element is feasible when:

- Enemy contact is unlikely

- The squad is moving as part of a large platoon formation
- The squad needs to be fast.
 Styles of movement
2.-Travelling Overwatch

Travelling overwatch adds another dimension to spacing. The squad gets sepperated
into its two fireteams.

Both fireteams move in one formation with the formations appropiate spacing
between every fireteam member.

Now another space gets created between both fireteams. This space is larger and
is usually at least double the amount of spacing between each trooper.

Both fireteams move at the same time and provide overwatch for each other.

The figure on the left side shows a squad moving north in a staggered column
formation, utilizing travelling overwatch.

Travelling overwatch is:

• Slower but safer than enclosed movement
• Faster but less secure compared to bounding overwatch
• Best utilized when contact is possible
 Styles of movement
3.-Bounding Overwatch

When performing bounding overwatch both fireteams move and provide

overwatch alternately.

It is the slowest but safest method of movement and is utilized when contact is
likely or troops are already in contact.

In the figure on the left Bravo is moving while Alpha is providing security.

As soon as Bravo reaches its destination it provides security and Alpha moves
again.

Similarities to fire and maneuver during combat arent a coincidence here.

 Styles of movement
4.-Linear Open Areas (1)

Linear open areas like roads or clearings can be a challenge. As danger comes from
the next, yet unexplored, cover as well as the both open sides of the linear open
area you want to cross.

To do so the squad takes in a staggered line formation and moves at the outer edge
of the cover. Both fireteams get split into buddy teams. The outer buddy teams
secure the open area of the road or clearing.

The fireteams in the center now cross the open area.

 Styles of movement
4.-Linear Open Areas (2)

As soon as the first two buddy teams arrived in cover they establish security
towards the front and along the open area.

Once this is done the the other two buddyteams cross the open area and join their
fireteams again.

Fireteam leaders should simply split the open area into left and right flank to issue
their order to jump.
 The Adaptive leader

A leader understanding the principles of combat will be able to face every situations
with those short guidelines.

Instead of training dozens of battle drills he should invest the time to understand the
principles that apply to the basic movement formations and styles of movement.

The principles shown in this breakdown also work in urban environments with
little modifications done during training as well as during the fight.

It is crucial that every squad member knows and understands those principles.

The figure on the left shows a reaction to contact out of the staggered line cobtact
situation shown before.

The leader simply continues the principles of bounding overwatch to form a fire
and a maneuver element.
 Conclusion

Training movement at squad level is the key to tactical excellence. It is the most
prelevant sector of decisionmaking.

Simplicity is the key, as we can just build our training effort on principles and not
on an exact science.

When you go out and train make sure that everyone in your squad takes the role of
the leader for a short time, as understanding is superior to just knowing.

Be reflective and find strengths and weaknesses in spacing. Use your training time
to play around with the applicatin of principles instead of following them blindly as
only training will allow you to fail and gain knowlefge.

Thanks for your attention.