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TA.5 INTELLIGENCE

TA.5 Positive Trend 1: Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) Process and Application

4QFY96
1QFY97
2-3QFY97

SUCCESS 1-1: Air defense battery commanders are conducting a thorough initial Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) with the brigade S-2.

1. They identify the threat air order of battle, their mission, suspected air avenues of approach, and helicopter landing zones (HLZs).

2. They are becoming more adept at templating the locations of enemy air defense assets.

3. Battery commanders conduct thorough analyses of how the enemy air supports the ground effort.

4. Greater understanding in correlating the distance factors of HLZs to battalion trains and company trains has led to more effective templating of enemy HLZs.

Techniques

1. Review FM 34-130, July 1994, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield.

2. Successful S-2s operate under time constraints, but focus on presenting the staff and commander with a complete SITTEMP as a minimum.

3. Continue training the S-2s in the IPB process for continued familiarity with the logical flow of templates, i.e., doctrinal to situational, and the uses of each.

4. Most S-2s know the IPB process and understand that the products and information needed are the various steps of the military decision-making process (MDMP).

TA.1 MANEUVER

TA.1 Positive Trend 1: Use of Night Observation Devices (NODs)

4QFY96
1QFY97
2-3QFY97

SUCCESS 1-1: Leaders and soldiers are properly wearing NVDs on head/helmet harness and properly mounting night sights on weapon systems during limited visibility operations. This greatly facilitates movement and security at night. Additionally, soldiers are using their AN/PAQ-4s in conjunction with their NVDs during night engagements to assist in target acquisition.

Techniques

1. Key leaders and selected individuals should wear NVDs during night movement.

2. Soldiers not wearing NVDs should use the off-center scanning technique during movement at night.

3. Begin wearing NVDs before EENT to assist in the transition during twilight when it is too light to use NVDs but too dark to see without them.

4. Remember that it takes about two minutes to completely adapt to the dark after removal of the NVDs.

5. Using NVDs inhibits the ability to hear, smell, and feel because of the concentration required to use the NVDs effectively.

6. Integrate NVDs into sector sketches and coverage plans; plan for overlapping NVD coverage at night.

7. Ensure proper use of head/helmet harness; this prevents soldiers having to use their hands to hold NVDs during movement.

8. Do not wear PVS-7 flush against face with head harness; off-set about 1/4 inch from face to retain peripheral vision at night.

9. Leaders must enforce AN/PAQ-4 discipline during night movements; AN/PAQ-4s indiscriminately turned on will give away the unit's position to a NVD-equipped enemy.

TA.1 Positive Trend 2: Soldier Load

4QFY96
1QFY97

SUCCESS 2-1: Leaders continue to do an outstanding job of managing soldier loads. They establish and enforce combat and sustainment loads within their units. Leaders cross-level critical squad supplies and consolidate cold weather gear to minimize the weight soldiers carry. They do an outstanding job of establishing fighting loads (rucks) and approach march loads (assault and butt packs) during contact. Because soldiers are not hindered by heavy loads in contact, they are better able to quickly maneuver against an enemy force.

Procedures

1. Establish and then enforce combat and sustainment loads.

2. Cross-level critical squad supplies.

3. Consolidate cold weather gear to minimize soldier carried weight.

4. Establish fighting loads (rucks) and approach march loads (assault and butt packs) for use during contact.

Techniques

1. Cache rucks in patrol bases.

2. Use butt packs or assault packs for fighting loads.

3. Pack one ruck per squad with essential cold weather gear for the squad.

4. Conduct leader precombat inspections (PCIs) to enforce load discipline.

5. Push forward duffel bags from the field trains during extended lulls in contact to allow soldiers to cross-level clothing and equipment.

6. Doctrinal references: FM 7-10, The Infantry Rifle Company, Chapter 8, Section III, and FM 21-18, Footmarches, contain detailed discussion on load planning, calculating, and management.

TA.1 Positive Trend 3: Movement Formations and Techniques

2-3QFY97

SUCCESS 3-1: Units consistently demonstrate the ability to move tactically during daylight conditions. Soldiers use proper individual movement Techniques under direct fire. Squads, platoons, and companies are adept at using proper movement Techniques and formations based upon terrain and likelihood of enemy contact.

Techniques

Continue planning movement formations in conjunction with movement Techniques. Transition to a more secure movement technique as the likelihood of enemy contact increases. Leader control of formations and the selection and execution of appropriate movement Techniques should be the start point for maneuver training. FM 7-7, 15 March 1985, The Mechanized Infantry Platoon and Squad (APC); FM 71-1, 27 Sept 1988, The Tank and Mechanized Infantry Battalion Task Force; and FM 71-2, 22 November 1988, The Tank and Mechanized Infantry Company Team, are clear on how to use movement formations and Techniques. Units need to continue training and using the tactics and Techniques described in each FM.

TA.2 FIRE SUPPORT

TA.2 Positive Trend 1: Commander and Fire Support Officer (FSO) Integration

2-3QFY97

SUCCESS 1-1: The habitual relationship of commanders and fire support officers is working well. Brigade through company commanders and their fire support officers understand the concepts of integrating and synchronizing fires to support the scheme of maneuver.

Techniques

The habitual relationship of commanders and fire support officers can be clarified and perpetuated by including the duties within that relationship and the expectations for each within the unit tactical standing operating Procedures (SOPs).

TA.2 Positive Trend 2: Use of Indirect Fires

4QFY96
1QFY97

SUCCESS 2-1: Use of indirect fires.

1. Battery fire direction centers (FDCs) consistently maintain digital communications with the battalion FDC. They process and transmit fire missions to the gunline using the LCU-GDU link.

2. Limited, but effective, fires now more routinely take place in the brigade rear area.

2-3QFY97

SUCCESS 2-2: Use of indirect fires (repeat of Success 2-1). Units have shown great improvement in incorporating indirect fires in the brigade rear area. Problems still exist, but we are moving in the right direction. Establishing a fire support cell in the fire support battalion (FSB) TOC from personnel in the FA battalion field trains and incorporating them in the brigade's fire support plan is extremely effective. The best use of a brigade support area (BSA) fire support officer (FSO) is in support of main support routes (MSRs) and the BSA when they are not in a battalion's sector. When the BSA is within an infantry battalion's sector, sufficient area around the BSA must be allocated to the FSB to control fires (1 kilometer [KM] is a good planning factor).

Techniques

1. Successful units use a dedicated rear area FSO and a 24-hour workstation in the FSB TOC.

2. Emphasize rear area fire support during all appropriate Home-Station training exercises.

3. Adequately resource the rear fire support element (FSE) with personnel and equipment, i.e., COLT and/or forward observers and the necessary planning tools.

4. Make use of nonlethal munitions such as smoke or illumination.

5. Integrate indirect fires early into the planning cycle and CSS rehearsals.

6. Practice this integration during Home-Station training.

TA.6 MOBILITY AND SURVIVABILITY

TA.6 Positive Trend 1: Unit Survivability

4QFY96
1QFY97

SUCCESS 1-1: Careful management, planning and utilization of engineer resources, Class IV planning, and improved threat analysis and awareness have contributed to improved survivability for many units.

TA.6 Positive Trend 2: Engineer Equipment Management

4QFY96
1QFY97

SUCCESS 2-1: Aviation elements obtain engineer assets from the infantry brigade for enhancing force protection; brigade commanders understand the necessity to protect the aviation assets.

Techniques

1. Use small emplacement excavator (SEE) and bulldozer support to construct survivability positions protecting aviation assets.

2. According to FM 5-7-30, The Brigade Engineer and Engineer Company Combat Operations, the engineer battalion commander is the brigade engineer and principal advisor to the brigade commander. If not commanding, he should help direct all engineer forces controlled by or supporting the brigade.

TA.6 Positive Trend 3: Mine Operations

4QFY96
1QFY97

SUCCESS 3-1: Greater unit employment of nonstandard complex obstacles in restrictive and very restrictive terrain.

Techniques

1. Minefield indicators, such as destroyed vehicles and equipment, often cause units to halt and employ the most expedient means to maintain their momentum.

2. Improve the ability to maintain momentum.

• Knowing enemy obstacle templates.

• Task-organizing engineers forward in the order of march.

3. Report obstacles using the enemy minefield report.

4. Mines are most effective when buried and camouflaged.

5. Tilt-rod fused mines are most effective when buried and camouflaged in tall grass.

6. When employing tilt-rod fused mines in low grass or sand areas, consider increasing the density of the minefield and/or the depth of the mines.

7. Doctrinal reference: FM 20-32, Mine/Countermine Operations, page B-3, for a sample enemy minefield report.

8. A combination of wire, mines, tank ditches, and berms has proven most effective.

Appendix A: Trends Frequency Matrix

Section P - Positive Performance, Part II