COMBAT SOPs

Learning Goal:
This lesson is intended to provide
the ISOC Trainees with an
understanding on the (SOP’s) Standard
Operating Procedures on the different
Techniques of Tactical Movement
Situations.
 Learning objectives:
After this lesson, the trainees will be
able to:
 Familiarize the different techniques
of Tactical Movement Situations
and Harboring
 Discuss the proper procedures of
each technique of Tactical Movement
Situations and Harboring.

 Explain the importance of each

technique of Tactical Movement
Situations and Harboring
 CONDITIONS
Identify and familiarize the SOP’s
in the execution of the different
techniques of Tactical Movement
Situations and Harboring.
 STANDARDS
Establish a safe and secured Tactical
Movement Situations and Harboring
with the following concerns:
Ensured suitability and security of
the Tactical Movement Situation
and Harboring.
Well-established security measures
during Tactical Movement
Situations and Harboring.
Skilled demonstration of the
different techniques of Tactical
Movement Situations and
Harboring.
 I. Techniques for Tactical Movement
Situations
A. Short Halts
These security halts are often given
upon reaching a danger area and
periodically, throughout the movement en
route.
 The members of the team halt in
place, freeze, maintain absolute silence,
keep alert and observant, look around
and listen for enemy presence or activity.
 This “halt in place” must not be
longer than necessary. When the area is
not concealed, the leader requires the
team to go down on one knee or go to
prone position as appropriate.
 Terrain difficulties will usually
dictate when to take breaks. In
traversing difficult terrain, halts must be
more frequent. After passing through a
swamp or a climbing a steep slope, it is
always desirable to have a short break.
 It is absolutely necessary for the
whole group to have passed through a
defile, cleared a swamp, or ascended a
steep slope to relatively level ground
before ordering a halt. Otherwise, only
the leading elements would be rested.
 Aside from the rest and
observation, the other purposes of
short halts are to fix things and
equipment, drink water, conduct a map
check or urinate.
 The troops stop, spread out and
take a knee, and are ready positions
behind cover and concealed positions.
When conditions permit, they can also
sit down but always be on the alert.
 They watch the same sectors of
fire that they have been assigned to
while moving. Crew-served weapons
are positioned on likely enemy
approaches.
 Troops do not smoke, sleep, eat,
unless to do so. Movement is kept to a
minimum. Men with night vision devices
scan the area where the enemy maybe
concealed. Short halts should not be
more than five minutes. The team then
reorganizes, and proceeds to its
mission.
 SHORT HALT TECHNIQUES

When the troops halt, and everyone is

too tired to care, the team is bound to
fail.
 Every time there is a halt, the
lead scout and the guide will assume
advance guard position immediately.
 Do not remove your packs off your
back. Do not lay down your firearms.
Stay alert.

 When moving with other teams, it

is important to halt immediately once
the order is relayed through the radio.
 When moving with other teams and
a halt is ordered, individuals from one
team must not mix with members of
other teams.
The halt must always be given in the
area that provides cover and
concealment, and if possible, one that
favors defense.
The combat leader must always
ensure that everyone moves when
the patrol starts moving again
If you are to post security during a halt,
do not position yourself in the middle of
the trail or road or any other area
where the enemy can easily spot you.
During halts, do not sit too comfortably.
Do not be too relaxed to care about
your security
 B. Long Halts

The same as the short halt except that

extended time is needed to do the ff:
a. Establish radio contact.
b. More time for personal necessities.
c.Perform other operational and
administrative needs not to exceed 15
minutes.
 Steps in performing the long halt:
The team stops and sets up
perimeter defense.
Security is posted, fields of fire
cleared and defined.
Fighting positions are prepared and
camouflaged, as time permits.
Radio listening is maintained—
silence prevails.
Troops must be in prone position,
with ruck sacks/packs down. When
ordering a long halt, everyone must
know it as such so that each can
budget his time.
 LONG HALT TECHNIQUES

• One unpardonable violation is sleeping.

• During this halts, do not lose your
security consciousness.
• When answering the call of nature, do
so with buddy.
• Every time you halt, make it a habit
to find a covered and concealed
position immediately.
C. CROSSING ROADS AND TRAILS

Cross roads or trails near a curve

where the road is narrow so that the
enemy’s observation is restricted and
the team will be exposed at the
shortest possible time.
 Always cross roads and other
open areas in an abrupt angle to the
true movement azimuth and continue
for a short distance beyond. If possible
cross these areas in multiple angles in
order to confuse the enemy.
 Do not cross when you are in plain
sight of anyone except your
teammates. The team crosses the road
by bounds, after securing the near side
and observing the far side to be
relatively safe.
 It is always a must that two men
reconnoiter the far side of the road,
while the rest of the team observes
vigilance to provide covering fire. To
ensure maximum security, the same
technique applied in river-crossing is
used.
 Reassemble before you continue
the hike. You cannot afford to lose
anyone as it will take a lot of effort to
find him.
BOUNDING OVERWATCH CONCEPT

This type of tactical movement

technique is particularly useful when a
combat group has to cross danger
areas and enemy contact is expected.
It is a useful (albeit, the slowest)
movement technique.
 Part of the team acts as the
overwatch element, occupying a
covered and concealed position with a
good observation and fields of fire.
Another part of the team, the bounding
element, moves forward covered by the
overwatch element.
 All movements are keyed to the
next position from which the next
bounding element will be overwatched.
The bounding element never moves
behind that range, where it cannot be
supported by the weapons in the
overwatch elements.
 The roles of bounding and
overwatching are changed after each
bound.
 D. CROSSING RIVERS

SOP:
 Lead scout signals for danger area.
Team leader goes to the front and
assesses the situation.
 Once a crossing line is found,
the team secures the near bank and
observes the far bank while on the
skirmishers formation, with the
crossing line located at the center of
the team.
 Once the team observes that the far
bank is relatively safe, the team
leader signals the first buddy
elements to cross the river.
 The first buddy elements then pass
between the radioman and the
assistant radioman, while proceeding to
the crossing line. After crossing they
clear the far bank of the river before
signaling for the second buddy
elements to cross.
 The second buddy elements then
cross the river. After crossing, they
signal for the last elements to cross.
The last buddy elements cross the
river. While negotiating the river, the
first buddy elements secure the rear by
facing the river.
 Upon reaching their positions, the
tail scout secures the rear and contact
man secures the left flank. (The first
buddy elements secure their former
sector.)
E. CROSSING OPEN-TERRAIN

Dreading open spaces where you

are in full view. They are out of their
element—the dark shadows. They do
not have any cover against the full
metal jackets from enemy snipers.
 In a small open terrain, the team
can box or contour the area to avoid
detection. On a large open terrain, the
team, section or platoon should
assume wedge formation and travel on
a travelling overwatch technique.
SOP ON CROSSING OPEN TERRAIN

 The team stops at the edge of

the open area.
 The first buddy team dashes and
stops at the center of the space and
signals for the next buddy element to
cross.
 The second buddy element then
runs and stops and drops forward of
the first buddy element. They signal
the next buddy team to cross.
 The next buddy team runs and
drops at the far edge of the open terrain.
 The team then assumes its tactical
movement.
 F. SLEEPING SOP

Sleeping while all-round security

still maintained. Sleep in such a way
that you are ever ready for any
contingency during the night.
 Types of Sleeping Formation
depending on the terrain and visibility

1. Clandestine Sleeping SOP

This is adopted when there is very
limited illumination and/or the terrain is
restrictive for spacing out the team
members.
 All members of the team sleep in
tactile contact (touching distance) with
one another. Alternately, one-half
position their heads on a line on one
side and the other half position their
heads on the opposite side.
2. Triangle Formation
This is used when the bivouac
area for the team offers a wider space
for sleeping. This provides good all-
round security and every buddy
element is assigned a sector of security
and fire.
 Using the clock method, the
sectors of fire and security for every
buddy element will be: 1st buddy
element, 12 to 4 o’clock; 2nd buddy
element, 4 to 8 o’clock; and 3rd buddy
element, from 8 to 12 o’clock.
G. THE STAND-TO TECHNIQUE

The stand–to technique is followed to

aid the human senses gradually adapt to the
changing visibility, sounds and temperature
of the environment. It is done every time
troops wake up or go to sleep.
 With the troops gathered in a
security formation, they assume prone
position. Every member of the team
observes and secures hid own sector
of security, with weapons on ready
position.
 Unnecessary or extra motions are
avoided, so that everyone will
distinguish natural sounds from those
created by the enemy.
The Stand-to is performed during the
following times:

1. Morning
Thirty minutes before the first light.
Everyone is packed up, their respective
sleeping areas policed up. Everyone is
alert.
2. Night
Thirty minutes prior to last light.
The equipment necessary at night are
ready. Everything else is tucked inside
the backpacks.
 Also known as the stand down, the
troops conduct this necessary
procedure before going to sleep and
before the team leader or commander
gives his last instruction/briefing for the
day.
 II. HARBORING S.O.P
In contrast to the sleeping S.O.P
which prescribes a quick “stop, sleep
and go” procedure, the harboring
S.O.P covers the whole gamut of
actions with the intention of spending
one whole night of rest.
 TIPS:

 Though we always prefer the

high grounds, remember that not all
high grounds are good harboring
sites.
 TIPS:

 Sometimes, some of these

grounds do not offer withdrawal
routes. Others are so close to other
similar high grounds that the enemy
can just position on these adjacent
terrain to harass you.
 TIPS:

 The best harboring sites are

those defensible from all directions.
The enemy could hit anytime and
from anywhere
 TIPS:

 You will need water, establishing

a harboring site, make sure that it is
near to a waterpoint.
 TIPS:

 The harboring site must be

concealed. The route towards it
undetected. It must provide adequate
materials for making improvised
shelters. Do not choose open fields,
as these would expose you to enemy
mortar fires.
 TIPS:

 It should have fairly good fields of

fire and visibility. In assigning sectors
for the whole team or the whole
section, the team leader must ensure
there is all-round security—each sector
covered.
 TIPS:

 Another consideration in assigning

sectors is the ease of passing out
messages silently and quickly.
 HARBORING TECHNIQUES:
o Too much noise can kill you.
o Be quite. You do not have to move all
over.
o Man your sectors. Some forget to
cover the sectors of the security
assigned to them.
o Do not create smoke. Its billowing
tower can be seen miles away.
o Recon and clear the prospective
harboring site prior to occupation.
oYou cannot occupy a harbor site
before it gets dark.

o You must leave the harboring area

that you have spent the night in, as
fresh as when you found it.
A. EATING S.O.P
“Eating is not a relaxing time”.
Keep focused on the disturbing
possibility of an unwanted enemy
attack as you eat. The tail scout is
responsible for the preparation and
distribution of food. The contact man
assists him.
 Food is distributed to each of the
buddy teams--to the lead scout and
guide, the team leader, radio man and
the assistant radio man, then to the
contact man and the tail scout.
 Every individual element of the
buddy teams take turns eating. One
posts as guard as the others eat.
Trash is kept inside backpacks and
disposed off at an opportune time.
 SECURITY WHILE EATING

 As you eat, do not part with your rifles.

 Take turns eating. If you are hungry, you
will eat within the next five minutes as
student food does not take time to finish.
 Do not neglect the systematic
distribution of food.
 Stay low as you eat.
 Mind your security.
 B. GUARDING S.O.P

Being posted as guard, while

everyone sleeps, is a critical
responsibility. You are entrusted with
the lives of all your teammates.
 B. GUARDING S.O.P

They rest with the very secure

thought that you will guard them with
your life. You cannot fail them on this
expectation, as it is a two-way process.
 All members of the team get guard
duty at the time prescribed by the team
leader. The team leader goes on guard
duty during the most critical period of
the night. He substitutes for any
member not capable of serving guard
duty.
 The present guard posted is alert.
He is in kneeling position and not in
some comfortable sitting position. He
has his rifle ready. All senses are
heightened for any signs of human
presence.
 When his time is due, he taps the
man next to him. He wakes him up until
he is sure that the next guard is up.
The next guard then takes post as the
previous guard sleeps. The procedure
is done, until the last man posts fro and
the night.
 GUARDING TECHNIQUES:

1. Don’t take a catnap. Don’t doze off.

You may be very tired as a result of the
day long tactical movement, but this is
no excuse for you to fall into a slumber.
 You will not have the chance to
wake up the next sentinel on time and
down the line, your crime will affect
everyone. Not having a guard for two or
three shifts is a perilous possibility.
 2. Don’t be too comfortable. Don’t post
inside your tent. Get out of you jungle
hammock. Don’t lie down. You are not
as alert when you relax. You are
limiting your field of view. There is also
a great tendency for you to sleep.
 Remember that the enemy will not
come as a merry bunch. They will be
encroaching like snakes—in total
silence with the firm resolution to kill
you.
 3. Don’t smoke while posting as
guard. Your team leader would not be
awake to caution you but the enemy
would be watching you. The smell of
the cigarette travels to the enemy
noses.
 And every time you put the lit
cigarette inside your mouth, you will be
giving him a reference point to your
head. The next time you take a puff
from your cigarette, boooooom!.
 4. Guard holding your rifle. You are not
posted toward off mosquitoes and
nasty gnats. You are guarding against
the surreptitious intrusion of armed
men.

5. Focus on your job. Do not entertain

lonely and lovely thoughts of your wife.
C. PERSONAL NECESSITY S.O.P
Nature will call. You will have to
urinate. You will have to take a dump.
That irresistible feeling can come
anytime, even at night. Anyone who
has to go must inform the guard.
Together with his buddy, he moves out
of formation.
 At a distance, he performs what
has to be done. When he and his
buddy return to the team’s position, the
guard utters the challenge for the day.
As the troopers hear the challenge,
they instantly wake up and take up
prone positions.
 The two buddies then authenticate
themselves by saying the password.
Satisfied with the identity of the two, the
guard lets them into formation and they
resume sleeping.
PERSONAL NECESSITY TIPS:
o Always inform the guard that you
will fall off the sleeping formation. If the
guard is unaware that you have been
out, he can shoot you if he senses your
movement. Remember that it is very
dark so he might not easily recognize
you.
o You cannot afford to forget the
challenge and the password for the
day. You cannot rejoin your team if
you do not know these.
o One major violation is that the
guard says the challenge so loudly
that his voice resonates throughout
the jungle. Keep your voice as low as
possible. As long as it is audible, you
are good to go.
D. S.O.P WHEN MOUNTED ON
VEHICLES
You are most vulnerable when
mounted on vehicles. You are
concentrated target for enemy
ambushers.
Tips to minimize the possibility of
being walloped through an ambush:

Be alert. Watch out for signs of the

enemy on probable ambush sites.
Maintain all-round security. Your rifles
are pointing all around.
 (cont.)You are standing so that you
can react immediately upon the first
shot of an ambush.
You dismount when passing likely
ambush sites. Give more time to
security.
cont.
When travelling at night through lonely
barrio roads, keep the engine at its
lowest idling. Keep a uniform speed.
Turn off the light if the moonshine is
enough.
 Situations may arise when a “recon
by fire” is necessary. You fire at
suspected enemy positions in order to
entice the enemy to return fire and in so
doing disclose his position, strength and
armaments. Troops must only recon by
fire when authorized by their commander.
EVALUATION:
1. Techniques of Tactical Movement
Situations.
2. Techniques of Harboring.
SUMMARY:
1. Familiarize the different techniques
of Tactical Movement Situations
and Harboring.
cont.
2. Discuss the proper procedures of
each technique of Tactical
Movement Situations and Harboring.
3. Explain the importance of each
technique of Tactical Movement
Situations and Harboring.
THANK YOU!