Team Movement Traveling: - Team members move in formation with a set distance between each man. - the distance between each man is the same. - Stop and listen for half the time you where in movement. - Traveling is best used when enemy contact is not expected. Traveling Overwatch: - The distance between the point man, or group, in formation is greater then the distance between the main body. - The main body should keep close enough to support the point group in event of enemy contact. - Stop and listen for half the time you where in movement. - Traveling overwatch is best used when enemy contact is possible. Bounding Overwatch: - Split your team in 2 units. Each team will have a leader. These will be called Team Alpha and Bravo for explanation purposes. - Team Alpha bounds as Team Bravo overwatches in case of enemy contact. - The bounds should not be out of AirSoft firing range. - When the bounding team reaches it's appointed RP (Rally Point) it becomes the overwatch team as team Alpha bounds. - Team Alpha makes it's way to team Bravo and bounding continues. - The bounding team leader must know: - Where he is suppose to bound too (RP). - What to do when arriving at the RP. - What to do if enemy contact is made. - When he will receive his next orders from the team leader. - Bounding Overwatch is best used when enemy contact is expected.

Fire and Maneuver When enemy contact is made the movement techniques stop and fire and maneuver begins. Fire and maneuver is an extension of bounding overwatch. Fire and maneuver is conducted to close in with and destroy the enemy, to learn more of his strengths, disposition and weaknesses or to move away from him. - When contact is made leaders establish both fire elements and maneuver elements. - An element can be a soldier, fire team, squad or platoon regardless of the size. - The fire element is best positioned on high ground that is to the flank of the maneuver element. - This is done so the fire of the fire element is not masked by the maneuver element until the last moment. - When it can the fire element moves to a firing position undetected. - Surprising fire from an unexpected direction is more deadly than fire from a known position. - When the fire element is in position it fires at the enemy to suppress him. - The enemy is suppressed when he is pinned down and cannot return fire. - Once he is suppressed the rate of fire may be reduced but suppression must be kept up. - When the maneuver element is near it's objective the rate of fire is increased. - The fire element walks it's fire across the objective just in front of the maneuver element. - Once the maneuver element reaches it's objective it becomes the fire element and the old fire element is now the maneuver element. - Fire and maneuver is continued until the objective is reached. - Each element leader must know: - What his objective is. - When he will receive his next orders from the team leader. - The elements may advance using the same maneuver element to maneuver all the way to the objective. - The maneuver element must not maneuver outside the range of the fire element's fire. Fire Control Rates of Fire Each distance and situation has it's appropriate rate of fire and it is essential that it be used properly. Applying the correct volume of fire for the distance between yourself and the enemy. Changing the rate of fire in accordance with the distance to the enemy are controll measure used to direct fire and gain fire superiority. Deliberate Fire: Deliberate fire is 5 rounds per minute or less. It is accurate and carefully aimed. Use Deliberate Fire when. - The target is at a long range. - The target is small. - When the target is indistinct. Snap-Shooting: Snap-Shooting is 2 rounds per exposure of the enemy. Snap-Shooting is used when the exposure time of the enemy is of short duration. - During this exposure, the soldier will shoot two quick aimed shots. - The reason for two shots is it increases the hit probablility over one shot. - Snap-Shooting is probably the most important skill a soldier can possess. Sustained Fire: - Sustained Rate of fire consist of approximately 100 rounds per minute. - Burst of 6 to 9 rounds at 4 to 5 second intervals. - A Sustained Rate of fire is good for keeping down sufficient cover once fire supperiority has been acheieved. Rapid Fire: - Rapid rate of fire consist of approximately 200 rounds per minute. - Burst of 6 to 9 round at 2 to 3 seconds intervals. - A Rapid Rate of fire is best used to gain fire supperiority in an engagement. Engaging Targets Sights Sight Picture and Alignement - Center the target over the front sight blade so that it appears to rest on top of the front sight blade and on top of the rear sight slide. Observation and Adjustment of Fire Observation of Fire - Fire can be observed by noting the strike of the projectile in the target area, by observing tracers in their flight, or in close ranges by noting the holes made in the target. Adjustment of Fire - When firing adjust fire by changing your body position and using the traversing and searching method. Engaging the Three Types of Battlefield Targets Area Target - Determine the width and depth of the target. Fire a six to nine round burst until you hit the center mass of the target area. Use traversing and searching fire to cover the target area. Point Target - Select a distinct aiming point. Estimate range. Fire six to nine round burst to obtain accurate range and deflection. Place the beaten zone on target. If the target moves, follow it. Beaten zone is the pattern formed by the rounds of each burst striking the ground or target. Moving Target - Estimate the speed of the target and the required lead. Fire and track as the target moves. Adjust the target by observing tracers and the strike of the bullets. Characteristics of Fire Trajectory - This is the path of a round. The trajectory is curved and the curve becomes greater as the range increases. Maximum Ordinate - This is the highest point the trajectory reaches between the muzzle of the gun and the base of the target. It always occurs at a point about two-thirds of the distance from the machine gun to the target. The maximum ordinate increases as the range increases. Cone of Fire - This is the pattern formed by the different trajectories in each burst as they travel downrange. Beaten Zone - this is the pattern formed by the rounds within the cone of fire striking the ground or a target. The size and shape of the beaten zone change when the range to the target changes or when you fire into different types of terrain. Danger Space - This is the space between the gun and the target where the trajectorydoes not rise above 1.8 meters. This includesthe are of the beaten zone. Classes of Fire Fire with respect to the Ground Grazing Fire - The Cone of Fire does not rise more than 1 meter above ground. Plunging Fire - the danger space is nearly confined to the Beaten Zone. Plunging Fire occurs when firing at long ranges, when firing from high ground to low ground, when firing into abruptly rising ground or when firing across uneven terrain. Fire With Respect to the Target Frontal Fire - The long axis of the Beaten Zone os at a right angle to the front of the target. Simply stated, when firing directly into teh front of the target. Flanking Fire - Is delievered directly against the flank of a target. Oblique Fire - The long axis of the Beaten Zone is at an angle other then a right angle to the front of the target. Enfilade Fire - The long axis of the Beaten Zone coincides or nearly coincides with the long axis of the target. It is the most desirable type of fire with respect to a target because it makes maximum use of the beaten zone. Fire With Respect to the Gun Fixed Fire - Is delivered against a stationary point target when the depth and width of the beaten zone covers the target. Traversing Fire - Is distributed in width by successive changes in direction. Searching Fire - Is distributed in depth by successive changes in elevation. Swinging Travers Fire - Is delivered againsts targets too wide to cover, or is used against targets moving so rapidly across the gunner's front he cannot maintain effective fire. To deliever this type of fire move the gun sideways in a strafing motion. Free Gunfire - Is delivered agaisnt targets requiring rapid changes in direction and elevation. To deliver this type of fire move the gun freely while firing.

Patrolling General A patrol is a unit sent out to conduct a Combat or Reconnaaissance Operation. Categories of Patrols The planned Action at an objective determines a patrol's category. There are two categories of patrol: - Reconnaissance (Area and Zone): Patrols collect information or confirm or disprove the accuracy of information previously gained. - Combat (Ambush, Raid, or Security): Patrols provide security and harass, destroy, or capture enemy troops, equipment and installations. A combat patrol also collects information. There are four key principles to successfull patrolling. These are: - Detailed planning. - Thorough reconaissance. - Positive control. - All-round security. Reconnaissance Patrol A two, three, or four man reconnaissance patrol is not organized into elements. Instead, it operates as a single unit providing its own security while reconnoitering. In an area reconnaissance, a patrol is organized into a reconnaissance element and a secutiry element.This is a reconnaissance and security R&S patrol. Reconnaissance patrols elements are organized into teams as necessary to accomplish the elements tasks. There are two types of reconnaissance patrols. Area Reconnaissance and Zone Reconnaissance. Area Reconnaissance This is a reconnaissance conducted to obtain information concerning a specific location and the area immediately around it, road junctions, hill, bridge, enemy positions and so on. The location of the objective is designated by either grid coordinates or a map overlay with a boundary line encircling the area. Conduct or an Area Reconnaissance A patrol uses the surveillance/vantage point method to conduct an area reconnaissance. The patrol leader uses a series of surveillance/vantage points around the objective from wich to observe it and the surrounding area. The patrol halts in the ORP (Objective Rally Point) and establishes security. The patrol leader confirm's the patrols location. The patrol leader and element leader conduct a leaders reconnaissance of the objective area to confirm the plan and then return to the ORP. The security element departs the ORP before the reconnaissance element. The security element leader positions security teams at the ORP, and on likely avenues of approach going into the objective area. Once the security elements are in position, the reconnaissance elements departs the ORP. The reconnaissance element moves to several surveillance/vantage points around the objective. The reconnaissance element leader may deceide to have a small reconnaissance team move to each surveillance/vantage point instead of having the entire element move as a unit from point to point. Once the objective has been reconnoitered, the elements return to the ORP and information is disseminated. The patrol then returns to friendly lines. The terrain may not allow a patrol to secure an objective area. In this case, the patrol leader leaves a security team in the ORP and uses reconnaissance and security (R&S) teams to reconnoiter the objective. These teams move to different surveillance/vantage points from wich they reconnoiter the objective. Once the objective has been reconnoitered, the R&S teams return to the ORP and disseminate the information. The patrol then returns to friendly lines. Throughout the next month we will cover more on patrolling.