APPENDIX
E
TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
If the need arises to implement survival skills in a semi-permissive or non-permissive environment the Marine must be able to utilize basic skills, as referenced in the Marine Battle Skills Handbook Pvt – Lcpl, in order to avoid making contact with hostile personnel. Unfortunately, the enemy will not consider your MOS when deciding whether or not you should be captured or killed. It is imperative that every Marine live up to statement – “every Marine is a basic rifleman.”
To discuss every possible survival scenario and enemy situation would be pointless. The following outline is to be utilized as a guide. Common sense and survival skills, along with these considerations, will increase your chances of avoiding capture or possible death.
A. Apply the key word survival (ICBT – 20.01) (PVTX.14.16)
1. Size up the situation:
- Mission
- What was the mission?
- Can the mission still be accomplished?
- Enemy
- What is the enemy situation?
- Troops and Fire
Support available
- Do you have communications with higher?
- Is anyone injured? How will they be transported?
- How will you communicate with other Marines in your group?
- Arm and Hand signals?
- Terrain and Weather
- Do you have a map?
- Does the terrain offer cover and concealment?
- Where is the water?
- Do you have protection from the elements?
- Is it advantageous to move in current weather?
- Will you move in daytime
or evening temperatures?
- How much illumination is available at night?
- Time, Space, and Logistics
- Is it day or night?
- Time Distance Formula
- What kind of supplies and equipment are available?
2. Undue haste makes waste:
- Should you stay or move from your current position.
- “Slow is Smooth – Smooth is Fast” i.e. Is there a need to run to the SAFE or should the requirements of survival be implemented in route? Security is paramount -is it being sacrificed for speed?
3. Remember where you are:
- Are you in a non-permissive environment?
- What is the terrain like?
- Can you utilize land navigation skills?
4. Vanquish fear and panic:
- Are good decisions being made?
- Is the group completely lost and leaderless?
- BAMCIS
5. Improvise and improve:
- Do you have your survival kit?
- Are litters available
or do you have to improvise?
- Do you have the resources to obtain food and water? - Will your supplies and equipment protect you from the elements? - Will your supplies and equipment protect you from the enemy?
6. Value living:
- Do you want to lay on your back and put your legs in the air like a dead cockroach?
7. Act like the natives:
- Observe native habits.
8. Live
by your wits, but for now learn basic skills:
- Utilize common sense and basic Marine Corps training.
- Practice skills learned at MWTC.
- Prior planning prevents poor performance.
- Establish E and R plan, brief personnel of contingencies.
B. Additional
Individual Training Standards:
- Employ signaling devices (ICBT – 20.03)
- Construct and maintain
a fire (ICBT – 20.04)
What is the tactical situation? - Prepare a survival kit
(ICBT 20.05) (PVTX.14.15)
- Maintain the M16A2 service rifle.
(PVTX.11.1)
- Prepare individual equipment for tactical
operations. (PVTX.14.1)
- Camouflage self and individual
equipment. (PVTX.14.7)
- Transport casualties using manual
carries and improvised stretchers. (PVTX.17.4)
- Maintain physical fitness. (PVTX.20.1)
- Perform individual movement. (PVTX.14.2)
- Participate in a security patrol. (PVTX.13.1)
- Arm and hand signals.
- Challenge and pass / near and far recognition.
- Rally points.
- Actions on enemy contact
- Security halts.
- Reconnaissance of objectives.
- 5 Point Contingency Plan. (GOTWA)
- Going (where)
- Others (who is going with you)
- Time away.
- What happens (you and them)
- Actions taken on enemy contact (you and them)
- React to enemy indirect fire. (PVTX.14.3)
- React to enemy direct fire. (PVTX.20.1)
C. Additional Considerations:
When sizing up the situation you will determine whether the Mission or Cmdr’s Intent can be accomplished. Obviously, every effort must be made to accomplish the mission. If it can not be accomplished a separate mission order must be established for the group. (i.e. At 0900 the group will implement the requirements for survival in order to move to the SAFE for recovery.)
In order to tactically move and occupy the SAFE, the group must be task organized into teams. The teams are assigned additional tasks. Team tasks will usually be accomplished during occupation of the patrol base. In addition, individuals within the group are assigned tasks.
1. Teams:
- Security. All patrol members should be assigned sectors of fire to include air sentry.
- Reconnaissance.
- Assault. (may not be implemented)
- Support. (may not be implemented)
2. Team Tasks:
- Water procurement.
- Food gathering.
- Wood gathering. (construction materials, signal, and fire wood.) - Shelter construction.
- Pathguards.
- Signaling
3. Individual Tasks:
- Point man.
- Navigator.
- Patrol leader and
assistant.
- Flank (left and right) security.
- Two pace men.
- Tail end charlie.
In a survival situation it is probably wiser to occupy the patrol base through reconnaissance instead of by force. Upon initial occupation the acronym SAFE (Security, Automatic weapons, Fields of fire, Entrenchment) must be enforced. The patrol base should only be entered (or exited) from one location. Communication within the group is essential. Everyone must be well informed. (i.e. current plans, alternate patrol bases or rally points, how many Marines have departed the patrol base and when are they expected to return, current challenge and pass, and near and far recognition signals.) No Marine will exercise their judgement and leave the patrol base or perform a task without permission from the patrol leader.
The patrol base is not a place for lollygagging. It is a place where noise and light discipline is enforced and security is maintained continuously. Priorities of work will be established after occupation. (i.e. weapon maintenance, hygiene, chow, and rest plans) Security or reconnaissance teams can be sent out to determine enemy threat or gather information for route selection. These patrols can also be tasked with gathering firewood or some other routine task. However, security must be maintained while the firewood is being collected.
Since you are probably evading the enemy, activity in and around the patrol base must be limited. Occupation of the patrol base must not exceed 24 hours. Depending on the tactical situation the use of fire may or may not be appropriate.
D. Conclusion:
The above information
servers as a guideline. Survival is a thinking person’s challenge
between life and death. As the situation changes a Marine must adapt,
size up the situation, and implement a new plan in order to survive.
If you are lacking in any of the Individual Training Standards it is
your responsible to take corrective action. Remember that every
Marine is a basic rifleman.