United States Marine Corps Movement To Contact PDF

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS THE BASIC SCHOOL MARINE CORPS TRAINING COMMAND CAMP BARRETT, VIRGINIA 22134-5019 MOVEMENT TO CONTACT B3J0405-DM STUDENT HANDOUT B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact...

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS THE BASIC SCHOOL MARINE CORPS TRAINING COMMAND CAMP BARRETT, VIRGINIA 22134-5019 MOVEMENT TO CONTACT B3J0405-DM STUDENT HANDOUT B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Basic Officer Course Movement to Contact Introduction Up to this point at The Basic School, you have mostly been dealing with a known enemy situation while operating at the platoon level. Someone has typically maintained contact with the enemy and provided you with detailed information on enemy composition, disposition, and strength. Unfortunately, in the disorder and friction inherent to war, intelligence will never be entirely complete or accurate. Additionally, because the enemy is constantly acting as well, intelligence may become less accurate and relevant because of events that change the situation between the time that the intelligence was collected and developed and the time that we act. Importance One of the principals of war central to the conduct of maneuver warfare is the pursuit of the offense, even when the enemy situation is uncertain. As practitioners of maneuver warfare, we want to establish a tempo in our operations that degrades the enemy’s ability to operate. Maintaining this tempo in an uncertain enemy environment means developing the enemy situation through contact and committing the fewest forces necessary so that the rest of the unit can continue to seek the enemy center of gravity. A properly executed movement to contact is one of the most ruthlessly efficient forms of the offense, as demonstrated by the German Blitzkrieg into France in 1940 and the Coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003. In This Lesson The purpose of this lesson is to allow you to operate in and understand an uncertain environment through the use of movement to contact. This handout will discuss the tactics and techniques to use in a movement to contact. This lesson covers the following topics: Topic Page Offensive Operations 5 Definition 6 Mission Analysis and Enemy Considerations 6-7 Movement to Contact Methods 7-8 Tactical Control Measures 8 Approach March 9-22 Search and Attack 22-26 2 B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Consolidation/Reorganization Phase 26 References 27 Notes 27 Learning Objectives Enabling Learning Objectives Given a unit, tactical scenario, and an order from higher to conduct a Movement To Contact, Lead a unit in a Movement to Contact to accomplish the mission and meet the commander's intent. (MCCS-OFF-1501x) Without the aid of references, identify the purpose of the offensive operation "Movement to Contact" without omission and IAW MCRP 3-10A.2. (MCCS-OFF-1501y) Without the aid of references, identify the sequence of events in Movement To Contact without omission. (MCCS-OFF-1501z) Without the aid of references, identify the two methods of conducting a Movement To Contact without omission and IAW MCRP 3-10A.2. (MCCS-OFF-1501aa) Without the aid of references, list the planning considerations for conducting a Movement To Contact without omission. (MCCS-OFF-1501ab) Without the aid of references, identify the two methods of bounding overwatch utilized during the conduct of Movement To Contact without omission. (MCCS-OFF-1501ac) 3 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Without the aid of references, describe the roles of each element in a Movement To Contact approach march formation without omission. (MCCS-OFF-1501ad) Without the aid of references, describe the roles of each element in a Movement To Contact Search and Attack without omission. (MCCS-OFF-1501ae) Given a unit, tactical scenario, and an order from higher to conduct a Movement To Contact, assign the enemy contact likelihood classifications to accomplish the mission and meet the commander's intent. (MCCS-OFF-1501af) Given a unit, an enemy situation, and an order from higher to conduct a Movement To Contact, determine the appropriate method(s) to conduct the Movement To Contact to accomplish the mission and meet the commander's intent. (MCCS-OFF-1501ag) Given a unit, an enemy situation, and an order from higher to conduct a Movement To Contact, develop a rotation plan to accomplish the mission and meet the commander's intent. (MCCS-OFF- 1501ah) Given a unit, enemy situation, an order from higher to conduct a Movement To Contact, determine the appropriate formations to utilize to accomplish the mission and meet the commanders intent. (MCCSOFF-1501ai) Given a unit, tactical scenario, and an order from higher to conduct a Movement To Contact, facilitate Movement To Contact battle drills to accomplish the mission and meet the commander's intent. (MCCSOFF-1501aj) Given a unit, tactical scenario, and an order from higher to conduct a Movement To Contact, facilitate Movement To Contact immediate action drills to accomplish the mission and meet the commander's intent. (MCCS-OFF-1501ak) Given a unit, tactical scenario, and an order from higher to conduct a Movement To Contact, develop a scheme of maneuver to accomplish the mission and meet the commander's intent. (MCCS-OFF-1501al) Given a unit, tactical scenario, and an order from higher to conduct a Movement To Contact, develop tasking statements to accomplish the mission and meet the commander's intent. (MCCS- OFF-1501am) 4 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Offensive Operations There are four general types of offensive operations: Movement to Contact, Attack, Exploitation, and Pursuit. Though this is the logical sequence for occurrence, they may occur in any order, or simultaneously, throughout the battlefield at any given time. A movement to contact may be so successful that it immediately leads to an exploitation, or an attack may lead directly to a pursuit. Fundamentals of Offensive Operations: Orient on the Enemy Gain and Maintain Contact Develop the Situation Concentrate Superior Firepower at the Decisive Time and Place Achieve Surprise Exploit Known Enemy Weaknesses Seize and Control Key Terrain Gain and Retain the Initiative Neutralize the Enemy’s Ability to React Advance by Fire and Maneuver Maintain Momentum Act Quickly Exploit Success Be Flexible Be Aggressive Provide for the Security of the Force 5 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Movement to Contact: Definition Before we discuss how to conduct a movement to contact, let's first define what a movement to contact is. MCDP 1-0 defines a movement to contact as: A form of the offense designed to develop the situation and to establish or re-gain contact. A movement to contact is typically executed by a company sized or larger force. When properly executed it allows the commander to make initial contact with minimum forces and to expedite the employment and concentration of the force and resources whether within a combat or stability environment. It also creates favorable conditions for subsequent actions. A movement to contact seeks to seize the initiative from the enemy by establishing or regaining contact with the enemy. Once contact is made, real time information is provided to the commander which allows the unit to maintain tempo by bypassing forces that don’t meet the commander’s engagement criteria for decisive engagement. In essence, the movement to contact places the commander in the position to choose how and when he will decisively engage the enemy. According to MCWP 3-01, fundamentals of movement to contact are: Focus all efforts on finding the enemy and forcing them to reveal themselves. Make initial contact with the smallest force possible to develop the situation and avoid decisive engagement of the main body until a time of the commander’s choosing. Task organize and use movement formations that enable the force to deploy and attack rapidly in any direction. Keep subordinate forces within supporting distances to facilitate a flexible response. Maintain contact regardless of the COA adopted once contact is gained These fundamentals allow us to locate and engage the enemy with the smallest force required, develop the situation, then fix the enemy during decisive contact and deploy the main body. Mission Analysis / Planning; Enemy Considerations Receive the order and analyze your mission. There are a few ways you may determine that a movement to contact is an appropriate form of the offense: Uncertain enemy situation We are seeking to develop the situation through contact with the enemy Time compressed environment We are seeking decisive engagement on our terms We are seeking to regain and maintain contact with the enemy 6 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Analyze the Enemy. Even in an uncertain situation, we can analyze the known elements of the enemy’s Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) and assess where we will encounter them during our operation. We beak this up into three categories which show the likelihood of enemy contact: Contact Remote Contact Possible or Probable Contact Imminent Once analyzed and determined, the enemy’s most likely course of action (EMLCOA) is best communicated by briefing the EMLCOA of the enemy system, then walking the red-dog within each assessed enemy location. The classifications of enemy contact and EMLCOA will influence our formations and method of movement to contact. The enemy is always the number one factor for influencing our planning. Movement to Contact Methods There are two methods that we can utilize when conducting a movement to contact. We will discuss how to conduct these operations in the coming sections. The two methods are Approach March and Search and Attack. Approach March is the advance of a combat unit when direct contact with the enemy is imminent. Additionally, the location of the threat or conflict is roughly known, or at least confined within/along a relatively known area. A commander employs this form of a movement to contact when the enemy is operating in larger, organized elements whose locations may be generally—but not specifically— known, when seeking to gain or regain contact with the enemy and develop specific information on their disposition, or when contact is possible and security is more important than speed. All units at the platoon level and above can conduct an approach march. Approach marches may be conducted by any means of ground movement. Commanders conduct shaping operations to support subordinate maneuver elements conducting approach marches. Such operations might include targeting known and suspected enemy positions, isolating the battlespace, attacking enemy reserves, and conducting information operations. Search and Attack is a method of movement to contact used to develop the situation, deny the enemy the ability to operate in a given area, or when the enemy is operating in small, dispersed elements. A commander employs this form of movement to contact when the enemy is operating as small, dispersed elements whose locations cannot be determined to targetable accuracy by methods other than a physical search, when the task is to deny the enemy the ability to move within or operate from a given area, or as a possible method of conducting a clearing task. Regiments and below 7 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact normally conduct search and attack operations, though examples of divisions using this method exist. For example, during Vietnam, the Marine Corps conducted division-sized “search and clear” missions in the Central Highlands and northern provinces against Viet Cong and North Vietnamese formations. The search and attack method of movement to contact requires superior tactical mobility. Tactical Control Measures Before we discuss how to conduct an approach march or a search and attack, let us first go over some new tactical control measures which will help us in our planning and in our control/coordination during execution. We will define these, then discuss how to use them in the next section. Phase Line: A phase line is a line utilized for control and coordination of military operations, usually an easily identified feature in the operational area. A commander establishes PLs to control the maneuver of subordinate units. Phase lines are not boundaries unless designated as such and do not establish any specific responsibilities between units, unless the operation order so specifies. When possible, the commander places them along easily recognizable terrain features (e.g., roads, railroad tracks, rivers, ridgelines) to ensure easy identification. We can use phase lines to break up and designate areas where enemy contact may change from ‘remote’ to ‘probable’. Boundary: A boundary is a line that delineates areas for the purpose of facilitating coordination and deconfliction of operations between adjacent units, formations, or areas. We can use boundaries to separate operating spaces between adjacent units so they understand areas of responsibility and also can conduct cross-coordination across boundaries. Contact Point: A contact point is a point on the terrain, easily identifiable, where two or more units are required to make contact. Commanders use contact points to ensure coordination between units or to coordinate linkups. Contact points are established where phase lines intersect with lateral boundaries or on identifiable terrain. The commander provides a date-time-group to indicate when to make contact, normally physically. If our units are separated by space/terrain, contact points allow us to conduct rotations of units or linkups between leaders without any persons or units moving into/near another unit or in its path without anyone knowing. Axis of Advance: A line of advance assigned for purposes of control; often a road or a group of roads, or a designated series of locations, extending in the direction of the enemy. We can use an axis of advance to describe our route as it traces terrain or enemy avenues of approach during a movement to contact. 8 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Approach March Task Organization When considering task organization and movement formations, our guiding principles should be speed, security, control, and deployability. The commander will typically designate security units combined with a main body. These units are known as the advanced guard, the main body, and rear/flank security. In a company movement to contact, each one of these roles are typically filled by a platoon each. In a platoon movement to contact, each of these roles is typically filled by a squad each. When the commander feels that the chance of enemy contact is remote, he usually uses a route column. Generally, a commander judges the chance of enemy contact to be remote when: A friendly unit is between him and the enemy to provide security (behind friendly lines) Contact Remote The greatest threat is from aircraft and long range artillery The assessed likely enemy positions or movement corridors are not in or near our current leg of the axis of advance. The unit commander utilizes the route column to maximize speed and control. Grouping subordinate units administratively also facilitates control. Routes are selected that facilitate speed and reduce friction. A similar method to the route column is simply the movement technique called ‘traveling’. In the traveling movement technique, all elements move simultaneously, potentially in a column or other fast-moving formation. As the unit closes with the enemy or no longer has other units providing security, the commander must update his estimation of the situation. He may update the expectation of enemy contact to contact possible. 9 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Example of Traveling Movement Example of platoon column using multiple appropriate squad formations to facilitate security and prioritize speed 10 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Contact Possible Also referred to as "contact probable," these two terms are interchangeable. Once the commander has decided that contact is possible, he must change the tactical organization of his unit. He now balances the need for speed and control with his need to develop the enemy situation and provide security/deployability. The commander task organizes the unit to facilitate the adoption of combat formations. The overall formation is the tactical column. Units within the formation may be deployed in another tactical formation based upon their mission, i.e., point element in a wedge. The formation usually adopted by subordinate units is also the tactical column (i.e. the company advance guard platoon). The main body travels in the center of the tactical column. The role of the main body is to accomplish the unit’s mission, which usually entails destroying the enemy in the decisive engagement. Since a threat from enemy ground activity exists, the commander deploys security elements to protect the main body. These security elements, called guards, are deployed to the front, flank, and rear. A guard is a unit used to protect the main force from attack, direct fire, and ground observation by fighting to gain time while observing and reporting. A guard unit should possess sufficient combat power to fix or interdict the enemy while the commander maneuvers the main body to a position from which to assault or bypass the enemy. Additionally, the guard commander must report information about the enemy (SALUTE), guard force location and actions, and relevant terrain information that will allow the unit commander to make an informed decision on subsequent actions. Having a weak guard unit will force the unit commander to commit additional forces to protect his ability to maneuver. These guard units also allow us to engage the enemy with the smallest force required. This economy of force gives us tempo and preserves the main body for the decisive engagement. We do not want to commit the entire force to an engagement if a guard unit can handle the fight on its own. 11 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Diagram 1. Depicts a rifle company conducting a movement to contact in a tactical column with a rifle platoon as the company advance guard and a platoon as the rear and flank security. Diagram 2. Depicts a Depicts a rifle platoon serving as the company advance guard in a tactical column. The platoon has one squad as the advance party 12 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact utilizing one of their fire teams as the point element, as well as one squad as the rear and flank security. Advance guard: The guard unit that precedes the main body of a company or larger movement to contact is called the advance guard. The advance guard: Develops the situation for the commander by gaining initial contact and reporting the situation Maintains tempo by fixing, clearing, or destroying smaller enemy forces, allowing the main body to bypass non-decisive engagements Fixes the enemy during decisive engagements, allowing the main body to maneuver and destroy the enemy Contact Possible (continued) The advance guard sends forward a security unit called an advance party, which performs the advance guard role for the advance guard commander. The advance party sends forward a security unit called a point, which performs the advance guard role for the advance party commander. The advance guard should be located far enough ahead of the main body to effectively develop the situation. The commander should have enough time to make a decision and enough space to adjust the formation based off the reporting from the advance guard. Enemy engaging the advance guard should not also be able to engage the main body since having the main body in contact limits the commander’s options. The advance guard should not be located too far ahead to support if decisive contact is made. The distance that the advance guard travels ahead of the main body will depend heavily on terrain (e.g. forest or desert?), enemy (e.g. using small arms or heavy machineguns?), and friendly (e.g. foot mobile or mechanized? How large and well-equipped is advance guard relative to enemy forces?). Task Organization of the Advanced Guard: The advance guard should be task-organized to overcome obstacles and enemy resistance. Engineers or other obstacle clearing capability should travel with the advance guard. Machineguns may also travel with the advance party or main body of the advance guard. Their support relationship will most likely be DS of the main effort or GS of the unit 13 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact since, in the decisive fight, their suppression will allow the main body to close with the enemy. Machineguns with the advance party are in the best position to gain immediate fire superiority and support by fire the main body if the decisive fight comes from the front. If the advance guard makes non- decisive contact with the enemy and the commander decides to bypass the fight with the main body, he must consider a way to link up the machineguns with the new advance party—the limited ammunition the machineguns have should be saved for the decisive fight, and if they stay with the original advance party then they will be in the rear of the unit formation when the fight is over, which is a poor position from which to support the unit. If the advanced party becomes suppressed, our machineguns have now lost freedom of action to be deployed on advantageous terrain to support the decisive engagement. Contact Possible (continued) Machineguns with the Main Body: The commander may also choose to locate the machineguns with the main body, which gives him more direct control and more flexibility if the decisive fight comes from the flanks or rear. However, if the decisive fight comes from the front as expected, the advance party will have a more difficult time achieving fire superiority. Additionally, to be in the best position to support the unit, the machineguns must move forward to link up with the advance party while under enemy fire. Conversely, if the machineguns are with the main body, the commander has now retained freedom of action for the machineguns if the advanced guard is the unit that becomes suppressed. Commander’s must weigh the pros and cons of the placement of themselves and their assets – enemy considerations always come first. Flank guard: Is responsible for preventing the enemy from observing or using direct fires on the main body from its flank. Though the flank guard should not become decisively engaged, it must do what is necessary to provide the main body time to prepare for an attack into its flank. As with the advance guard, the flank guard must be task organized with sufficient assets to accomplish its mission (see Diagram 3 below which depicts the flank guard for a company. Similar techniques are utilized by the advance party flank security). Flank guards may also act as connecting files, maintaining contact with friendly units to the flanks. Flank guards can be provided by the rear unit in the main body, which will preserve the combat power of the main body/main effort, but is very difficult for the rear unit commander to control. The main effort can provide the flank 14 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact guards, which is easier to control, but means the main effort must link up its forces before committing to the decisive fight. The main effort and the rear unit can each provide a flank guard, which is a mix of the pros and cons of the other methods. Figure 1: Flank guard traveling constantly Figure 2: Flank guard moves in successive bounds Figure 3: Flank guard moves in alternating bounds Diagram 3 (Figures 1-3) 15 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Contact Possible Flank Guard (Cont): The flank guard moves abreast of the main body (Continued) on a parallel route. They may move continuously and at the same pace as the main body (see Figure 1). They may also bound between successive positions (Figure 2). These positions should be located on key terrain that can control avenues of approach into the flank. Lastly, if the flank guard split into two units on each flank, can travel in alternating bounds between key terrain features (Figure 3). Commanders should keep in mind that the flank guard will probably be traveling on more difficult terrain than the main body and may have trouble keeping pace with the main body due to terrain and heightened security posture. To the rear of the main body is the rear guard. Like the advance guard, the rear guard can deploy a point (called a rear point) to provide early warning. Rapid movement forward can, in and of itself, provide a measure of security to the rear. The rear guard may also serve as a connecting group with friendly units to the rear, such as when a platoon is an advance guard in a company movement to contact. Contact Imminent As the unit commander further closes with the enemy; he must once again update his expectation of enemy contact. When the commander determines that he is close to the enemy main body or has other reasons to believe that a significant enemy force represents a threat to his unit, he will update his expectation of contact to contact imminent. For example, if the enemy is expected to delay our movement along a route while they attempt to fortify a town, the commander will likely assume contact imminent as he nears the town. At this time, the security units will most likely deploy into their combat formation and the unit as a whole will adopt an approach march formation. The commander may partially or fully deploy his main body. Security and deployability take precedence over speed and control. Since tempo is critical to a successful movement to contact, the commander should not deploy into the approach march until decisive contact is imminent. The final picture may have the advance guard deployed in a wedge, while the main body either remains in a column or deploys into one of the more deployable formations (wedge, line, etc.). The unit commander makes all last-minute details for combat that he deems necessary. Indirect fire weapon systems are positioned to provide quick and accurate support (priority targets). He further evaluates the upcoming terrain to help in making decisions on the deployment and maneuver of the main body upon contact. 16 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact In the approach march, the advance guard may now move under the protection of an over watching unit—an element moves forward while another element positions itself to support-by-fire in case of enemy contact. The commander can also use alternating bounding overwatch or successive bounding overwatch with each unit, terrain permitting, so our security is high,and we are predisposed to contact. These two movement techniques were shown above. The bottom line is that your approach march formation should predispose your Marines to contact. Your firepower should be arrayed so we can quickly fix and destroy the enemy upon contact. As with all things, our formation is dictated by our assessment of the enemy. Example of Platoon Echelon Example of Platoon Line Example Platoon Wedge 17 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Fires Commander’s should plan fires on suspected and likely enemy positions. They can also coordinate preplanned targets to help cover their movement across exposed terrain. As a movement to contact progresses, the commander should cancel and establish priority targets so that firing agencies are postured to prosecute targets immediately on the next anticipated threat. Typically, the advanced guard/party leader will serve as the observer for most our preplanned targets. Tasks Each element should be prepared to fulfill the tasks of each other element within the movement to contact. Keep in mind that each element will have tactical tasks that apply to their given role as either main body, advanced guard/party, or rear/flank security. The main body likely fills the role of our bid for success or main effort. Based on our mission given to us from Higher, our main body is likely tasked to clear, destroy, or interdict. These tactical tasks relate to decisive action, which is when we plan to deploy and use the main body. Our advanced guard, which serves as our eyes and ears, our forward security, our element to develop the situation, and our unit to fix the enemy, will likely receive a tactical task of fix or clear. Our rear and flank security serves to prevent our main body from being engaged and serves as our sensors to our flanks and rear. The rear and flank security element will likely receive a tactical task of guard (protecting the main force by fighting to gain time while also observing and reporting information). There are multiple ways to give the “when” in our tasking statements, and we have the opportunity to use conditions-based tasks. These could begin with “Upon decisive engagement…”, or “NLT X Hour…”. Example Tasks 2nd Squad, you are the Main Body, NLT 1400 CLEAR the west side of MSR Blue IOT allow friendly movement along the route. Be prepared to assume the role of Advanced Party or Rear and Flank Security. 3rd Squad, you are the Advanced Party, upon decisive engagement, fix the enemy along MSR Red IOT allow the main body to destroy the enemy. BPT …(note that this task explicitly tells 3rd squad to fix the enemy upon decisive engagement; it implies that in non-decisive engagement, the squad leader should destroy the enemy by direct or indirect fires, or suppress them long enough to allow the main force to bypass. We will discuss these options later). 18 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact 1st Squad, you are the advanced party, NLT 1200 CLEAR the enemy along Piaso River IOT allow the battalion to mass forces for an attack north. 2nd Squad, you are the Rear and Flank Security element, NLT 1100 GUARD the main body IOT prevent enemy interference with the main body’s mission. Rotation Plan There are many reasons why each element in a tactical column needs to be ready to fulfill the roles of the others. The advanced guard/party will become physically taxed leading from the front at a heightened security posture. The rear and flank security will become exhausted after a while. The advanced party may take non-decisive contact and the rest of the force may bypass while the advanced party neutralizes the threat – this helps us maintain tempo. Regardless, commanders need to establish rotation plans. These plans dictate how our three elements will rotate roles as different criteria trigger. The plan may be: main body becomes the advanced party, rear and flank security fall in and becomes the main body, machineguns who were traveling with the main body conduct linkup with rear and flank security who is becoming the main body, and the advanced party falls in as the new rear and flank security unit. We should always plan our rotations with maximum security in mind since transitions are when we are most vulnerable. Formations should remain tactical during the rotation and elements should not cluster (maintain dispersion) so that we do not become a massive target. Commanders must ensure we brief the linkup plans as elements shift their placement and depart/join other elements. This is why each element should understand the tasks assigned to all other units in the movement to contact. Commanders should “walk the dog” on the terrain model when briefing the rotation plan. Along with the rotation plan, commanders should plan and brief rotation criteria. These are triggers that tell us when we will conduct a rotation. Triggers could be: casualties, non-decisive engagement, certain terrain being crossed while one unit holds security, low ammunition quantities, fatigue, or enemy engagement. 19 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Immediate Action Immediate action drills are immediate responses to an action that provide Drill and Battle the commander time and space to make a decision. A battle drill is a pre- Drills drilled action that is chosen in response to an action. Battle drills are like plays run out of a playbook. Immediate action drills buy the commander the time to develop the situation and make a decision on which battle drill to execute. Immediate action drills ae driven by effects – whether enemy, terrain, or friendly in nature. These effects trigger an immediate response from the element of the unit that is experiencing the effect. This drill allows for a decision to be made for the battle drill response. Example Sequence of Events for Action on Contact A key aspect to the decision process after conducting an immediate action drill is the recommendation from small unit leaders. For example, if the advanced party takes fire from an enemy fire team, the squad leader of the advanced party may have the best situational awareness to make a recommendation to the platoon commander regarding which next actions to take. The squad leader may recommend that the platoon bypass the engagement by 100 meters to the right, then conduct rotation. If the platoon commander has to run all the way up to the advanced party while under fire simply so he can see what is going on and what decision to make, then he loses tempo. 20 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Immediate Action Drills and Battle Drills (continued) This chart demonstrates how the effects we experience drive an immediate action drill, a recommendation, a decision, followed by our battle drill. Sniper Fire: Depending on the distance to the sniper, the accuracy of his fire, and the availability of supporting arms, the commander has several options. The immediate action would be to take cover and identify direction and distance to the sniper position, if able. If the sniper is a significant distance away, it is probably a waste of time and combat power to send a squad to destroy him, especially since he will likely displace before they get there. The platoon commander can obscure and bypass (with smoke grenades or smoke from supporting agencies), fix and bypass (using direct Example fires from the advance party or indirect fires), destroy with indirect fires or Immediate aviation fires, or clear with the advance party. Using indirect fires or Action Drills and aviation fires is the best response with respect to economy of force, since it Battle Drills does not disrupt the unit’s formation or significantly slow the unit. If the sniper is too close to safely employ supporting arms, or supporting arms are not available in a timely manner, then the platoon commander may decide to employ his organic units. If the platoon commander decides not to destroy (obscure and bypass or fix and bypass), then he needs to relay this information to any following units so they are aware of the threat. If the platoon commander decides to clear or destroy the enemy, he will send the advance party while he rotates the squads and bypasses with the main body. Once the platoon commander has made a decision and initiated the platoon’s action, he reports the situation to the company commander. Fire from Fire Team: Upon receiving fire from a fire team sized element, our element in contact should take cover and return fire and gain fire superiority over the enemy. This buys time and space for the platoon commander to decide if his unit in contact (likely the advanced party) can 21 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact destroy this enemy element on their own (allowing the rest of the platoon to conduct a rotation and bypass) or if he can use indirect fires or close air support to neutralize the threat. The unit leader in contact with the fire team should communicate to the platoon commander the SALUTE report information to the platoon commander along with a recommended battle dill (i.e. rotate/bypass). Squad: When engaged by an enemy squad, the advance party (and machineguns, if located with the advance party) will perform a support by fire role for the main body. The advance party immediately fixes and suppresses the enemy and reports the situation to the platoon commander (including terrain details such as if it is more advantageous for the platoon to flank from the left or the right). The platoon commander decides how he will attack the squad, initiates action and reports to the company commander. The platoon performs a hasty flanking attack and destroys or clears the enemy. This results in a decisive engagement for the platoon and as part of a company movement to contact, the platoon will rotate to the rear of the company. When briefing our scheme of maneuver in our operations order, we no longer have the exact DDFTC (Direction of Attack, Distribution of Forces, Example Form of Maneuver, TCMs, Consolidation) that we briefed in our attack Immediate orders. Key information for briefing an approach march movement to Action Drills and contact scheme of maneuver are: Distribution of Forces, TCMs, Axis of Battle Drills Advance / Route, planned formation changes, planned movement (continued) technique changes, planned rotations, planned dispersion, and a consolidation plan for when we culminate or expect to transition to the defense. The amount of information is easily communicated if we use the appropriate control measures: line of departure, phase lines, check points, contact points, axis of advance, and boundaries. We can expect an approach march to end after we culminate, rotate within the company’s movement to contact, after we consolidate after decisive engagement, or after we transition into the defense. In practice, our approach march will depart past the line of departure and assume formations based on assessed likelihood of enemy contact. Throughout movement, the advanced guard/party will report back to the main body on recommended route changes to avoid terrain, or recommended battle drills to execute if in contact with the enemy. We are Scheme of looking to gain contact with the enemy and maintain contact. We are not Maneuver trying to develop the situation through reconnaissance, we are developing the situation through contact. We are seeking decisive engagement, and / Conduct of MTC we are looking to have this battle on our terms. The approach march will conduct immediate action drills and follow up with battle drills. The commander will rotate elements as required and cancel and establish priority targets as we move along our route. 22 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact Search and Attack Task Organization Units conducting search and attack must accomplish reconnaissance, fixing, and finishing functions. Units execute these functions in one of two ways. In the first instance, units can task organize themselves into standing reconnaissance (find), fixing, and finishing elements. Shaping and supporting efforts locate and fix various enemy units, while the main effort finishes them—the decisive action. In the second instance, a unit executes search and attack by function. All subordinate elements execute the reconnaissance function. When an enemy force is found, unengaged units are assigned to supporting fix, and decisive finishing functions. The fundamental consideration for organizing the force is the required size of the reconnaissance effort or force. The larger the AO (in terms of both geography and population) and the greater the uncertainty of the enemy situation, the larger the reconnaissance requirement. The reconnaissance force typically consists of reconnaissance, infantry, aviation, and electronic warfare assets. The fixing force must have the mobility to respond and the combat power required to isolate the enemy forces once the reconnaissance force finds them. The finishing force must also possess the mobility to rapidly respond and the combat power necessary to defeat the located enemy force. The force must possess the logistic strength to rapidly reconstitute and continue search and attack operations within the AO. Planning a Search and Attack Commanders may break up the large battlespace by boundaries so units can conduct search and attack operations within their given boundary limits. Additionally, checkpoints, contact points, and phase lines can be used within each units given area. A unit may even conduct an approach march within their given area for search and attack. 23 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact The nature of the terrain impacts task organization, employment of combat support, and tactical mobility planning. Analysis of the enemy’s most likely positions, employment, and size impacts the friendly force’s reconnaissance, fixing, and finishing efforts. Planning considerations focus on how to accomplish two critical tasks: finding the enemy, and then finishing them. To find the enemy, the commander must craft the battlespace in a manner that increases the likelihood for success. This involves deploying intelligence collection assets to assist the reconnaissance force and narrowing the focus of the search through detailed terrain analysis. What the enemy is doing is an important part of this analysis. For example, operating base camps and rest areas requires water sources, routes of some type, and a certain amount of physical space. Crafting the conditions for successful reconnaissance also includes creating properly sized AOs and properly organized and equipped reconnaissance forces. While terrain and enemy analysis can help mitigate a large AO and a small reconnaissance force, a platoon assigned dozens of square miles of jungle is going to be ineffective. Similarly, that same platoon assigned a comparable space of desert, but remaining foot mobile, is likely to be ineffective. The second critical task, finishing the enemy, requires fixing them in place and then delivering the decisive action. Again, the size of the AO and the means of accomplishing these functions are critical planning factors. A commander may choose to organize the reconnaissance forces with enough combat power and combat support to accomplish both reconnaissance and fixing functions. However, the commander may choose to organize a fixing force to enable greater dispersion and flexibility for the reconnaissance force. The positioning of the fixing force, their combat support, and the means and speed by which they can move are important factors for planning. Similar planning is required for the finishing force, especially when a unit is tasked with both fixing and finishing functions. In fixing and finishing, the single driving factor in determining task organization, location, and method of movement is the maximum length of time the commander feels is acceptable between finding and defeating an enemy and their ability to evade friendly forces. Search and attack planning factors address the creation of maximum flexibility. Planning to achieve flexibility includes the development of fire plans and the use of fire control measures (e.g., TRPs, 24 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact priority of fires) to ensure responsive fire support. Mobility and countermobility planning assists the force in locating, responding to, and restricting the movement of the enemy. Finally, the organization of the search and attack force, the length of the operation, and the methods of movement influence logistics significantly. Foot-mobile infantry elements, sustaining themselves in the field, in a small AO, will have significantly different logistic planning demands than a vehicle- and helicopter-mobile force, basing itself within and operating across a large AO. Given that the success of a search and attack movement to contact rests foremost with locating the enemy, commanders choose austerity over comfort. Executing a Search and Attack As an example, let us say a company is executing a search and attack in a given area of operations. In this case, each subordinate element operating in their own AO is tasked to destroy the enemy within their capability. The company maintains the finishing force. Units may enter the AO by infiltrating as an entire unit and then splitting out (see below picture) or by infiltrating as smaller units via ground, air, or water. 25 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact The commander establishes control measures and communications means between any closing elements to prevent friendly fire incidents. The reconnaissance force conducts a zone reconnaissance to reconnoiter identified NAIs. Once a reconnaissance force finds the enemy, the fixing force develops the situation and executes one of two options. The first option is to fix the enemy by isolation—identifying and blocking escape or reinforcement routes until the finishing force arrives. The second option is to fix the enemy by attacking them in their current positions until the finishing force arrives. Depending on the enemy’s mobility and the likelihood of the reconnaissance force being compromised, the commander may need to position the fixing force before the reconnaissance force enters the AO. Regimental landing teams (and possibly battalions) may establish fire support bases as part of fixing force operations. These positions should be mutually supporting and prepared for all-around defense. They are located in positions that facilitate aerial resupply. The development of these positions depends on METT-T because their establishment requires diverting combat power for force protection. If conditions are not right to use the finishing force or main body to attack the detected enemy, the reconnaissance or the fixing force can continue to conduct ISR activities to further develop the situation. Whenever this occurs, the force maintaining surveillance must be careful to avoid detection and possible enemy ambushes. The finishing force either moves in trace of reconnaissance and fixing forces, or deploys to the point of contact, maintaining the responsiveness necessary to engage the enemy before the enemy can break contact. The finishing force deploys to defeat the detected and fixed enemy by either attacking, isolating the enemy to support another unit’s attack, or by employing indirect fire or CAS. The commander may have the finishing force establish an ambush and use the reconnaissance and fixing forces to drive the enemy into it. Platoons may use approach marches, patrol base operations, or a combination of several methods to find, fix, then finish the enemy in their sector. They may even fulfill the role of the “finding” force in their sector until they gain contact with the enemy, thereby calling in the company to fix and finish the enemy. 26 Basic Officer Course B3J0405-DM Movement to Contact References Reference Number Reference Title MCDP 1 Warfighting MCDP 1-0 Marine Corps Operations MCDP 1-3 Tactics MCRP 3-10A.2 Infantry Company Operations MCRP 3-10A.3 Marine Infantry Platoon MCWP 3-01 Offensive and Defensive Tactics MCRP 3-30.7 Commander’s Tactical Handbook MCTP 3-10F Fire Support Coordination in the Ground Combat Element Notes Basic Officer Course