Tactical Patrol Movements
What are tactical patrol movements?
These are set layouts of movement for small units, which take advantage of cover, motion, and fields of fire.
Tactical movement has three general Objectives:
1. Prevent detection.
2.Allow effective reaction to opposing enemy contact
3.Protect the element from enemy fire while moving towards or away from objectives.
Remembering the average Paint ball engagements usually takes place from pointblank to 30 meters, taking into account the reduced range of Paint ball weapons.
Here are some general considerations for moving elements across the battlefield:
NEVER TAKE THE OBVIOUS PATH.
NEVER WALK DOWN A ROAD OR PATH IT MAY BE BOOBY TRAPPED OR AMBUSHED
NEVER GO UP THE FRONT IF YOU CAN TAKE THE SIDE
NEVER POKE YOUR HEAD OVER THE TOP OF A WALL IF YOU CAN LOOK AROUND THE SIDE.
NEVER LEAVE AN OBJECTIVE BY THE SAME ROUTE YOU APPROACHED IT
NEVER BLINDLY PURSUE A FLEEING ADVERSARY, ESPECIALLY IN CLOSE QUARTERS.
REMAIN SILENT.
Never talk unless it is absolutely necessary - even when using radios a whisper into a radio mic will can in the
REMAIN INVISIBLE.
Don’t walk along a tree line - walk parallel to it a few meters inside the woods. AT all costs avoid crossing ridgelines, especially bare ones that will leave you silhouetted ( If you must cross do so on your belly leap froging alternating between movement and cover)if you must cross an open area and the enemy knows you are there Mask your movement with smoke!
MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT.
Every ten or fifteen seconds, look away from your assigned field of fire, and make eye contact with your team leader or assigned element of your fire team ( I.E. machine gunner keeps contact w/ A gunner Point man maintains contact w/a rifleman). Insure that hand signals get passed on.
AVOID PATTERNS AND PREDICTABILITY.
Weather or not you are moving within sight, or potential sight of your enemy your movements must be kept unpredictable. If you are in the enemy’s observation you do not want them to know how you will react if on patrol you don’t want the enemy to be able to predict your movements giving them an easy time ambushing you. Stagger the members of the fire team, roll away from cover before getting to your feet, and don’t always take the most direct path. Never take the same path twice to or from any objective.
ALWAYS THINK DEFENSIVELY WHEN AT A HALT.
Secure a 360-degree perimeter whenever you pause. Only key elements pull in close to discuss plans, check navigation, observe terrain, etc all other members provide security any pertinent Intel will passed up the line to the rest of the element.
ALWAYS EXPECT TO WALK INTO AN AMBUSH
When on patrol, the rear of the formation secures the element from rear attack; those on the sides or middle of formation keep their attention on the flanks. While the point man and unit leader guide the team forward, this provides 360 degrees of security
MAINTAIN PROPER INTERVAL.
Keep your fire team as spread-out as possible, without losing contact or concentration of fire. You want to minimize the number of people that can be taken out by a grenade or an ambush. For paint ball 3-5 meters should be optimal spread out to where each person can see the cell leader, but not necessarily the entire formation. Always be careful of spreading out too far - you risk being cut apart, unable to maneuver, or unable to control and concentrate your fire.
This is a very good websight for Hand and Arm signals:
http://atiam.train.army.mil/portal/atia/adlsc/view/public/296751-1/fm/21-60/Ch2.htm
