General Military Tactics - Common Core

Front 1

Describe the key components of a standard battle load.

Fighting Load Carrying Equipment

Back 1

items used to make carrying a full load more
comfortable.
o Pistol belt & Pistol holster
o Field pack
o Two ammo pouches M16/M4/M9
o Canteen cover
o Five position sling M16/M4
o I-FAK kit (First Aid)
o Entrenching Tool cover

Front 2

Describe the key components of a standard battle load.

Bivouac Equipment

Back 2

minimum necessities for field living
o Water canteen assembly
o First Aid packet ( I-FAK)
o E-tool
o Mess kit
o Poncho & liner
o Shelter half
o One man tent assembly

Front 3

Describe the key components of a standard battle load.

Protective Equipment

Back 3

provides personal protection from injury.
o Hat and mosquito net
o Helmet and liner
o Camouflage cover
o MTV vest
o Nomex gloves
o Safety glasses
o Nomex coveralls

Front 4

Describe the key components of a standard battle load.

Special Issue Equipment

Back 4

Items that are not essential for a combat load, but add extra
protection or comfort.
o 4 part Sleeping system
o Sleeping mat
o Air mattress
o Cot w/insect bar frame
o Insect bar

Front 5

Describe the construction and the elements of the following dug-in emplacements:

A hasty/skirmisher’s position:

Back 5

o Shallow pit that provides limited protection while firing from the prone position
o Made quickly by scraping soil to build a shallow ridge, or parapet, between the rifleman
and the enemy
o Trench is body-length

Front 6

Describe the construction and the elements of the following dug-in emplacements:

An improved one-man fighting position:

Back 6

o Made as small as possible to present smallest target to the enemy
o Constructed with a water sump, firing step, grenade sump and parapet
o Built as wide as the occupants shoulders, and as tall as the occupant standing on the
firing step
o Provides protection form tanks passing over

Front 7

Describe the construction and the elements of the following dug-in emplacements:

An improved two-man fighting position:

Back 7

o Essentially two, one-person positions
o Close proximity to buddy provides security
o Allows one to rest while others sleeps
o Since the position is longer than a one-person position, it provides less protection from
tanks, bombing, strafing and shelling.

Front 8

Camouflage General Rules:

Back 8

 Take advantage of all available natural concealment.
 Camouflage by altering the form, shadow, texture, and color of objects.
 Camouflage against both ground and air observation.
 Camouflage is constant and continuous

Front 9

Camouflage Fighting Positions:

Back 9

 Before beginning construction, note the terrain and vegetation. The goal is to
camouflage the position to this same appearance.
 Obtain material from a wide area.
 Do not use more material than needed
 Cover excavated soil with vegetation or dump it in streams, ravines or under
bushes.
 Inspect the position from the enemy’s viewpoint.
 Vary your route to avoid making paths to the position

Front 10

Camouflage Personal Equipment:

Back 10

 Field uniforms and equipment are colored to blend with terrain. Faded or shiny
items need to be surveyed or darkened with paint.
 When no paint is available, use mud, charcoal, or crushed grass.
 Alter the outline of your helmet with a cloth cover or foliage.

Front 11

Camouflage Individuals:

Back 11

 All exposed skin, even dark skin, reflects light.
 Apply face paint sticks whenever possible, using the following combinations:
 Loam & light green - for light skin personnel in other than snow regions.
 Sand & dark green - for dark skinned personnel in other than snow
regions.
 Loam & white - for all personnel in snow regions

Front 12

Camouflage Applying Paint

Back 12

 Paint shiny areas (forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, hands, wrists, neck) with the
darker color.
 Paint shadow areas (around eyes, under nose and chin) with the lighter color.
 Use a buddy system to check application.
 When paint is not available, use burnt cork, charcoal or lampblack.

Front 13

Camouflage Vehicles:

Back 13

 If possible, park under natural cover.
 Park so the vehicle shape will disappear into natural surroundings.
 When cut foliage is used ensure it is placed as it grows. The undersides of
leaves are lighter than the top.
 Replace as soon as it begins to wither

Front 14

Camouflage Drape nets/Camouflage Nets:

Back 14

 Easily assemble and provide adequate concealment against direct observation
 Can be detected by photographic observation because the artificial camouflage
does not blend in with the background completely.

Front 15

Camouflage Buildings:

Back 15

 Vary rooflines with wooden framework, then cover with burlap or fine-mesh
netting
 Erect superstructures over new building to make it resemble surrounding native
buildings

Front 16

Camouflage For existing structures:

Back 16

 Cover with screens of garnished netting
 Paint disruptive patterns over netting, roof, and gable-end walls
 When the slope of a roof is greater than 30 degrees, netting must cover the
whole building.
 Paint roofs to match surrounding terrain

Front 17

Camouflage Supply points:

Back 17

 Pick spots with good natural overhead cover. Minimize changes to the
appearance of the terrain.
 Avoid large concentrations of materials
 Unload and disperse supplies as quickly as possible
 Supply point access roads:
 Access roads and tracks running in and out of the point can be
concealed by slinging netting between trees.
 Control traffic to avoid large convoys
 Control debris, such as empty boxes, so it does not accumulate and
give the position away.

Front 18

Camouflage Water points:

Back 18

 Must camouflage storage tanks, pumps, purification equipment, and personnel
 Place burlap covers or foliage over shiny surfaces.
 Conceal open areas where vehicles or personnel will have to traverse to get to
a water point
 Institute a water supply schedule to avoid a concentration of waiting vehicles or
personnel

Front 19

Cover

Back 19

o Protection from enemy fire
o A hill is natural cover, A parapet is artificial cover

Front 20

Concealment

Back 20

o Protection from observation
o Bushes, grass, and shadows are natural concealment
o Burlap, tents, or nets are artificial concealment

Front 21

State what action should be taken if you are caught in the light of a ground or overhead flare.

Back 21

 Overhead flares - When an overhead flare goes off, immediately seek cover as low as
possible and do not move until the light burns out
 Ground flares - Move quickly and quietly out of the light

Front 22

Discuss the use and care of the following: Topographic map:

Back 22

o Portrays terrain and landforms in a measurable form as well as the horizontal positions
of the features represented
o Vertical positions, or relief, are normally represented by contours.
o Care of maps
 Fold the map properly
 Carry it in a waterproof packet
 Use light lines when marking

Front 23

Discuss the use and care of the following: Lensatic compass:

Back 23

o Use Defining an Azimuth
 Compasses are used to describe direction
 The most common military method of describing direction is through azimuths
 An azimuth is a horizontal angle, measured in a clockwise manner from a north
base line.
o Azimuth
 Azimuths are described in terms of degrees or mils
 One circle has 360 degrees or 6400 mils

Front 24

Lensatic compass: Use Center Hold Method

Back 24

 Open the cover of the compass to form a straight edge with the compass base
 Pull the eyepiece as far to the rear as possible, perpendicular to the compass
base.
 Align the slot in the eyepiece with the hairline sighting wire in the cover and with
the target
 Read the azimuth by glancing down at the dial through the lens.

Front 25

Lensatic compass: Use Compass to Cheek Method

Back 25

 Open the cover of the compass so it forms a right angle with the compass base
 Pull the eyepiece up to form a 45-degree angle to the compass base.
 Place the compass to the cheek so the user can align the slot in the eyepiece
with the hairline sighting wire in the cover and with the target
 Read the azimuth by looking down at the dial through the lens.

Front 26

Lensatic compass: Night Method

Back 26

 Using the center hold method, turn your body and the compass until the north
arrow is directly under the luminous line on the bezel ring.
 You are facing the direction of the desired azimuth.
 Compass features at night use:
 Luminous markings
 Bezel ring three degrees or 53 1/3 mils per click
 Using the Bezel ring:
o Set the azimuth before it gets dark
o Turning the ring to the left increases the azimuth
o Left decreases the azimuth
 Use - Night Method to Shoot an Azimuth
 Rotate the bezel until the luminous line is over the black index line.
 Since each bezel click is three degrees, divide the desired azimuth by
three to get the number of clicks needed.
 EXAMPLE:
 For an azimuth of 60 degrees, divide by 3 to get 20 bezel ring clicks
(60º/3=20 clicks)
 Turn the ring 20 clicks to the left.

Front 27

Lensatic compass: Box Method

Back 27

Bypassing an Obstacle
 To bypass enemy positions or obstacles and still stay oriented, detour around
the obstacle by moving at right angles for equal distances.

Front 28

Care of Lensatic compass

Back 28

 Use non-permanent markers when possible. Handle the compass with care
 The dial is set at a delicate balance and shock could damage it
 Close and return the compass to its case when not in use
 Never take readings near metal or communications gear
109.6

Front 29

State the five basic colors used and how they are applied to a military map.

Back 29

 Black: Man-made features and cultural areas
 Blue: water features such as lakes and rivers
 Green: vegetation
 Red-Brown: all relief features such as contour lines
 Red: main roads, built up areas and special features, enemy positions

Front 30

Describe the Military Grid System.

Back 30

o Provides a uniform system for referencing and making measurements
o Grids are two sets of equally spaced, parallel, straight lines intersecting at right angles,
forming a series of squares
o Each grid line is a unit of measure, permits linear and angular measurement
o Grid is drawn over a geographic projection
o The more digits the more precise the measurements
 4 digit number 1000 meters
 6 digit number 100 meters
 8 digit number 10 meters

Front 31

Resection

Back 31

o Locating the unknown position of the user by sighting on two or three known features is
called resection. Resection can be done with or without a compass.

Front 32

Intersection

Back 32

o Locating an unknown point by successively occupying at least two, but preferably
three, known positions and sighting on the unknown point is called intersection. It is
used to locate features that are not defined on the map or which are not readily
identifiable. The two methods of intersection are the map and compass method and the
straightedge method.

Front 33

State the twelve patrol planning and preparation steps.

Back 33

o Study the mission
o Plan use of time
o Study the terrain and situation
o Organize the patrol
o Select personnel, weapons, and equipment
o Issue the warning order
o Coordinate
o Make reconnaissance
o Complete detailed plans
o Issue patrol order
o Supervise, inspect, rehearse, and re-inspect
o Execute the mission

Front 34

Security Patrols

Back 34

Provide physical security

Front 35

Reconnaissance patrols

Back 35

Defensive technique used to
 Detect enemy movement toward the unit’s position
 Locate or observe an enemy position
 Discover enemy avenues of approach

Front 36

3 types of Reconnaissance patrols

Back 36

Route, Area, and Zone

Front 37

Combat patrols

Back 37

are assigned missions that usually include
engaging the enemy. They are fighting patrols. Combat patrols are
employed in both the offensive and defensive combat operations.

Front 38

Types of Combat Patrols

Back 38

Raid, Contact, Ambush, Security, and Urban

Front 39

What are the three echelons of a defense.

Back 39

 Security Area
o Area in front of FDA
o Security patrols roam this area
o Listening/observation posts are placed here
 Forward Defense Area (FDA) -Area where frontline defensive positions are dug
 Reserve Area - Area behind FDA that reserve forces occupy

Front 40

Discuss the elements of a fire plan.

Back 40

o Primary firing position
 Backbone of the defense, receives the full force of the enemy’s attack
o Alternate firing position
 Fallback position used if the primary position is in danger of being over run
 Should have the same sector of fire as primary
o Supplementary firing position
 Sector of fire covers the flank or rear

Front 41

Discuss sectors of fire and fire discipline: Area

Back 41

assigned to an individual, unit, or crew served weapon to defend
o Pie shaped section with edges called lateral limits
o Lateral limits extend from the firing position to an easily identifiable terrain feature

Front 42

Discuss sectors of fire and fire discipline: Sectors of fire

Back 42

o Two stakes are placed near the firing position to indicate lateral limits during darkness
o Sectors of fire interlock to ensure mutual support by adjacent units

Front 43

Discuss sectors of fire and fire discipline: Fire Discipline

Back 43

o The ability to efficiently apply fire on a target
o Dependent on the ability of the leader, the discipline and control of the crew and includes:
o The ability to select and designate targets.
 Preserve element of surprise by opening fire at the desired moment only
 Regulate the rate of fire
 Shift from one target to another
 Adjust and cease-fire

Front 44

6 S's (SSSSSS)

Back 44

o Search: for weapons and documents
o Secure: ensure escape is impossible
o Silence: do not allow EPW’s to talk to each other
o Segregate: into groups by rank, gender, and status (deserter, civilian, EPW, etc)
o Speed: timely delivery of information obtained from EPW’s is essential
o Safeguard: protect EPW’s from harm

Front 45

THREATCON ALPHA.

Back 45

This condition applies when there is a general threat of possible
terrorist activity against personnel and facilities. The nature and extent of which are
unpredictable, and circumstances do not justify full implementation of THREATCON BRAVO
measures. However, it may be necessary to implement certain measures from higher
THREATCONS resulting from intelligence received or as a deterrent. The measures in this
THREATCON must be capable of being maintained indefinitely.

Front 46

THREATCON BRAVO.

Back 46

This condition applies when an increased and more predictable threat
of terrorist activity exists. The measures in this THREATCON must be capable of being
maintained for weeks without causing undue hardship, affecting operational capability, and
aggravating relations with local authorities.

Front 47

THREATCON CHARLIE.

Back 47

This condition applies when an incident occurs or intelligence is
received indicating some form of terrorist action against personnel facilities and is imminent.
Implementation of measures in this THREATCON for more than a short period probably will
create hardship and affect the peacetime activities of the unit and its personnel.

Front 48

THREATCON DELTA.

Back 48

This condition applies in the immediate area where a terrorist attack
has occurred or when intelligence has been received that terrorist action against a specific
location or person is likely.

Front 49

Describe circumstances when deadly force would normally be authorized.

Back 49

Last resort only:
o Self defense or defense of others when lesser means will not work
o Defense of property vital to national security
o Defense of property dangerous to others (weapons, ammunition, etc)
o To prevent the escape of a prisoner likely to cause death or serious bodily injury to
another

Front 50

Describe the three classes of wire entanglement, and how they are used:

Back 50

1. Protective
 Prevents close surprise attacks
 Placed around each fighting position at hand grenade range (35-50 meters)
2. Tactical
 Used to hamper enemy aggression
 Placed along the front of the defensive line
3. Supplementary
 Placed to conceal the exact line of tactical wire

Front 51

State the purpose of Triple-standard concertina fence:

Back 51

o Consists of two lines of concertina serving as the base, with a third resting on top
o On average, a platoon can place 984 foot section in an hour

Front 52

State the purpose of Double-apron fence:

Back 52

o Two types
 4 and 2 pace fence, which is more common and more effective, and 6 and 3
pace fence
 A 984 foot section usually requires 1 ½ hours for a platoon to complete

Front 53

State the purpose of Low wire entanglement

Back 53

o A 4 and 2 pace double apron fence constructed with medium pickets instead of long
pickets in the fence center line
o Used when concealment of the barrier is essential

Front 54

State the purpose of Tangle-foot

Back 54

Used to slow enemy movement

Front 55

Acronym: SURVIVAL

Back 55

o Size up the situation
o Undue haste makes waste
o Remember where you are
o Vanquish fear and panic
o Improvise
o Value living
o Act like the natives
o Learn the basic skills

Front 56

Fire team formation: Echelon (right or left)

Back 56

o Used primarily to protect an exposed flank
o Permits heavy firepower to the front and the direction of the echelon
o Hard formation to control and slow moving

Front 57

Fire team formation: Column

Back 57

o Used when speed and control are governing factors
o Favorable for fire and maneuver to either flank
o Vulnerable to fire from the front because it’s own fire in that direction is limited.

Front 58

Fire team formation: Wedge

Back 58

o Used when the enemy contact is possible, but not certain
o Provides all around protection, flexibility and is easy to control

Front 59

Fire team formation: Skirmishers (right or left)

Back 59

o Used when assaulting a known enemy position
o Because the fire teams are in line, it provides maximum fire power to the front
o Hard formation to control

Front 60

Nine line Medical evacuation request?

Back 60

 Line 1: 6 digit location of pick up site
 Line 2: Call sign and suffix of requesting personnel
 Line 3: Number of patients by precedence:
o A=Urgent - loss of limb or limb within 2 hours
o B=Urgent – surgical
o C=Priority- loss of life or limb with 4 hours
o D=Routine
o E=Convenience
 Line 4: Special equipment required
o A=none
o B=hoist
o C=extraction equipment
o D=ventilator
 Line 5: # of patients by type
 Line 6: Security of pick up site
 Line 7: Method of marking pickup site
o A=panel
o B=pyro
o C=smoke
o D=none
o E=other
 Line 8: Patient nationality and status
o A=us military
o B=us civilian
o C=non us military
o D=EPW
 Line 9: NBC Contamination
o N=nuclear
o B=biological
o C=chemical

Front 61

Convoy Commander’s checklist.

Back 61

 Mission Requirements
 Reconnaissance
 Route Selection
 Liaison and Coordinate
 Convoy Organization
 Movement Plan
 Security Enroute
 Service Support
 Communications
 Convoy Commander’s After-Action Report

Front 62

Squad:

Back 62

 A squad is composed of 14 people
o 1 squad leader
o 1 grenadier
o 3 fire team leaders
o 3 automatic riflemen
o 3 riflemen #1
o 3 riflemen #2

Front 63

Discuss the duties and responsibilities of the squad leader:

Back 63

o PO1 with an M16, but only fires in critical situation
o Responsible for the training, appearance, discipline and readiness of the squad
o Controls fire discipline, fire control, and maneuvering

Front 64

Discuss the duties and responsibilities of the grenadier

Back 64

o PO3 armed with an M203
o Responsible for the employment and care of the 203
o Remains close to the squad leader in combat

Front 65

Discuss the duties and responsibilities of the fire team leader

Back 65

o PO2 with an M16, but only fires in critical situations
o Leads and controls fire team
o Acts as the assistant squad leader

Front 66

Discuss the duties and responsibilities of the automatic rifleman

Back 66

o PO3 with a fully automatic M16
o Backbone of the fire team, provides heavy fire power
o Acts as the assistant fire team leader

Front 67

Discuss the duties and responsibilities of rifleman #1

Back 67

o E3 with an M16 whose primary duty is to carry extra ammo for the automatic rifleman
o Protects flank and acts as a scout
o Takes control of the automatic rifle if automatic rifleman becomes a casualty

Front 68

Discuss the duties and responsibilities of the rifleman #2

Back 68

o E3 or E2 with an M16
o Acts as point man and occasionally a scout
o Protects the flank of the fire team

Front 69

Hand Signal Column formation:

Back 69

Raise either arm to the vertical position. Drop the arm to the rear,
describing complete circles in a vertical plane parallel to the body. The signal may be used to
indicate either a troop or vehicular column.

Front 70

Hand Signal Echelon left/right:

Back 70

The leader may give this signal either facing towards or away from the
unit. Extend one arm 45 degrees below the horizontal, palms to the front. The lower arm
indicates the direction of echelon. (Example: for echelon right, if the leader is facing in the
direction of the forward movement, the right arm is lowered; if the leader is facing the unit, the
left is lowered.) Supplementary commands may be given to ensure prompt and proper
execution.

Front 71

Hand Signal Skirmishers left/right:

Back 71

Raise both arms lateral until horizontal, arms and hands extended
palms down. If it is necessary to indicate a direction, move in the desired direction at the same
time. When signaling for fire team skirmishers, indicate skirmishers right or left by moving the
appropriate hand up and down. The appropriate hand does not depend on the direction the
signaler is facing. Skirmishers left will always be indicated by moving the left hand up and
down; skirmishers right, the right hand.

Front 72

Hand Signal Wedge formation:

Back 72

Extend both arms downward and to the side at an angle of 45 degrees
below the horizontal, palms to the front.

Front 73

Hand Signal fire team:

Back 73

The right arm should be placed diagonally across the chest.

Front 74

Hand Signal Squad:

Back 74

Extend the hand and arm toward the squad leader, palm of the hand down; distinctly
move the hand up and down several times from the wrist, holding the arm steady.

Front 75

Hand Signal Platoon:

Back 75

Extend both arms forward, palms of the hands down toward the leaders (or units) for
whom the signal is intended, and describe large vertical circles with hands.

Front 76

Hand Signal Close Up:

Back 76

Start the signal with both arms extended sideward, palms forward, and bring palms
together in front of the body momentarily. When repetition of this signal is necessary, the
arms are returned to the starting position by movement along the front of the body.

Front 77

Hand Signal Open Up/extended:

Back 77

Start the signal with the arms extended in front of the body, palms
together, and bring the arms to the horizontal position at the sides, palms forward. When
repetition of this signal is necessary, the arms are returned along the front of the body to the
starting position and the signal is repeated until understood.

Front 78

Hand Signal Halt/Stop:

Back 78

Carry the hand to the shoulder, palm to the front; then thrust the hand upward
vertically to the full extent of the arm and hold it in that position until the signal is understood.

Front 79

Hand Signal Dismount/Take cover:

Back 79

Extend the arm sideward at an angle of 45 degrees above the
horizontal, palm down, and lower it to side. Both arms may be used in giving this signal.
Repeat until understood.

Front 80

Hand Signal Hasty Ambush Left/Right:

Back 80

Raise fist to shoulder level and thrust it several times in the
desired direction.