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COMMUNICATION TIPS

88. Communication is everyone's responsibility, not just the communication sergeant's.

89. Always inventory and inspect your radios, kitbags, secures and sensors before and after all missions.

90. Place a plastic cover over your PRC-77/KY-57, and wrap them in an additional waterproof bag.

91. Pre-set frequencies on the PRC-77 so that a quick turn of the dials will put you on the desired frequency. This is especially helpful at night when you want to avoid a light.

92. Carefully inspect your X-mode cable for bent pins and dirt in the female connectors.

93. Take along secure hand-held radios with earphones and whisper mikes for internal in-position team communications during ambush and PW snatch missions.

94. Perform pre-mission radio checks:

    • with your radio and secure packed in your ruck exactly the way you will carry them in the field;

    • after your crypto has been loaded;

    • with and without the secure hooked up;

    • with your FOB, helicopters, fire support, the hatchet team, other teams operating adjacent to your AO, and your internal radios;

    • bending the X-mode cable while receiving/transmitting to check for excessive static and/or loss of communication.

95. Before a mission, always place fresh batteries into your communication gear and sensors, especially the BA-1372 memory battery for the KY-57.

96. Always carry spare PRC-77 and KY-57 batteries, but do not remove the spares from their plastic wrapping prior to use, or they may lose power.

97. Carry the lithium BA-5598 batteries for the PRC-77. This cuts weight, and since the spare is in the battery cover, it speeds emergency replacement.

98. Ensure the PRC-77 battery cover vent is operational, because of the gases produced by the lithium batteries.

99. Ensure the cover vent is on the same side as the battery connector.

100. After you put the battery in your TEMIG beacon, cycle the TEMIG to make sure it is "off," and not silently transmitting.

101. Don't try to weatherproof your handmike with a plastic wrapper. Water condenses on the inside anyway, it rustles loudly, and at night, it shines like a signal light when viewed through NVGs.

102. Always carry a spare handmike in a waterproof bag.

103. Don't carry your spare handmike where it might get crushed when you drop your ruck.

104. Clean all contacts daily with the eraser end of a standard No. 2 pencil.

105. Waterproof your CEOI and authentication tables by laminating them with acetate or putting them in a plastic zip-lock bag.

106. Constantly check to make sure your CEOI authentication tables are folded open to the page showing the most current set. This will prevent dangerous delays when your AC-130 requests authentication, especially at night.

107. Carry a single strand of claymore firing wire or WD-1 cut to your operating frequency for use as a field-expedient antenna. Secure one end (stripped of insulation) to the radio with an antenna base, then string the wire straight up to a branch (omni-directional), or lay it on the ground in the direction of the receiving station (directional).

108. Minimize radio traffic.

109. Do not send "same" or "no change" when reporting team location. Always send your coordinates.

110. Say back grid coordinates sent to you to ensure accurate copy.

111. The FOB must avoid making unnecessary, unscheduled "radio checks" just because they haven't heard from a team for a while. Be patient.

112. Whisper into the handmike while in the field. Exhale first, then speak, or your transmission will sound like a tire leaking air. Cup your hand over the handmike mouthpiece and your mouth to mask your voice.

113. Always remain calm and professional, no matter what happens. Screaming or speaking in emotional, angry, or desperate tones will cause the FOB to doubt your judgment and the accuracy of whatever you're saying.

INFILTRATION/EXFILTRATION TIPS

114. When loading the aircraft for infiltration, ensure the team is seated so that they can exit the proper door.

115. Load the team in reverse order.

116. Sudden shifts of weight in flight will cause temporary loss of aircraft control. Don't cause any.

117. The team leader and pilot will determine direction of approach to the infiltration LZ.

118. The team leader will wear a headset to talk with the pilot until just before touchdown/insertion.

119. The team leader will follow the flight with his 1:50,000 map from the FOB to his infiltration LZ. The team leader, not the pilot, is the man ultimately responsible for where the team is inserted.

120. When unloading a UH-1 at the hover, team members will unload one at a time to enable the pilot to stabilize his aircraft.

121. If the aircraft has to hover more than 6-8 feet off the ground, use a fastrope/ladder to avoid injury to team members.

122. If the first man exits the aircraft under fire, the entire team will exit the aircraft.

123. If the aircraft crashes, the team leader is in command on the ground. He will do the following:

     • Secure an area 50 meters in front of the aircraft.

     • Account for his team and aircrew.

     • Call for a rescue aircraft.

     • Treat casualties.

     • With the pilot return to the aircraft to zero the radios and secures, turn off the gas, destroy the battery, and remove maps, CEOIs, pilot's notebooks, weapons (door guns) and ammunition.

     • Evacuate aircrew and casualties (including KIA) on the first aircraft.

     • Evacuate remainder of team on the last aircraft.

124. Inform your personnel in what order they will be extracted prior to the arrival of the extraction aircraft. The LZ should be secured prior to the arrival of the aircraft.

125. Give the pilot an LZ description and approach heading.

126. Notify aircraft before firing pen-flares, because they look like tracers.

127. Never turn your back without covering fire. If none is available, return fire while backing off.

128. The assistant team leader is the first to enter the exfiltration aircraft and counts the team aboard. The team leader or senior remaining detachment member is the last to enter aircraft, and the only man who can give the pilot the O.K. to lift off. Make sure you have everyone.

129. During extraction, do not fire weapons from helicopters after leaving the LZ, because a helicopter may be passing under you without your knowledge.

130. In selection of LZs, avoid likely or large LZs.

RECONNAISSANCE PATROL TIPS

131. When making an aerial visual reconnaissance (VRs), always mark every LZ within and adjacent to your AO on your map. Plan the route of march so that you will always know the distance and azimuth to the nearest LZ.

132. Always plan a primary exfiltration LZ and two or more alternates.

133. Your alternate LZs should be in the direction of your E. & E. corridor.

134. Don't cut off too much of the map showing your AO. Always keep at least 5-10 km surrounding your AO as "running room."

135. Base the number of canteens per man on the weather and availability of water in the AO. Select water points when planning your route of march.

136. Inspect each team member's uniform and equipment, especially radios, sensors, NVGs, cameras and strobe lights, prior to departure on a mission.

137. Check all team members prior to departing homebase for passes, ID cards, notebooks with writing in them, cigarettes, lighters and rings with insignia, etc. Personnel should only carry dog tags while on patrol.

138. Always carry maps and notebooks in waterproof containers.

139. Use a pencil to make notes during an operation. Ink smears when it becomes wet; lead does not.

140. Use "Storm-Safe" or "Wet-Notes" waterproof notebooks (commercially available) so you can take notes, make sketches, etc., while it's raining.

141. During the rainy season, take extra cough medicine and codeine on patrol.

142. During the dry season, do not urinate on rocks or leaves, because the wet spot may be seen, and the odor will carry. Use a hole or small crevice.

143. The location and proper use of morphine should be known by all team members.

144. Each team member should carry maps, notebooks, and CEOIs in the same pockets of each uniform, for hasty removal by other team members if someone becomes a casualty.

145. All survival equipment should be tied or secured to the uniform or harness to prevent loss if pockets become torn, etc.

146. Do not take Zippo-style cigarette lighters to the field, as they make too much noise when opening and closing. Of course: you never smoke on patrol, because the odor travels long distances in the jungle.

147. Have designated primary and alternate rally points and LZs at all times. The team leader is responsible for ensuring that each team member knows the azimuth and distance to each rally point/LZ.

148. Never take pictures of team members while on patrol. If the enemy captures the camera, he will have gained valuable intelligence.

149. At least two pen lights with infrared filters should be carried by the team.

150. While on patrol, move 20 minutes and halt and listen for 10 minutes. Listen half the amount of time you move. Move and halt at irregular intervals.

151. Deviate from your route of march often. Never move in a straight line.

152. Never move along bottoms, ridgelines, or other easy and obvious routes. Always use the military crest of hills for your movement.

153. Stay alert at all times. You are never 100-percent safe until you are back home.

154. Avoid overconfidence, it leads to carelessness. Just because you haven't seen any sign of the enemy for 3 or 4 days doesn't mean that he isn't there or hasn't seen you.

155. A large percentage of patrols have been compromised due to poor noise discipline. Speak and talk quietly.

156. Never break limbs or branches on trees or bushes, or you will leave a clear trail for the enemy to follow.

157. Put insect/leech repellent around tops of boots, on pants fly, belt, and cuffs to stop leeches and insects.

158. Do most of your moving during the morning hours to conserve water. However, never be afraid to move at night, especially if you think your RON has been compromised.

159. Continually check to ensure your point man is on the correct azimuth. Change direction often.

160. If followed by trackers, change direction of movement often and attempt to evade or ambush them. They make good PWs.

161. Force yourself to cough whenever a high performance aircraft passes over. It will clear your throat, ease tension, and cannot be heard. If you must cough, cough into your hat or neckerchief to smother the noise.

162. Never take your web gear off, day or night. In an area where it is necessary to put on jungle sweaters/gore-tex jackets at night, no more than two patrol members should do so at a time. Take the sweaters/jackets off the next morning to prevent colds and overheating.

163. If you change socks, especially in the rainy season, try to wait until RON and have no more than two patrol members change socks at one time. Never take off both boots at the same time.

164. When a team member starts to come down with immersion foot, stop in a secure position, remove the injured person's boots, dry off his feet, put foot powder on them and place a poncho over them so they can dry out. Continued walking will only aggravate the injury, ensuring that the man will become a casualty, and halting any further progress of the team.

165. Desenex Ointment or Vaseline rubbed on the feet during the rainy season or in wet conditions will aid in the prevention of immersion foot. Put on the hands, it will also help avoid chapping.

166. All personnel should camouflage faces and backs of hands in the morning, at noon and in RON or ORP positions.

167. Never cook or build heating fires on patrol.

168. No more than 25-percent of personnel should eat chow at any one time. The rest of the team should be on security.

169. Whenever the team makes an extended halt, always check 50 meters out from the perimeter.

170. All team members should take notes while on an operation and compare them nightly.

171. Each man on a team must continually observe the men in front of and behind him (as well as the other team members) for hand and arm signals.

172. A reconnaissance team with a mine emplacement mission should never place more than one mine (AP or AT) in one small section of the road or trail at a time. If more than one is set out, the team is just resupplying the enemy, because when a mine goes off, a search will be made of the immediate area for others, and they will surely be found.

173. If your mission calls for emplacing a mine in a road, take an extra fuse along, in case one is lost.

174. When crossing streams observe first for activity, then send security across to check the far side. Then cross the rest of the patrol one at a time, with each man taking water as he crosses. If necessary, have all personnel cross prior to getting water.

175. Treat all trails (old and new), streams, hilltops, ridgelines, and open areas as danger areas.

176. Carry one extra pair of socks, plus foot powder, while on patrol, especially during the rainy season. Each team member should also carry an oversized pair of thick socks to pull over his boots when walking or crossing a trail or stream to disguise his tracks.

177. During rest halts, don't take off your pack or leave your weapon. During long breaks, such as for noon chow, don't take off your pack until your perimeter has been checked at least 50 meters out for 360 degrees.

178. During breaks, throw nothing on the ground. Stow trash in your ruck immediately. Don't bury trash, because trackers or animals will dig it up.

179. If you hear people speaking, move close enough to hear what they are saying, and take notes.

180. A dead enemy's shirt and the contents of his pockets and pack are normally more valuable than his weapon.

181. If the enemy is pursuing you, deploy delay grenades and/or delay claymores of 60-120 seconds. In addition, throw CS grenades to your rear and flanks. Give the enemy a reason or excuse to quit.

182. If you're being pursued at night, HC (white smoke) and CS grenades in combination will help you break contact, blind NVGs, and screen your escape.

Addendum to Section III: Tips of the Trade

Addendum, Part III