Fire Commands and Engagement Priorities
Leaders use fire commands to direct the fires of the unit. A fire command has six parts:
1.Alert. The leader alerts the soldiers by name or unit designation, by some type of visual or sound signal, by personal contact, or by any other practical method.
2.Direction. The leader tells the soldiers the general direction or pinpoint location of the target.
3.Description. The leader describes the target briefly but accurately. Always give the formation of enemy soldiers.
4.Range. The leader tells the range to the target in meters.
5.Method of fire. The leader designates the weapons to fire. He can also tell the type and amount of ammunition to fire and the rate of fire.
6.Command to fire. The leader tells soldiers when to fire. He can use an oral command, a sound, or a visual signal. When he wants to control the exact moment, he says, “At my command.” When he wants firing to start at the completion of the command, he just says, “Fire.”
Targets appear in random order at different times and locations throughout the battlefield. Engagement priorities allow the leader to designate which target he wants destroyed first. Engagement priorities are usually done by weapons systems. For example, Dragon gunners would fire first at the most threatening armored vehicle and then at any other armored vehicle in the kill zone or primary sector. Machine guns would fire at groups of five or more in the primary sector and then at automatic weapons. Riflemen would fire in their primary and secondary sectors from nearest to farthest, starting on the flank and working toward the center. Any number of priorities can be assigned to any weapon system.
OCCUPATION AND PREPARATION OF DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
Occupying and preparing a defensive position is not sequential. One potential problem is the lack of adequate preparation time if the platoon also has several other defensive positions (alternate, supplementary, and subsequent) and EAs to develop.
Occupation of Defensive Positions
The platoon occupies defensive positions in accordance with the leader’s plan, which has been based on prior reconnaissance.
To ensure an effective and efficient occupation, rifle squads move to the locations marked previously by the reconnaissance element. Once in position, each squad leader checks his location on the map to ensure he is complying with the platoon leader’s graphics. As the platoon occupies its positions, the platoon leader verifies squad locations and corrects discrepancies.
Once each rifle squad has occupied its position, the platoon leader must walk the positions to verify that weapons orientation, positioning of the rifle squads, and understanding of the plan are in accordance with the pre-established plan. For C2 purposes, each squad leader must know the location of the platoon leader and the platoon sergeant.
Night vision equipment enhances the occupation process under limited-visibility conditions. For instance, the platoon leader can mark his position with an infrared light source, and the squad leaders can move to pre-marked positions with infrared light sources showing them where to locate.
The platoon may conduct a hasty occupation in the defense during a counterattack or after disengagement and movement to alternate, supplementary, or subsequent defensive positions.
The platoon conducts deliberate occupation of defensive positions when time is available, when enemy contact is not expected, and when friendly elements are positioned forward in the sector to provide security for forces in the main battle area. Actually establishing defensive positions is accomplished concurrently with the development of the EA. The platoon leader directs the initial reconnaissance from the EA and then tentatively emplaces crew-served weapon systems.
Once the defensive positions are established, subordinate leaders can begin to develop their sector sketches and fire plans based on the basic fire plan developed during the leader’s reconnaissance. Fighting positions are improved while the direct-fire plan is finalized and proofed. The platoon leader, with guidance from the company commander, designates the level of preparation for each defensive position based on the time available and other tactical considerations for the mission.
In addition to establishing the platoon’s primary defensive positions, the platoon leader and subordinate leaders normally plan for preparation and occupation of alternate, supplementary, and subsequent defensive positions (layered defense) in accordance with the company order.
Priority of Work
Leaders must ensure that their soldiers prepare for the defense quickly and efficiently. Work must be done in order of priority to accomplish the most in the least amount of time while maintaining security and the ability to respond to enemy action. Below are basic considerations for priorities of work:
•Emplace local security.
•Position and assign sectors of fire for each squad (platoon leader).
•Position and assign sectors of fire for the crew-served weapons and the machine-gun teams (platoon leader).
•Position and assign sectors of fire for SAW, grenadiers, and then riflemen (squad leader).
•Clear fields of fire (remove vegetation if applicable) and prepare range cards.
•Prepare sector sketches (leaders).
•Dig fighting positions (stage 1; see Chapter 13).
•Establish communication/coordination with the company and adjacent units.
•Coordinate with adjacent units and review sector sketches.
•Emplace AT and Claymore mines, then wire and other obstacles.
•Improve primary fighting positions and add overhead cover (stage 2; see Chapter 13).
•Prepare supplementary and then alternate positions (same procedure as the primary position).
•Distribute and stockpile ammunition, food, and water.
•Establish the HQ element with communicator.
•Establish the CCP.
Priorities of work are dictated by unit SOPs and commander’s guidance based on METT-TC. Many actions are completed at the same time; thus it is important that leaders are constantly supervising activities.
Security in the Defense
Security in the defense includes all active and passive measures taken to avoid detection by the enemy, deceive the enemy, and deny enemy reconnaissance elements accurate information on friendly positions. The two primary tools available to the platoon leader are listening/observation posts (LP/OPs) and patrols. In planning for the security in the defense, the platoon leader considers the terrain and intelligence updates to plan his courses of action.
Listening/Observation Posts. An LP/OP gives the platoon its first echelon of security in the defense. It provides early warning of impending enemy contact by reporting direction, distance, and size. It also detects the enemy early and sends accurate reports to the platoon. The platoon leader establishes LP/OPs along the most likely enemy avenues of approach into the position or into the EA. Leaders ensure that LP/OPs have communication with the platoon.
Patrols. Platoons actively patrol in the defense. Patrols enhance the platoon’s ability to fill gaps in security between LP/OPs. The platoon leader forwards his tentative patrol route to the commander to ensure that it does not conflict with other elements within the company. The commander forwards the entire company’s patrol routes to the battalion. This allows the battalion S-3 and S-2 to ensure all routes are coordinated for fratricide prevention and that the company and platoons are conforming to the battalion intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) plan.
Establishment of Defensive Positions