Camouflage, Cover

and Concealment
 LESSON OBJECTIVES
 To enable the students to understand the
significant of Cover, Concealment and
Camouflaging and its various
methods/techniques during combat operations
in order to become an effective combat
soldier.
 To identify natural and artificial ways of
concealing.
 Scope of the Lesson

 Definition of Terms
 Ways to Conceal yourself
 Concealment during day and night
 Principles of Concealment
 Concealment of Position
 Factors of Recognition
 Nature and Objective of Camouflage
 Methods of Camouflage
 Rules of Camouflage
 BODY OF THE LESSON

COVER - Is a protection against the enemy

hostile fire, it maybe natural or artificial.
Natural cover such as ravines, hollows, river
slope, big trees and rocks, etc. Artificial cover
such as foxholes, trenches walls, rocks,
barricade, etc.
CONCEALMENT - Is a protection against the
enemy observation, it maybe natural or artificial.
Natural Concealment is provided by the
surrounding or natural features such as trees,
leaves, grasses, bushes, shadows and other
material in the ground. Artificial Concealment
made from man such as nets, bushes, grasses,
and other materials that are made its original
location.
 WAYS TO CONCEAL YOURSELF
1. Avoid necessary movement. Remain
still, movement attract
2. Use all available concealment:
a. Background
b. Shadow
c. Stay low to observe.
d. Expose nothing that shine.
e. Keep of the skyline.
f. Keep quiet.
 CONCEALMENT DURING DAY AND
NIGHT
DAY TIME:
a. Remain motionless while you are observing.
Movement can attract the enemy’s attention
even at a distance.
b. Disperse your men, vehicle and equipment
reasonably.
c. Observe from prone position and always at
the base of an object.
d. Avoid lone trees, fences and other prominent
landmarks since these spots are easily
picked out as targets by observers.
NIGHT TIME:
a. Before move it is advisable for the members to stay
in the dark for about one hour to prepare your eyes
from night vision.
b. Learn to judge actual appearance and size of the
object in the dark. Do not stay to the object too long;
merely glance at them to avoid straining your eyes.
c. Do not expose any light when moving such as
luminous watches, compass, smoking and others.
d. Sound discipline – stop frequently to listen period.
e. Move in absolute silence- move by bounds to
positions you to determine to advance.
f. Leave behind personnel who might compromise the
mission.
 Principles of Concealment
There are three (3) basic considerations to
remember in concealment:

1. Sitting.
2. Camouflage Discipline.
3. Construction (camouflage technique)
 Concealment of Position
There are three (3) cardinal rules to follow in
concealing one’s position on the ground.
These are:

1. Select spots that offer natural

concealment.
2. Fortify your position when stay long in it.
3. Use artificial concealment materials when
no natural ones are available
Factors of Recognition
1. Position.
2. Shape.
3. Shadow.
4. Texture.
5. Color.
6. Movement.
 Nature and Objective of
Camouflage
In Common usage, camouflage is defined as
the “art of concealment or deception and the use
of decoys. “ As applied in the military, camouflage
means” a visual concealment to minimize the
identification of troops, materials and equipment.”
It is also a mean of giving false appearances to
the enemy. The simplest camouflage is the use of
imitative color and texture and the distortion of
outlines to make an object and with its natural
background.
 Methods of Camouflage
There are three (3) methods of
camouflaging:

1. Blending
2. Hiding
3. Deceiving
 Rules On Camouflage

1. Individual Equipment.
2. Clothing
3. Body
Sitting. Generally, this is the most
important consideration because the site
so selected requires little, if any additional
camouflage. The choice of as site is
influenced by the mission, ease of access,
and quantity of concealment offered. As
much as possible, a site must not be
located in or near prominent landmarks,
such as, road junction, lone trees, and
haystacks.
Camouflage Discipline. This means the
avoidance of an activity that tends to
change the appearance of an area, or
indicates to an enemy the conduct of any
military activity in the area. Movement of
troops and vehicles must be done on
existing roads, paths and trails. Avoid
constructing new trails in order to prevent
the unnecessary exposure of the position.
Construction (CamouflageTechnique)
refers to that activity bearing on the proper
selection and use of natural and practical
materials to improve the existing natural
concealment of the position. When using
natural materials, care must be taken to
place them in a manner that preserves their
natural condition. Construction activities and
work crews must be hidden from public new.
Position. Where is an object located;
From a vantage position, an
observer can easily pinpoint the exact
location of an object or activity being
observe. This can be accomplished by
using known or approximate distance,
prominent terrain features, and other
key reference points.
Shape. This refers to the form and
structure of an object. Through
experience, one can readily identify an
object by merely looking at its form or
structure.
 Shadow. The shadow of an object
can be determined by its shape and
relative position from the source of light.
Texture. This refers to the ability of an
object to reflect, absorb, and diffuse
light. It may also refer to the relative
smoothness and roughness of the
surface of an object. Remember that the
rough objects cast more shadows as
may be gleaned from dark photographs
because they absorb more light.
 Color. Brightly colored objects can
be more readily identified, observed,
and remembered than dull colored
ones.
Movement. Personnel move more
differently than equipment. Therefore
an, observer must be able to reflect on
the differences in movement
 Blending - is the process whereby
the positions or object sought to be
concealed appears in its natural outlook
and camouflage materials are arrange
in a manner that will make them appear
as part of the natural environment. The
primary objective is to prevent exposing
the position or object by a change in the
natural appearance of the site.
Hiding - is the concealing the identify of
an object with a screen, drape or net,
even though the screening itself is seen.
 Deceiving - is the act of simulating
an object or activity that has a military
significance or to disguise it so that
appears to be something else. A
deceptive camouflage divides an enemy
attack by offering more target than what
actually exists, or draws enemy
attention away from essential
installation or activities, thereby sparing
them from hostile fire.
 Individual Equipment – Disrupt both
the form and the strong, straight line
shadow of the steel helmet. To do this,
use a disruptive paint pattern, a strip of
burlap, lacquer, and a meshed helmet net
(see Fig. 5-1). Disrupt also the outlines
of weapons by the use of paint, mud, or
charcoal. This is called toning down. For
canvass equipment, tone down its color.
 Clothing – Camouflage clothing,
fighting cloths, and jungle suits
constitute the bulk of a soldiers
clothing inventory. To make them
blend with the natural background,
tone their color down. Any coloring
substance may be used—dye black
can drip lunge of mud and cup grease.
 Body- Some parts of the body that
are unnecessarily exposed must have
the color toned down. This is called “
skin tone down”. The bodily parts that
are supposed undergo this process
are the face, neck, and hands
because of their light color tone.