MANEUVER
BOS
Positive Performance
TREND 1: Enter and clear a room. Due to the training emphasis placed upon military operations in urbanized terrain (MOUT) operations, most infantry teams and squads are proficient at entering and clearing rooms. Once inside a building of a MOUT site, units generally enjoy success, eliminating enemy resistance quickly and with a limited number of friendly losses.
Procedure: Refer to FM 7-8 where the basic room clearing procedures are described in detail and FM 32-9 where quick-fire procedures are described.
(TA 1.1.1 Position/Reposition Forces -Units and Equipment)
TREND 2: Combined arms route clearance. Brigade staffs and maneuver commanders have demonstrated a clear understanding of combined arms route clearance operations. As a result, brigades have developed the proper task organization to address route clearance missions.
(TA 1.1.1 Position/Reposition Forces - Units and Equipment)
TREND 3: Moving tactically. 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 the likelihood of enemy contact.
(TA 1.1.1.2.2 Move while Dismounted)
TREND 4 : Use of Night Vision Devices (NVDs). 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 night vision devices (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 end evening nautical twilight (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 harnesses; 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 1.1.2 Negotiate Terrain)
Needs Emphasis
PROBLEMS:
1. One of the most neglected areas during deployment is the occupation plan. Every unit will develop an Operations Order and all the plans and fragmentary orders (FRAGOs) that relate to the operation, but many do not take the time to properly develop an occupation plan.
2. The occupation plan is critical since it is the first action on which many others are based. The actual occupation sets the tempo for the rest of the operation. An occupation that is on time will enable the unit to properly set and prepare for support operations.
RESULTS:
1. If the occupation is not organized, it will lead to massive confusion, thus resulting in a waste of time. It is not unusual to see units take 36 to 48 hours to finish the occupation.
2. Usually the longer an occupation takes, the more a unit becomes immersed in support operations and unable to effectively do either.
Techniques:
1. Develop an occupation plan and stick to it. Do not try to make drastic changes after the road march has begun; it is too late.
2. Ensure that every element is well versed on the plan.
(TA 1.1.1.4 Close into Tactical Position)
TREND 2: Scheme of maneuver for search and attack.
PROBLEMS:
1. Units are unable to execute the find, fix, and finish methodology against a quick hitting and elusive enemy.
2. Although most company commanders can provide a correct doctrinal definition of mutual support, few are able to translate the concept into the appropriate time/distance relationship between elements on the ground.
3. Platoons continually make contact with their nearest supporting element a kilometer or more away.
RESULTS:
1. Engagements tend to last seconds/minutes, whereas the movements of supporting elements require minutes/hours to execute.
2. Most commanders employ either a linear scheme of maneuver with two or three platoons abreast or a decentralized independent platoon/squad search technique.
3. Once contact is made, both of these techniques rely on the rapid movement of supporting elements to converge on and fix the enemy.
4. Units find it difficult if not impossible to overcome the mobility factor--the enemy moves as fast or faster than you.
Techniques:
1. The Decisive Point Technique (outlined in the Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) Newsletter No. 97-8, Search and Attack! Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) executed at the company level applies the "hammer and anvil" approach. One platoon forms the fix (anvil) element by establishing ambushes along likely lines of drift into and out of the search zone. The remaining two platoons (hammer) search the zone, sweeping enemy forces toward the ambushes.
2. Refer to pp. II-9 to II-10; Field Manuals (FMs) 7-10, pp.4-14 to 4-19; 7-20, pp. 3-18 to 3-23.
(TA 1.2 Engage Enemy)
PROBLEMS:
1. Units continue to perform poorly in the first moments of contact with enemy units.
2. General problems include an initial hesitation to react, failure to establish a base of fire sufficient to prevent enemy from maneuvering to a flank, and failure to include indirect fire assets in the response.
RESULTS:
1. Many contacts result in several friendly casualties and an enemy who escapes unscathed.
2. Soldiers' execution of individual movement and marksmanship wins the day in the close fight.
Procedure: Review CALL NTC Trends Compendium, dated Sep 97, No. 97-17; refer to Actions on Contact.
(TA 1.2 Engage Enemy)
TA.5
Intelligence BOS Narrative
TA.2
Fire Support BOS Narrative
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