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RON (Remain Over Night) TIPS

183. Practice proper RON procedures when your team is training, even if you are on a rifle range. Take advantage of all training opportunities.

184. Select a tentative RON site from your map at least two hours in advance.

185. After passing a suitable RON site, "fish-hook" back and move into your selected position so that you can observe your own trail.

186. Don't form the common habit of constantly turning to the same direction (always to the left, or always to the right) when fish-hooking.

187. When in position, personnel should keep their equipment on and remain alert until the perimeter has been checked for 360 degrees at a distance of no less than 50 meters.

188. Packs should not be taken off until it is dark.

189. When deploying the team for RON, place the point man in a position opposite the most likely avenue of approach, to lead the team out in case of emergency.

190. Use aiming stakes to help orient weapons toward avenues of approach.

191. Azimuths (OT lines) and distances to preplanned targets should be recorded prior to nightfall. Nearby large trees or pre-positioned stakes can aid as hasty reference points for calling in artillery at night.

192. Prior to dark, the team leader should tell each man the primary and alternate rally points.

193. One half of the team should have their compasses set for the primary rally point and the other half for the alternate. If the enemy comes from the direction of the primary rally point, any man with the azimuth of the alternate rally point set on his compass can lead the team out.

194. A buddy system should be established in case casualties are taken at night. Each man will take care of his buddy and his buddy's equipment if the buddy is wounded, injured, or killed.

195. The pack or rucksack can be used as a pillow. However, ensure that the carrying straps are in the "up" position for easy insertion of the arms in case of rapid withdrawal.

196. It is permissible to unhook your LCE in the RON, but it should never be taken completely off at any time during the entire stay in the field.

197. A poncho, jungle sweater and rain jacket are sufficient for sleeping.

198. If a person coughs in his sleep, give him as much cough syrup as he can tolerate without going punchy.

199. Team members should not "bunch up" or sleep next to each other. One grenade or burst of fire could get them all. In small reconnaissance patrols, all team members should be able to touch each other without moving from position. When this is not possible due to the terrain, breakable cord can be tied from patrol member to patrol member for alerting each other at night.

200. Know what your next day's plans are before settling down for the night.

201. At dark, each team member should take out two or three grenades and place them near at hand for use if hit at night. Set them so they won't roll away if they're accidentally bumped.

202. Wait until last light to emplace your claymores around your RON site so you won't lose them if you're run out of your RON before dark.

203. When the enemy discovers your RON at night, use frags first, then claymores (explosions are disorienting and don't necessarily give your position away), then M16/M203 (the muzzle flashes will pinpoint your location), and lastly SAW/M60 (automatic weapons always draw maximum return fire).

204. In some instances, it is better not to put claymores around RON positions but to rely on the use of CS grenades instead, for the following reasons:

     • When claymores have been put out and the enemy is discovered to be moving in on the team, the team might stay in place too long, waiting for the enemy to enter the killing zone.

     • If the team discovers the enemy moving in on them, the enemy will normally be "on line," not knowing the exact position of the team. If no claymores are out, predesignated team members will throw CS grenades in the direction of the enemy force. After the gas begins to disperse, the team can withdraw. When the enemy is hit with the CS, he will normally panic. If he has gas masks with him and puts them on, he will not see clearly. If he does not have them, he will run away and may even fire his weapons indiscriminately, causing overall confusion and panic. In either case, the team has a good chance to escape, unharmed and unseen.

     • If a claymore is triggered, a grenade thrown or a rifle fired, the enemy might be able to orient on the team, flank it, and box it in.

205. If claymores are used around an RON site, consider taping plastic packets of CS to the front of the mines.

206. Do not send radio transmissions from your RON site unless they are absolutely necessary. Be prepared to move if you do transmit.

207. Never smoke or chew tobacco or eat chow in your RON position. The odor of the food or tobacco will give your position away.

208. All team members should be awake, alert, and ready to move prior to first light.

209. Another 360-degree check of the perimeter at a distance of at least 50 meters should be made prior to recovering claymores and sensors and moving out.

210. A thorough check should be made of the RON site just before departure to ensure that nothing is left behind and that the entire site is sterile.

211. Be alert when leaving your RON. If you have been seen, you will probably be attacked or ambushed within 300 meters.

212. Habits are easily formed around certain times of the day. For example, some teams always move into a RON site at 1830 or into a noon break position at exactly 1100 every day. If the enemy has been observing you, he will notice this and plan an ambush for you.

HATCHET TEAM TIPS

213. "Hatchet Teams" are fighting elements of team, platoon, or company size with the mission of rescuing compromised reconnaissance teams by combat action. The fighting elements and the helicopters and/or vehicles that move them must be on five-minute alert the entire time the reconnaissance teams are operational. The emphasis in their organization, equipment, and tactics is on SPEED and FIREPOWER.

TACTICS TIPS

214. Experience has shown that the Hatchet Teams face one of four basic tactical scenarios when committed (these scenarios are completed by Link-Up and Extraction of both Teams):

     • Reconnaissance Team stationary and in contact with the enemy; Hatchet Team inserts an offset LZ and moves to attack enemy flank.

     • Reconnaissance Team Stationary with enemy near but not in contact; Hatchet Team inserts on top of Reconnaissance Team to reinforce the position.

     • Reconnaissance Team moving with enemy in pursuit; Hatchet Team inserts on offset LZ and moves to block or ambush enemy.

     • Reconnaissance Team moving with enemy near but pursuit uncertain; Hatchet Team inserts/secures an LZ/extraction site and receives the Reconnaissance Team.

ORGANIZATIONAL TIPS

215. If the Hatchet Team is an ODA, a Ranger-style patrol organization works well: Team Leader is Patrol Leader (PL), XO is Assistant Patrol Leader (APL), Team Sergeant is "A" Fire Team Leader (A-TL), and Intel Sergeant is "5B" Fire Team Leader (B-TL). Divide the other team members. split-team style, into fire teams.

216. Get 1xSAW and 2xM203s for each fire team.

217. Designate an additional medic as the "Chase Medic/STABO-Master." His duties are to serve as an AST while the Hatchet Team is on Standby in its ready room or strip alert area. Once the team is committed, he rides the chase helicopter carrying the resupply bundle and rigged for STABO extraction. If another helicopter is not available, upon the return of the insertion aircraft to base, he loads the resupply bundle and rigs the aircraft appropriately.

     • In the MEDEVAC role, the Chase Medic receives patients onto the aircraft, allowing the other medics to remain on the ground with their team.

     • In the resupply role, be lowers or kicks the resupply rucks as requested by the ground element.

     • In the STABO extraction role, he throws the kit bag with the STABO harnesses (if required) and, with the assistance of the crew chiefs, throws the fastropes (FRIES) or STABO ropes.
     
     The Chase Medic carries a pistol, M5 bag modified for trauma only, a backboard, and should pre-rig IV sets on the fuel bladder harnesses, if possible.

218. Ideally, the Hatchet Team and its helicopter(s) are collocated with the FOB/SFOB:

     • The team can remain current on the tactical situation and anticipate possible events and courses of action.

     • When alerted, the Team Leader/PL and pilot can receive their orders and guidance directly from the commander in the FOB while the XO/APL oversees the last-minute preparation and inspection of the team and the helicopter is cranked.

EQUIPMENT TIPS

219. The point should carry a magazine of tracer in his weapon. In a contact, his fire will help orient the team to the enemy location.

220. Recommended basic load:

     • for each M16: 13x30-round magazines (one in the weapon); 4xHE-frag, 1xCS, 1xWP or red/violet smoke hand grenades and 1xClaymore

     • for each M203: 13x30-round magazines (one in the weapon); 2xStar clusters, 2xStar parachutes, 4xCS, 8xHE, 8xBuckshot 40mm grenades (worn on vest):

     • for each SAW gunner: 4x30-round magazines (one in the weapon) and 3x200-round drums (two on the belt, one in the buttpack).

221. If an M16/M203 bearer also carries a pistol, delete 3x30-round magazines and add 2x15-round 9mm magazines (one in the weapon, one on the scabbard).

222. Common to all: Rappel seat and 2xSnap links (worn); NVGs (carried in slung claymore bag): buttpack with 1xRation, 1xIV set, 1xIR and 1xColored chemlites, 2xFlex-cuffs, 1xSandbag, 1xBlindfold, 1xGag, 2x1Quart canteens; plus LCE as per team SOP (maps, compasses, strobes, bayonet and scabbard, etc.).

223. Special: PAQ-4s for M16 bearers; pen flare sets for PL and APL; modified M5 bags carried in medium ALICE rucks and white-light penlight for medics; PRC-77s with KY-57s, CEOIs, TEMIG beacons, and VS-17s in rucks with frames for RTOs (recommend APL carry his own radio); camera for designated photographer; PRC-90s for fire team leaders (emergency use only).

224. Resupply Bundle (Label each ruck to indicate contents and unit):

     • For each team member (separately bagged and tagged by team member): Another complete basic load of ammunition pre-loaded into magazines.

     • For each team:

       • 1xRation per man.
       • 1x2-quart canteen per man.
       • 2xPRC-90s.

MEDIC TIPS

225. Modify the M5 aid bag for trauma only, especially for gunshot wounds and snake/insect bites.

226. Pack the aid bag so you can get to anything you need without rummaging. This is very important at night. The medium ALICE rucksack works well.

227. Carry a white-light penlight to inspect patients at night.

228. Recommended trauma aid bag contents: Poncho (for litter); IV fluid set; 2x2s; tape; bandages; dressings; cravats; ace wraps; telfa pads; motrin/aspirin; bee sting kit; BP cuff; stethescope; tourniquet: providine/betadine ointment; narcotics (in tupperware container for protection).

229. Have each man on the team carry: IV fluid set; insect repellent; foot powder; two field dressings (GSWs usually cause two holes: entry and exit).

230. Train all team members in the use of field dressings, IV fluid sets, medical narcotics use, and snake/insect ID and bite treatment.

231. If you have a dedicated MEDEVAC helicopter, install a jungle penetrator on board and practice using it.

232. Recommended IAD for chance contact with African (killer) bees: Run as fast as you possibly can for 300 meters back the way you just came, and don't look over your shoulder.

MH-60 (Blackhawk) TIPS

233. Helicopters must be dual-rigged for both rappel and fastrope insertion, because the forest canopy may be higher than the length of the fastrope.

234. Rappel ropes must be dual-rigged for both rappel and STABO. This is no problem if "Figure-Eight" descenders are used for rappelling.

235. Hatchet team members must board the helicopter with their rappel seats on because the insertion point may change from a landing zone (LZ) or fast-rope zone (FZ) to a rappel zone (RZ) while enroute. The seats may also be necessary for a STABO-style extraction.

236. Have the "Figure-Eight" descenders already mounted on the rappel ropes in the helicopter. As team members "sit in the door," they pull down the next "Figure-Eight" on their rope, clip it into the snap links on their rappel seat, pull up one arm's-length of slack, and exit the helicopter by vigorously twisting away from the aircraft from the sitting position, brake hand away from the aircraft and guide hand momentarily off the rope. DO NOT attempt to attain the "L"-shaped body position used with UH-1 rappelling.

237. Recommended helicopter configuration: no seats, doors open, door safety straps in place, rappel rope deployment bags stowed on top of the fuel bladders (aft ropes) and on floor inside forward of troop doors (forward ropes), fastrope arms extended, fastropes coiled and centered on the doors directly behind the men sitting in the doors, to be used as seats (one man per coil), with two headsets so the Team Leader/PL and XO/APL can talk with the aircrew.

238. Recommended seating: Team Leader /PL (first man out) sits by the leading edge of the left door, legs out, headset on, clear lens goggles on (giving him the best view possible); Team Sergeant same place in the right door; XO/APL between the crew chief seats, headset on, facing aft (giving him the best view of the cabin; he's the last man out); SAW and/or M203 gunners sit by the trailing edge of the doors (because of the bulk of their weapons, making it easier and faster for them to exit, and putting major firepower on the ground quickly); everyone else sits toboggan-style, oriented toward their exit door.

239. Even at night, the Team Leader/PL should wear clear-lens goggles during flight instead of night-vision goggles because the aircrew is already wearing NVGs and it is far easier to remain oriented, read a map (using a filtered penlight), and check the terrain with the naked eye.

240. Recommended actions on insertion: At the "one-minute" warning, undo safety straps and stow to the rear, move fastrope coils or rappel rope D-bags between the men sitting in the doors; at the "Short-Final" warning, Team Leader/PL confirms and O.K's insertion point to pilot, then removes and passes his headset to the crew chief; XO/APL performs duties as Ropemaster.

241. WARNING: Team Leader/PL, remember it is YOUR responsibility to deliver your team safely to the correct location, NOT the aircrew's. DO NOT blindly take orders from the pilots or crew chiefs to throw ropes and "go." Experience has shown the computer navigation system to be accurate to only 500 meters.

242. Don't rely completely on the pilot's MH-60 Doppler radar altimeter to tell you how far above the ground you are. He may be getting a false return from the jungle canopy.

243. When rappelling, throw the left forward and right aft D-bags first, then the left aft and right forward D-bags, to avoid entanglement.

244. When fastroping, have only one man on a fastrope at a time. This prevents "pile-ups" and injuries, particularly at night.

245. When fastroping or rappelling, wear work gloves over aviator's gloves and ditch or pocket the work gloves once on the ground.

246. With the pilots, decide on an SOP for the crew chiefs to either cut away or retrieve the rappel/fastropes after the team is inserted.

247. After the team is inserted, the aircraft should remain on station for ten minutes to provide doorgun fire support and emergency extraction if something goes wrong. This is NOT a viable technique for reconnaissance teams.

248. When required to STABO-extract persons lacking appropriate harnesses or seats (PWs, detainees, rescued aircrews, etc.), the aircraft will hover over the extraction point long enough to allow the on-board STABO-Master to throw a weighted kit bag with the necessary number of harnesses to the ground. While the aircraft orbits to provide doorgun fire support, the ground element rigs the designated personnel, and when ready, calls the aircraft back. The STABO-Master then ensures accurate rope delivery and confirms the "Lift Away" signal from the ground (infrared chem-lite or flashlight twirled or swung in a circle).

249. When signaling to aircraft at night, turn off infrared strobes and use infrared chem-lites once the aircraft is sure of your position and is in line-of-sight. The strobe is so bright it "whites-out" the pilots' NVGs at close range. An infrared chem-lite twirled on a string is an excellent signal.

250. The maximum allowable cargo load (ACL) for a fully-fueled MH-60 is 12 Americans carrying fighting loads. Even with less fuel, more than twelve men in the cabin is very awkward and uncomfortable and unsafe during fastroping and rappelling.

Addendum, Part II

Section IV: Bibliographies, References, and Miscellaneous Literature