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You are here: home > common tasks smct > skill level 1 > 071-326-0502 (sl1) - move under direct fire

071-326-0502 (SL1) - Move Under Direct Fire
Standards: Moved to within 100 meters of the enemy position, using the correct individual tactical fire and movement techniques dictated by terrain features. Coordinated movement with team members and provided covering fire for each member.

Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Conditions: Given a tactical situation approach an enemy position from a distance of 250 to 300 meters across varied terrain and armed with an M16A1 rifle or M203 grenade launcher.  You are a member of a two-man team and wearing LCE.

Standards: Moved to within 100 meters of the enemy position, using the correct individual tactical fire and movement techniques dictated by terrain features. Coordinated movement with team members and provided covering fire for each member.

Performance Steps

1.   Select an individual movement route within your team or squad route or axis of advance (figure 071-326-0502-1).


Figure 071-326-0502-1. Individual movement route

a. Search the terrain to your front for—

(1)  A gully, ravine, ditch, or wall at a slight angle to your direction of movement.

Note. These features provide cover and concealment when using the low or high crawl.

(2)  Hedgerows or a line of thick vegetation.

Note. These features provide only concealment when using the low or high crawl.

(3)  Large trees, rocks, stumps, fallen timber, rubble, vehicle hulks, folds or creases in the ground.

Note. These features provide cover and concealment for use as temporary positions. Use the rush if the area between them has no concealment.

(4)  High grass or weeds.

Note. These features provide only partial concealment. You can use the rush since the use of the high or low crawl could reveal your location by the movement of vegetation.

b. Select your next position (and the route to it) as one that—

(1)  Exposes you to the least enemy fire.

(2)  Does not require you to cross in front of other members of your element, masking their fires.

2.   Determine the correct individual movement technique.

a. Select the high crawl when—

(1)  Route provides cover and concealment.

(2)  Poor visibility reduces enemy observation.

(3)  Speed is required but the terrain and vegetation are suitable only for the low crawl.

b. Select the low crawl when—

(1)  The route provides cover or concealment less than one foot high.

(2)  Visibility provides the enemy good observation.

(3)  Speed is not required.

c. Select the rush when—

(1)  You must cross open areas.

(2)  Time is critical.

3.   Communicate the movement plan to your buddy or team leader using hand signals so the soldier not moving can cover by fire any movement by the other soldier.

Note. When moving as a member of a fire team, watch and listen to your team leader who will lead you along the best route and ensure that covering fire is provided when you move. Stay with your team leader and follow his example.

4.   Use the high crawl (figure 071-326-0502-2).


Figure 071-326-0502-2. High crawl

a. Keep your body off the ground

b. Rest your weight on your forearms and lower legs.

c. Cradle your weapon in your arms, keeping its muzzle off the ground.

d. Keep your knees well behind your buttocks so it stays low.

e. Move forward by alternately advancing your right elbow and left knee, and left elbow and right knee.

5.   Use the low crawl (figure 071-326-0502-3).

a. Keep your body as flat as possible to the ground.

b. Hold your weapon by grasping the sling at the upper sling swivel, letting the handguard rest on your forearm and the butt of the weapon drag on the ground, thus keeping the muzzle off the ground.

c. Move forward by—

(1)  Pushing both arms forward while pulling your right leg forward.

(2)  Pulling with both arms while pushing with your right leg.

(3)  Continuing this push-pull movement until you reach your next position, changing your pushing leg frequently to avoid fatigue.


Figure 071-326-0502-3. Low crawl

6.   Use the rush to move from one covered position to another when enemy fire allows brief exposure (figure 071-326-0502-4).

a. Move from your firing position by rolling or crawling.

b. Start from the prone position.

c. Select your next position by slowly raising your head.

d. Lower your head while drawing your arms into your body, keeping your elbows down, and pulling your right leg forward.

e. Raise your body in one movement by straightening your arms.

f.  Spring to your feet, stepping off with either foot.

g. Run to the next position--

(1)  Keeping the distance short to avoid accurate enemy fire.

(2)  Trying not to stay up any longer than 3 to 5 seconds so that the enemy does not have time to track you with automatic fire.


Figure 071-326-0502-4. Rush

h. Plant both feet just before hitting the ground.

i.   Fall forward by:

(1)  Sliding your right hand down to the heel of the butt of your weapon.

(2)  Breaking your fall with the butt of your weapon.

j.   Assume a firing position.

(1)  Roll on your side.

(2)  Place the butt of your weapon in the hollow of your shoulder.

(3)  Roll or crawl to a covered or concealed firing position.

7.   Cover your buddy's movement with fire.

Evaluation Preparation: 

Setup: Take soldiers on a simulated march or field exercise in battle dress with LCE and weapons. Select an area with varying cover types and heights. Select a site about 300 meters away to serve as an enemy position. Point out the site to the soldiers. Pair up soldiers being tested.

Brief Soldier: Tell the soldiers to pretend they are under direct fire. Tell them to move from their present position to within 100 meters of the enemy position using the buddy system. Tell the soldiers to use the appropriate movement technique employing performance measures 4, 5, and 6 as appropriate for the scenario and terrain. It may not be appropriate for each soldier to use all three techniques.

Performance Measures

GO

NO GO

1.   Selected an individual movement route within the team or squad route or axis of advance that provided cover or concealment such as:

——

——

a. A gully, ravine, ditch, or wall at a slight angle to the direction of movement.

 

 

b. Hedgerows or a line of thick vegetation.

 

 

c. Large trees, rocks, stumps, fallen timber, rubble, vehicle hulks, folds or creases in the ground.

 

 

d. High grass or weeds.

 

 

2.   Selected the next position (and the route to it) as one that—

——

——

a. Exposed you to the least enemy fire.

 

 

b. Did not require you to cross in front of other members of your element, masking their fires.

 

 

3.   Determined the correct movement technique.

——

——

a. Selected the high crawl when--

 

 

(1)  The route provided cover and concealment.

 

 

(2)  Poor visibility reduced enemy observation.

 

 

(3)  Speed was required but the terrain and vegetation was suitable only for the low crawl.

 

 

b. Selected the low crawl when—

 

 

(1)  The route provided cover or concealment less than 1 foot high.

 

 

(2)  Visibility provided the enemy good observation.

 

 

(3)  Speed was not required.

 

 

c. Selected the rush when—

 

 

(1)  Crossing open areas.

 

 

(2)  Time was critical.