Several combat operations are routinely associated with the successful accomplishment of the reconnaissance and security missions described in Chapters 3 and 4 of this manual. These operations entail special planning and training considerations because of their complexity. Scout platoons must execute them based on standardized procedures and must support their parent units’ execution of these operations.
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| SECTION 1 — ASSEMBLY AREAS |
An assembly area is a site where a unit regroups or prepares for future operations. Normally, a scout platoon occupies an assembly area as part of its parent unit, but it may occupy one independently. Once in the assembly area, the platoon prepares and issues orders, conducts resupply operations, repairs and maintains vehicles and equipment, and feeds and rests its soldiers.
The scout platoon is often directed to find, secure, and occupy an assembly area. There are certain characteristics the scouts must look for when selecting the assembly area:
As part of its parent unit or on its own, the scout platoon may have to assume quartering party duties. Understanding these duties makes occupying the assembly area much easier. The quartering party’s mission is to reconnoiter the area for enemy presence and booby traps, designate vehicle locations, prepare the area for occupation, and assist units with occupation. The platoon leader or PSG designates the vehicles and personnel from the platoon that will be part of a battalion or troop quartering party. The entire platoon may also serve as the battalion or troop quartering party.
The quartering party moves to the new assembly area under the control of the battalion headquarters and headquarters company (HHC) commander, battalion S1, troop XO, or troop first sergeant (1SG). The following discussion outlines the primary responsibilities of the quartering party.
Reconnoiter the area
The first task of the quartering party is to conduct an area reconnaissance of the assembly area to find enemy forces, obstacles, and NBC contamination. This is a time-consuming process that must be planned for by the parent unit. Once enemy forces are eliminated, the area must be secured to prevent enemy infiltration. To do this, the quartering party establishes OPs or security patrols. If the enemy situation warrants, the officer in charge (OIC) or NCO in charge (NCOIC) may need to enlarge the quartering party to include security personnel who can provide adequate security while other members of the party organize and mark the assembly area.
Determine if the area is suitable
Once the area is secure, the OIC or NCOIC must conduct a reconnaissance to verify the area’s suitability and to position guides and markings. This task can be conducted in conjunction with the initial area reconnaissance. When checking the position for suitability, the quartering party analyzes cover and concealment, drainage, routes into and out of the area, internal routes, defensibility, and fields of fire. If the area is unsatisfactory, the scouts should immediately begin looking for an alternate site to recommend to the commander. The OIC or NCOIC should notify the commander immediately, reporting his actions and recommendations and requesting further instructions.
Organize the area
The quartering party designates positions on the ground for the various elements within the assembly area. The siting should be consistent with the commander’s guidance, unit SOP, and follow-on missions. The frontages selected for the various elements must be consistent with terrain considerations and must allow adequate defensive coverage.
Improve and mark entrances, exits, and internal routes
Once the organization of the assembly area is complete, the quartering party marks the positions. It also reconnoiters and marks routes from the RP to the assembly area. The actual entrance and exit for the assembly area must be well marked to facilitate easy movement. The quartering party designates and marks internal routes to prevent excessive movement that could create a large unit signature. Unit SOP should dictate the marking system to be used. Examples of markings include chem lights, engineer tape, unit tactical signs, flashlights, VS-17 panels, and thermal tape.
Mark or remove obstacles and mines
Ideally, the commander should have some indication of current or past presence of an enemy in the proposed area. If there is a possibility of mines or CBUs in the assembly area, additional scouts or combat engineers with mine-detecting equipment should be requested before the quartering party departs. Obstacle and mine clearance requires prior planning to ensure sufficient quantities of the proper equipment are available. This equipment may include pioneer tools, demolitions, or engineer vehicles. Sufficient time must also be allocated to allow the quartering party to accomplish this mission before the main body arrives. If the first area selected contains numerous obstacles, an alternate area should be reconnoitered.
Perform guide duties
The quartering party prepares the assembly area to make the occupation of the new positions swift and efficient. This can be a wasted effort if the guides do not perform their duties properly. Because the quartering party is familiar with the area and the vehicle positions, the vehicle commanders rely, at least initially, on the guides to position the platoon; therefore, guides must be thoroughly briefed prior to the mission.
The guides are positioned between the RP and the assembly area entrance so that they can meet their unit as it crosses the RP. They must know the proper route from the RP to the new positions; they quickly move their units through the RP and into the assembly area. They do not stop until vehicle positions are occupied. Once in the new area, the guides direct the vehicles to their tentative positions. Immediately afterward, they walk the platoon leader through the positions, briefing him on the individual vehicle positions, adjacent units, fields of fire, location of the CP, and any other essential information.
Accomplish additional assigned tasks
If the commander assigns any additional tasks, the quartering party must accomplish them. The commander should prioritize these tasks; if he does not, the quartering party leader must arrange a priority of tasks that allows for the most important to be accomplished first. Examples of such additional tasks include establishing priorities of work, providing security for the command group, test-firing weapons, and assisting in traffic control.
When a unit arrives at an assembly area, all elements move off the route of march and clear it without slowing or halting. The platoon leader should keep this in mind as he posts guides, selects routes, and allocates space in the assembly area. After a march serial has cleared the route, it can adjust vehicle positions without holding up traffic.
As soon as the platoon occupies its area, it must automatically execute the priority of tasks outlined in FKSM 17-98-3. Initial tasks include these:
Security is a constant concern in assembly areas. Noise and light discipline are especially important, as is limiting the number of vehicles that enter and exit the assembly area. The local security that is initially established will be replaced by more permanent OPs once the platoon is established in position; these OPs are deployed in accordance with procedures outlined in Chapter 8 of this manual. The platoon leader or higher commander may also require patrols (mounted and dismounted) within the assembly area, especially in limited visibility. Wire and messengers are the primary means of communications. How many wire lines are laid depends on how long the platoon will be in the assembly area. Radio is used only in emergencies when no other means of communications is available.
Departing an assembly area is a critical and often overlooked task. A well-organized departure sets up the platoon for its next mission. A poorly organized departure can cause delays and other problems that may adversely affect the platoon’s mission before it begins.
The departure requires thorough planning and preparation, including a walk-through rehearsal. As part of the preparation, a thorough police call must be conducted. This ensures that all evidence of the unit’s occupation is removed and denies the enemy any equipment, supplies, or other items that might be of tactical or intelligence value. Leaders must carefully supervise execution of the departure to ensure that no delays occur.
| SECTION 2 — ROAD MARCHES |
Units not engaged in combat may have to travel long distances to position themselves for future operations. These movements are planned at battalion, squadron, and company/troop level, but they are executed by the subordinate units involved, including the scout platoon. Success depends largely on unit discipline and the platoon’s ability to execute the plan with strict adherence to SOP.
The road march differs from other forms of movement in these ways:
As part of a battalion task force, a scout platoon may perform various duties during a road march: manning traffic control points (TCP), serving as road guides or as a quartering party, or conducting route reconnaissance.
The basic considerations in planning any road march are METT-TC factors (especially the enemy situation and the mission), the march order, and the type, number, and characteristics of vehicles available for the movement. When preparing for a tactical road march, the scout platoon should use the following planning sequence if time permits:
A tactical march may be conducted in close column or open column or by infiltration. In dusty conditions, vehicles must be spaced so that the dust from one does not blind the driver of the next.
Close column
Close column is normally used for marches during limited visibility conditions. Under these conditions, vehicles are spaced so the driver can see the two lights in the blackout marker of the vehicle ahead, about 25 to 50 meters apart. Close column marching takes advantage of the traffic capacity of the route, but it provides little dispersion. Traffic density is approximately 20 to 40 vehicles per kilometer along the route of march.
Open column
Open column is generally used during daylight. The distance between vehicles is increased to provide greater dispersion; it varies from 50 meters to 100 meters, or more if the situation requires. Open column may also be used at night with infrared lights, blackout lights, or passive night-vision equipment. Normal vehicle density is approximately 20 vehicles per kilometer when vehicles are 50 meters apart, 12 vehicles per kilometer when the distance is 75 meters, and 10 vehicles per kilometer when the distance is increased to 100 meters. The increased dispersion of the vehicles in open column movement enhances security.
Infiltration
Infiltration provides the best possible passive defense against enemy observation and attack, but it may be difficult to control. It is suited to tactical marches when sufficient time and road space are available and maximum security, deception, and dispersion are desired. The advance party usually infiltrates. Vehicles are dispatched individually, in small groups, or at irregular intervals at a rate that reduces traffic density and prevents undue massing of vehicles. (NOTE: Refer to the discussion of infiltration in Chapter 3 of this manual.)
Column control is maintained through the chain of command. Each scout vehicle has a prescribed place in the platoon march column as described in FKSM 17-98-3.
Start point
An SP provides all vehicles of a march column with a common point for starting their movement. When vehicles use more than one route, each route has an SP. The SP is a recognizable place along the route of march, such as a road intersection. It should not be in a defile, on a hill, or at a sharp curve in the road that could cause movement to slow. It should be far enough from assembly areas to allow vehicles to be organized and moving at the prescribed speed when they reach it. Before starting a march, elements of the platoon should reconnoiter the route to the SP to determine times for major units of the serial to arrive at and clear the serial SP.
Release point
An RP gives all vehicles of the march column a common point for reverting to control of the platoon leader. It is a point on the route of march that is easy to recognize on the map and on the ground. Guides should meet vehicles as they arrive at the RP and lead them to their new positions, usually in an assembly area. Multiple routes and cross-country movement from the RP to assembly areas allow vehicles to disperse rapidly. In selecting an RP, leaders should avoid hills, defiles, and sharp curves that may cause elements to slow or stop on the route. No vehicle should be required to countermarch or pass through another element to reach its new position.
Checkpoints
Checkpoints on a route are used for reference in providing instructions and in identifying places where interference with movement might occur or where timing might be critical.
Restrictions
Restrictions are points along the route of march where movement may be limited or obstructed during certain time periods; examples include bridges, intersections, ferries, or bypasses. The march planner should start the move early enough to pass such a point before a restriction begins, delay the start of the move to pass a restriction after it has ended, or plan to halt the column along the route until the restriction is lifted.
Traffic control
The parent unit controlling the march normally provides traffic control. TCPs manned by military police and/or other personnel, including members of the scout platoon, may be located at critical points along the route. Among the factors that can increase traffic control problems are movement on multiple routes during periods of limited visibility and the existence of major intersections, defiles, and detours along routes. In a battalion task force, the scout platoon may act as road guides to assist the military police. Road guides may lead serials or march units on a particular route or portion of a route or through a critical area. These guides must follow the same procedures and guidance as other TCP personnel.
TCP personnel should be employed in pairs, with one directing traffic while the other provides security. They need to know the exact number of vehicles in each march serial, the markings for each serial, and the passing times so that they can adequately control and report the movement of the unit. Considerations for manning the TCP include weather, the marking system for the TCP and route (to include critical turns), limited visibility procedures, and recovery of the TCPs. The scout platoon leader or PSG has several options in deciding how to man the TCP, to include manning with individual vehicles (up to six TCPs), dropping off platoon personnel with FM communications at each TCP, or requesting augmentation if needed.
Speed control
Vehicles in a column of any length may simultaneously encounter many different types of routes and obstacles. This causes different parts of the column to move at different speeds at the same time, producing an undesirable accordion or whip effect. The movement order specifies march speed, rate of march, and maximum safe catch-up speed to reduce "column whipping." The lead vehicle must not exceed the authorized maximum speed of the slowest vehicle in the column. To minimize vehicle congestion on the near side of an obstacle, vehicle commanders and drivers must be alert and maintain the prescribed minimum following distance. Vehicles should make only gradual speed changes while maintaining their prescribed interval. Vehicle commanders must constantly be aware of the vehicle interval to their front and rear and adjust their speed accordingly.
Halts
Halts are conducted to allow following traffic to pass and to provide time for rest, personal comfort and relief, mess activities, refueling, maintenance and inspection of equipment, and adjustments in schedule. The time and duration of halts are usually specified in the movement order or prescribed in unit SOP. The SOP should also prescribe actions to be taken during halts. Vehicle crews perform maintenance at scheduled halts.
A short rest halt of 15 minutes is usually taken after the first hour of marching. A 10-minute short halt is taken every two hours thereafter. The prescribed rate of march includes the time required for short halts. When possible, march elements using the same route stop at the same time. Route characteristics, however, may make it necessary to halt at a particular point on the route rather than simultaneously at a fixed time.
Long halts are planned in advance. The length of the halt is added to the total travel time. Locations for long halts are normally selected to allow all vehicles to clear the road and to permit proper dispersion. Halts for refueling should be scheduled in advance by the unit commander.
The herringbone formation is used to provide security for the march column during unscheduled halts (see Figure 8-16). All vehicles should move completely off the road to permit passage of vehicles down the center of the column. Movement commanders give permission for execution of unscheduled halts.
The first priority at any halt is local security. OPs are established and sectors of fire assigned to each vehicle. These actions should be automatic and part of the unit SOP (see Chapter 4 of this manual for a discussion of area security operations).
Miscellaneous factors
Disabled vehicles. Disabled vehicles must not obstruct traffic. Their crews must move them off the road and report their status immediately to the PSG. Crews must immediately signal the follow-on vehicles to bypass and continue movement. They then establish security and post guides to direct traffic. If possible, the crews repair their vehicles and rejoin the rear of the column just ahead of the trail element. Vehicles that have dropped from the column should return to their positions only when the column has halted. The trail party recovers vehicles that cannot be repaired by their crews.
Start of movement. Vehicle commanders must remain alert and exercise caution whenever they start to move. Vehicles that move too soon or too late can cause confusion in the formation. Lead vehicles must keep speeds low until all vehicles have moved onto the route of march.
Observation. Each vehicle commander assigns sectors of observation to his crewmen to provide 360-degree observation. He also designates one observer as the air guard to provide air security. Each vehicle has a sector of observation as shown in Figure 5-1.
Figure 5-1. Sectors of observation in a road march.
Overall success or failure of a mission could depend on the ability of units to march rapidly and efficiently over long distances. The unit’s level of road march training is thus a major factor in determining mission success. Important factors in training for tactical road marches include the following:
| SECTION 3 — BATTLE HANDOVER AND PASSAGE OF LINES |
Battle handover is an operation conducted by stationary and passing units in a close-in battle to transfer responsibility for fighting an enemy force from one unit to another. It is designed to sustain continuity of the combined arms fight and to prevent the enemy from moving unopposed on the battlefield as one force picks up the fight from another. It is also designed to preserve the fighting capabilities of both friendly units.
A passage of lines is a tactical event associated with battle handover. It is the controlled movement of one unit through the positions of a stationary unit, conducted so that neither unit interferes with the other’s scheme of maneuver. A passage of lines often becomes necessary because the combat situation does not permit one unit to bypass another unit’s position.
A unit may conduct either a rearward or forward passage of lines. When a unit moves toward the enemy through a stationary unit, it is considered a forward passage. In a rearward passage, the unit moves away from the enemy through friendly units.
A passage of lines may be conducted for the following purposes:
The scout platoon may perform some of these operations independently (screen and reconnaissance); otherwise, it usually will take part in a passage of lines as part of a larger force.
There are three key elements in battle handover and passage of lines: the stationary unit, the passing unit, and the common commander.
The commander exercising command authority over both the stationary unit and the passing unit must designate the battle handover line (BHL); this is a phase line forward of the stationary unit that is recognizable on the ground. He normally does this in coordination with the stationary unit commander, who will recommend the position of the BHL. The line is drawn where elements of the passing unit can be effectively protected by direct fires of the forward combat elements of the stationary unit until the passage of lines is complete. The area between the BHL and the stationary force belongs to the stationary unit commander. The common commander will provide the graphic control measures that depict the BHL and contact points on an overlay issued to subordinate units with the OPORD or FRAGO (refer to Figure 5-2).
Figure 5-2. Battle handover and passage of lines graphics.
Battle handover begins on order of the common commander. Defensive handover is complete when the passing unit is clear and the stationary unit is ready to engage the enemy. Offensive handover is complete when the passing unit has deployed and crossed the BHL. The common commander prescribes the specific criteria that mark completion of handover; he ensures that both subordinate commanders understand these criteria.
The scout platoon, acting independently or as part of a troop or battalion passage, may be either the stationary or the passing unit. The platoon will normally assist in some portion of the passage of lines and may be required to coordinate the passage. In many cases, the scout platoon will be required to conduct a passage separate from its higher headquarters.
Passing unit critical tasks
The passing unit must accomplish several critical tasks during battle handover and passage of lines, including the following:
Stationary unit critical tasks
The stationary unit must accomplish a variety of critical tasks when ordered to conduct battle handover and passage of lines. These tasks include the following:
Units are particularly vulnerable during a passage of lines. Personnel and subordinate elements may be concentrated, stationary unit fires may be masked temporarily, and the passing unit may not be disposed properly to react to enemy action. Effective preparation, including detailed reconnaissance and coordination, is critical in overcoming such conditions and ensuring that the passage proceeds quickly and smoothly. The commander may also task the scout platoon with a number of other missions to assist him in preparing for the passage.
Coordination
Coordination occurs at a preplanned contact point where critical information is exchanged and coordinated. Coordination for battle handover normally flows from the commander out of contact to the commander in contact. Coordination for the handover and for the passage of lines should be conducted simultaneously.
The scout platoon leader plays a major role in coordination for handover and passage of lines. He is responsible for conducting reconnaissance to obtain information for use by both his parent unit and the platoon. He then uses this information in the coordination process.
During his reconnaissance, the platoon leader must confirm the following battlefield factors and information:
Based on his reconnaissance, the platoon leader coordinates the following information:
| NOTE: | The parent unit commander provides some of this information as part of his order to the platoon. |
Assistance to the commander
Given the capabilities of the scout platoon, many commanders require the platoon to assist other units in the passage of lines. Primarily, the scout platoon enhances the command and control function for the commander. The platoon may be required to conduct one or all of the critical tasks of a stationary or passing unit or may assist its parent unit in the following ways:
In a forward passage of lines, the platoon leader or unit commander normally performs the coordination. For a rearward passage of lines, the PSG or the commander’s liaison officer normally performs the coordination. The stationary unit is responsible for designating passage points and passage lanes and for providing guides. If contact points have not been designated by higher headquarters, the stationary unit should coordinate their locations with the passing unit. For ease of control, the passing unit’s command group (TAC CP or main CP) temporarily collocates with the stationary unit’s command group (TAC CP or main CP).
After coordination is made and the passage begins, guides pick up the passing unit at the contact point or passage point. Guides exchange recognition signals with the passing unit and move it along the route(s) without pausing, with the stationary unit overwatching the movement. Guides leave the unit either at the RP or after the movement has passed the last stationary unit position.
Disabled vehicles are recovered by self-recovery methods or by organic recovery vehicles. The stationary unit provides the required medical assistance, POL, and maintenance as far forward as possible. As a minimum, the stationary unit should provide emergency medical support.
Because of potential congestion of units at passage points and along routes, stationary and passing units must take protective measures against NBC attack. Techniques to reduce vulnerability include the following:
Since battle handover and passage of lines are usually conducted in contact with the enemy, extreme care must be taken to avoid fratricide. Thorough coordination is critical; all units involved must know the correct recognition signals as well as the exact number of vehicles and time of passage. There will be times when some elements fail to receive necessary information or when stragglers are unaware of the current operation. Planning and coordination must cover the following considerations:
For more detailed information on fratricide prevention and risk reduction measures, refer to Chapter 2 (the discussion of situational awareness in Section 4) and Appendix F of this manual.
| SECTION 4 — RELIEF IN PLACE |
A relief in place is an operation in which one unit replaces another unit in combat. It may be accomplished during offensive or defensive operations. The primary purpose of the relief is to sustain the combat effectiveness of committed units. It may also be conducted to allow a relieved unit to rest, reconstitute, or decontaminate or to change missions. For the scout platoon, the relief operation may entail such tasks as serving as road guides for the battalion task force, performing liaison with the relieved unit, or participating in the relief with its parent unit.
Relief in place is difficult to plan and conduct because of the nature of the operation and the command, control, communications, and coordination required. It is important that the operation not be disclosed to the enemy; security, secrecy, and speed are critical. Though the scout platoon cannot always wait for optimum conditions, relief in place is best conducted during periods of limited visibility and during lulls in battle. Limited visibility may be achieved by using smoke to obscure the enemy’s vision. Using smoke over a large area can confuse the enemy as to the platoon’s actual location.
The relief must be conducted as quickly and as secretly as possible. The relieving scouts must avoid sustaining casualties, hampering the operation of the scouts being relieved, or allowing the enemy to detect the operation. To reduce confusion and maintain security, the incoming platoon leader must attempt to obtain the following information:
Radio traffic must be kept to a minimum; light and noise discipline must be strictly enforced. If possible, the relieving scout platoon leader conducts a reconnaissance of the new positions. This is usually accomplished with the relieved platoon leader.
Once the reconnaissance is complete and orders are finalized, the platoon executes its mission. If it is participating in the relief, one of several methods may be used:
The actual relief in place can be conducted from a hide position behind the relieved element, with individual relieving vehicles moving forward. The relieving platoon can also occupy alternate positions within the relieved element’s sector or zone. In some cases, the platoon may move into the primary positions as soon as the relieved vehicles back out. The relieved element may provide guides to ensure that relieving vehicles can locate those they are replacing.
The most important transmission during the relief process is the completion call to the incoming platoon’s commander. This is made when the incoming platoon is fully set in position and is prepared to conduct its next operation.