Introduction to Tactics

As an MS1 you will be introduced to basic squad level tactics. From there you will be introduced to platoon and more advanced levels of tactics. The smallest and most basic military unit in the U.S. Army is the fire team. Two fire teams and a squad leader make up an infantry squad.

Fire Team and Squad Leader

• Team Leader: armed with a M4 Carbine, is responsible for the command of the fire team and it’s successes and failures.
• Rifleman: armed with a M4 Carbine, their role is to engage appropriate targets and may serve as the pace man, compass man, near-or-far-side security, en route recorder, or ammo bearer.
• Automatic Rifleman: armed with a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, their role is to use their heavy weapon to maximum effect.
• Grenadier: armed with a M203A1 grenade launcher attached to an M4, their role is to use their weapon to maximum effect.
• Squad Leader: armed with a M4 Carbine, is responsible for the command of the squad and it’s successes and failures.

The fire team is divided into two person buddy teams. Buddy teams support and watch out for each other during combat operations.

The Three Individual Movement Techniques

The Low Crawl: offers the greatest protection with the slowest movement. Use the low crawl when you do not have to move quickly and you have less than a vertical foot of cover and concealment, (or when the enemy has good visibility).

The High Crawl: use the high crawl when you have to move quickly and your route offers cover and concealment, (or when poor visibility limits enemy observation).

The 3-5 Second Rush: offers you the fastest movement with the least protection. Use the rush when you have no cover or concealment, and breaks in enemy fire allow you to expose yourself briefly.

The Two Fire Team Movement Formations

The Wedge Formation: The soldiers are spaced about 10 meters apart. The team leader moves at the point of the wedge. The wedge is easy to control, is flexible, provides good security, and allows the team members to fire immediately in all directions.

The File Formation: If terrain or visibility prevents the team members from using the wedge, they use the file formation. The team leader walks at the point, they walk about 10 meters apart. The file provides the team leader greater control then the wedge does, it is less flexible, less secure, and prevents the team from firing to the front and rear.