*FM 3-21.9

Field Manual No. 3-21.9	Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, DC, 2 December 2002

FM 3-21.9

THE SBCT INFANTRY
RIFLE PLATOON AND SQUAD

COVER
PREFACE
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW OF THE SBCT INFANTRY RIFLE PLATOON AND SQUAD
Section I. Capabilities, Limitations, Organization, and Responsibilities
	1-1 Capabilities
	1-2 Limitations
	1-3 Organization
	1-4 Responsibilities
Section II. Combat Power and Considerations for Employment
	1-5 Combat Power
	1-6 Considerations for Employment
CHAPTER 2. COMMAND, CONTROL, AND THE TROOP-LEADING PROCEDURES
Section I. Command and Control
	2-1 Leadership
	2-2 Mission Oriented Command and Control
Section II. Plans and Orders
	2-3 Mission Statement
	2-4 Combat Orders
Section III. Troop-Leading Procedures
	2-5 Receive the Mission
	2-6 Issue a Warning Order
	2-7 Make a Tentative Plan
	2-8 Initiate Movement
	2-9 Conduct Reconnaissance
	2-10 Complete the Plan
	2-11 Issue the Operations Order
	2-12 Supervise and Refine
CHAPTER 3. TACTICAL MOVEMENT
	3-1 Movement Formations
	3-2 Dismounted Formations
	3-3 Mounted Movement Formations
	3-4 Movement Techniques
	3-5 Actions at Danger Areas
	3-6 Security during Movement
	3-7 Maneuve
CHAPTER 4. OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
Section I. Fundamentals of Offensive Operations
	4-1 Characteristics of Offensive Operations
	4-2 Types of Offensive Operations
	4-3 Forms of Maneuver
Section II. Sequence of Offensive Operation
	4-4 Assembly Area
	4-5 Reconnaissance
	4-6 Movement to the Line of Departure
	4-7 Maneuver
	4-8 Deployment
	4-9 Assault
	4-10 Consolidation and Reorganization
Section III. Battlefield Operating Systems Planning Considerations
	4-11 Maneuver
	4-12 Fire Support
	4-13 Mobility, Countermobility, and Survivability
	4-14 Air Defense
	4-15 Combat Service Support
Section IV. Actions on Contact
	4-16 Deploy and Report
	4-17 Evaluate and Develop the Situation
	4-18 Choose a Course of Action
	4-19 Recommend and Execute a Course of Action
Section V. Platoon Offensive Operations
	4-20 Deliberate Attack
	4-21 Hasty Attack
Section VI. Other Offensive Operations
	4-22 Movement to Contact
	4-23 Planning Considerations
	4-24 Approach March Technique
	4-25 Search and Attack Technique
	4-26 Exploitation
	4-27 Pursuit
	4-28 Attacks during Limited Visibility
Section VII. Special Purpose Attacks
	4-29 Ambush
	4-30 Raid
	4-31 Counterattack
	4-32 Spoiling Attack
	4-33 Feint
	4-34 Demonstration
Section VIII. Offensive Tactical Tasks
	4-35 Seize
	4-36 Clear
	4-37 Suppress
	4-38 Support by Fire
	4-39 Attack by Fire
CHAPTER 5. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS
Section I. Characteristics of the Defense
	5-1 Preparation
	5-2 Security
	5-3 Disruption
	5-4 Massing Effects
	5-5 Flexibility
Section II. Sequence of the Defense
	5-6 Reconnaissance, Security Operations, and Enemy Preparatory Fires
	5-7 Occupation
	5-8 Approach of the Enemy Main Attack
	5-9 Enemy Assault
	5-10 Counterattack
	5-11 Consolidation and Reorganization
Section III. Battle Operating Systems Planning Considerations
	5-12 Maneuver
	5-13 Fire Support
	5-14 Mobility, Countermobility, and Survivability
	5-15 Air Defense
	5-16 Combat Service Support
Section IV. Engagement Area Development
	5-17 Identify Likely Enemy Avenues of Approach
	5-18 Identify the Enemy Scheme of Maneuver
	5-19 Determine Where to Kill the Enemy
	5-20 Emplace Weapon Systems
	5-21 Plan and Integrate Obstacles
	5-22 Plan and Integrate Indirect Fires
	5-23 Conduct an Engagement Area Rehearsal
Section V. Occupation and Preparation of Defensive Positions
	5-24 Occupation of the Defense
	5-25 Priority of Work
	5-26 Security in the Defense
	5-27 Establishment of Defensive Positions
	5-28 Weapons Placement
	5-29 Coordination
Section VI. Defensive Techniques
	5-30 Defend in Sector
	5-31 Defend a Battle Position
	5-32 Defend a Strong Point
	5-33 Defend a Perimeter
	5-34 Reverse Slope
Section VII. Fighting and Survivability Positions
	5-35 Principles
	5-36 Standard Designs
	5-37 Types of Fighting Positions
	5-38 Vehicle Positions
	5-39 Trenches
CHAPTER 6. URBAN OPERATIONS
Section I. General Planning Considerations
	6-1 Employment Considerations for SBCT Platoons
	6-2 Employment of Infantry and MGS Vehicles
	6-3 METT-TC Factors
Section II. Offense
	6-4 Planning Considerations
	6-5 Task Organization (Platoon Attack of a Building)
	6-6 Tactical Movement
	6-7 Isolate the Objective or Building
	6-8 Assault a Building
	6-9 Enter and Clear a Building
	6-10 Consolidation and Reorganization
	6-11 Continuation of the Assault Mission
Section III. Defense
	6-12 Planning the Defense
	6-13 Hasty Defense
	6-14 Priorities of Work and Defensive Considerations
	6-15 Conduct of the Defense
	6-16 Consolidation and Reorganization
	6-17 Counterattack
Section IV. Combat Multipliers
	6-18 Armored Vehicles
	6-19 Engineers
	6-20 Mortars
	6-21 Field Artillery
	6-22 Attack Helicopters
	6-23 Antiarmor Weapons
	6-24 Sniper Employment Considerations
CHAPTER 7. ENABLING OPERATIONS
	7-1 Reconnaissance
	7-2 Linkup Operations
	7-3 Passage of Lines
	7-4 Relief in Place
	7-5 Withdrawals
	7-6 Delay
	7-7 Stay-Behind Operations
	7-8 Air Assault Operations
	7-9 Area Security Operations
	7-10 Convoy and Route Security
	7-11 Checkpoints, Roadblocks, and Observation Posts
CHAPTER 8. COMBAT SUPPORT
Section I. Fire Support
	8-1 Fire Planning
	8-2 Linking Fire Support Tasks and Maneuver Purpose
Section II. Indirect Fire Support
	8-3 Fire Planning Process
	8-4 Call for Fire
	8-5 Adjust Fire
	8-6 Mortar Support
	8-7 Field Artillery Support
	8-8 Fire Direction Assets
	8-9 Platoon Forward Observer Duties and Responsibilities
	8-10 Maneuver Company FIST Fire Request Channels
	8-11 Close Air Support
	8-12 Attack Helicopters
Section III. Combat Engineer Support
	8-13 Medium Engineer Company
	8-14 Engineer Missions
	8-15 Mobility
	8-16 Countermobility
	8-17 Survivability
Section IV. Air Defense
	8-18 Systems, Organization, and Capabilities
	8-19 Employment of Air Defense Systems
	8-20 Weapons Control Status
	8-21 Early Warning Procedures
	8-22 Reaction Procedures
Section V. Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Support
	8-23 Reconnaissance Support
	8-24 Decontamination Support
CHAPTER 9. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
	9-1 Individual Responsibilities
	9-2 Planning Considerations
	9-3 Resupply Operations
	9-4 Soldier’s Load
	9-5 Combat Load and Basic Load
	9-6 Maintenance
	9-7 Evacuation Procedures
	9-8 Killed in Action
	9-9 Enemy Prisoners of War
	9-10 Aerial Sustainment
	9-11 Casualty Evacuation
CHAPTER 10. PATROLLING
Section I. General
	10-1 Organization
	10-2 Initial Planning
	10-3 Complete the Plan
	10-4 Depart Friendly Lines
	10-5 Patrol Bases
	10-6 Rally Points
	10-7 Leader’s Reconnaissance
	10-8 Reentry of Friendly Lines
	10-9 Debrief
Section II. Types of Patrols
	10-10 Reconnaissance Patrol
	10-11 Combat Patrol
	10-12 Presence Patrol
APPENDIX A. SBCT PLATOON AND COMPANY ORGANIZATION AND VEHICLE DISMOUNTING
APPENDIX B. M240B MACHINE GUN AND M249 SAW EMPLOYMENT
APPENDIX C. RISK MANAGEMENT
APPENDIX D. FRATRICIDE AVOIDANCE
APPENDIX E. BATTLE DRILLS AND CREW DRILLS
APPENDIX F. FIRE CONTROL AND DISTRIBUTION TECHNIQUES
APPENDIX G. JAVELIN EMPLOYMENT
APPENDIX H. RANGE CARDS AND SECTOR SKETCHES
GLOSSARY
REFERENCES
AUTHENTICATION

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Military

FM 3-21.9

THE SBCT INFANTRY RIFLE PLATOON AND SQUAD

THE SBCT INFANTRY
RIFLE PLATOON AND SQUAD