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Medical Education Division |
Operational Medicine 2001
Field Medical Service School
Student Handbook
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INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENT
OUTLINE A.
PREPARE YOURSELF AND EQUIPMENT.
1. Camouflage yourself and equipment. 2. Tape your identification tags together and to the chain so they can not slide or rattle. 3. Tape or pad any part of your weapon or equipment that rattles or is loose and may snag. 4. Be sure that the padding does not interfere with the operation of the weapon. 5. Wear soft, good fitting clothes. 6. Wear a soft cap, with its less distinctive outline, unless required to wear a helmet. 7. The distinctive silhouette of the helmet can be broken up by the use of thick brush. The helmet may muffle or distort sounds and therefore should be removed when listening. 8. Move by bounds; that is, short distances at a time. 9. Halt. 10. Listen. 11. Observe. 12. Move Again. 13. Look for the next spot where you will stop before leaving the concealment of one position. Select the best available covered and concealed route to the new location. 14. Take advantage of darkness, fog, smoke, or haze to assist in concealing your movement. 15. Change direction slightly from time to time when moving through tall grass. Moving in straight line causes the grass to wave with an unnatural motion which attracts attention. 16. If you alarm birds or animals, remain in position and observe briefly. Their flight or movement may attract the enemy's attention. 17. Take advantage of the distraction provided by noises. 18. Cross roads and trails where there is the most cover and concealment. Cross quickly and quietly. 19. Follow the furrows as much as possible when crawling over a plowed field. 20. When you must cross the furrows, look for a low section in the field; crawl down a furrow to that section and make your cross-forrow movement. 21. Avoid steep slopes and areas with loose stones. 22.
Avoid cleared areas to prevent being silhouetted. B.
FIVE TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL
MOVEMENT. 1.
THE RUSH.
The fastest way to move from one place to another, and should be used
when crossing cleared areas or roads. a. Start from the prone position. b. Slowly raise your head and select your next position. c. Slowly lower your head. d.
With one movement, spring to your feet and run to the new position using
the shortest route. 2.
THE LOW CRAWL.
Use the low crawl when: a. Cover and concealment are scarce. b. When visibility permits good enemy observations. c. And when speed is not essential. d.
Keep your body as flat as possible against the ground.
Grasp the rifle sling at the upper sling swivel.
Let the balance of the rifle rest on your forearm and let the butt of the
rifle drag the ground. 3.
THE HIGH CRAWL.
Use the high crawl when: a. Cover and concealment are available. b. When poor visibility reduces enemy observation. c. When your require more speed. d.
Keep your body free of the ground and rest your weight on your forearms
and lower legs. Cradle the rifle in
your arms, keeping its muzzle off the ground.
Keep your knees well behind your buttocks so your buttocks stays low. 4.
THE HAND AND KNEE CRAWL.
Use the hand and knee crawl when: a. Silence is imperative. b.
When you are near the enemy. 5.
WALKING.
Use when: a. Extremely quiet movement is necessary. b. Observing the enemy. c. Moving towards the enemy. d. Requirement to watch for the enemy constantly. e. Hold your weapon at port arms. Make your footing sure and solid by keeping your weight on one foot as you step. f. Take short steps to avoid losing your balance. g.
At night, when moving through dense vegetation, avoid making unnecessary
noise by holding your weapon, with one hand (in any convenient
manner) and extending the other hand forward, feeling for obstruction
as you move. C.
TEN PRINCIPLES OF NIGHT
MOVEMENT. 1. If you feel that you are about to sneeze, press upward on the end of your nose with your fingers. This may stop the sneeze. 2. If you feel a cough coming, press slightly on your Adam's Apple. This may stop it. 3. Sometimes you may have a ringing noise in your head that interferes with your hearing. Try to yawn to stop this. 4. If it is necessary for you to whisper, expel most of the air from your lungs before you do. This does away with the hissing sound usually made by a whisper. 5. If the enemy has been using gas, keep away from the depressions in damp and rainy weather. Gas can remain in these places quite a long time. 6. Whenever you stop, look and listen. 7. Do not look at an object too long. This strains your eyes. 8. If caught in a flare, drop quickly in the split second that the enemy has been blinded after the flare lights. If you hear the flare discharged, drop to the ground before it bursts. Never look at a flare, you will impair your night vision for nearly an hour. 9. When you come upon patrols or persons, consider all of them to be unfriendly until you identify them. When you meet someone, crouch low in order to get his silhouette against the sky and to offer him only an indistinct target if he proves to be an enemy. If you are fired upon, do not return the fire except to avoid capture. 10.
If you are carrying a luminous compass or watch, be sure that the dial
has some covering on it. D.
FOUR PRINCIPLES OF NIGHT
VISION. 1.
DARK ADAPTATION.
Dark adaptation means allowing your eyes to become accustomed to low
levels of illumination. a. It takes about 30 minutes for you to distinguish objects in dim light. b.
This may also be accomplished by staying in a red-light area, or by
wearing red goggles for 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of darkness (to allow
for pupils to open wide). This
method may save valuable time by allowing you to be in lighted areas to receive
orders, check equipment, or perform some other function before moving into
darkness. 2.
OFF-CENTER VISION.
Off center vision is the technique of keeping your attention focused on
an object without looking directly at it. a. When you look directly at an object, the image is formed on the cone region which is not sensitive at night. When you look slightly to the left, right, above or below an object, the image is formed on the area of the retina containing the rod cells which are sensitive in darkness. b.
The most sensitive area varies in individuals, but usually is found by
looking 6 to 10 degrees away from an object. In effect, you look out of the corner of your eye 3.
SCANNING.
Scanning is using off-center vision to observe an area or an object.
Move your eyes in short, abrupt irregular movements over and around your
targets, but do not look directly at them.
Pause for a few seconds at each point of observation because your eyes
cannot see while in motion. 4.
BINOCULARS.
Binoculars can be used to aid night vision.
They should be used after an area/object has been scanned, and then only
to concentrate your attention on the target. E.
THE MOST COMMON OBSTACLES TO
INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENT. 1.
OPEN AREAS.
Conceal yourself on the near side and carefully observe the area.
If the distance is short, cross on the double. 2.
ROADS AND TRAILS.
Cross a road or trail near bends and where the road narrows so the
enemy's observation is limited and you will be exposed as short a time as
possible. 3.
MINEFIELDS.
Be alert for minefields and avoid them whenever possible, even if it
means going a considerable distance out of your way.
Routes of approach, ditches, and the banks of streams are frequently
mined and must be carefully checked. If
you must pass through an area which has been mined, use extreme caution and move
slow. Probe gently with your
bayonet for buried mines. 4.
STREAMS.
Select the spot where the stream is narrow and there is concealment on
both sides. Observe the far side
carefully before crossing. 5. BARBED WIRE. Stay low when approaching wires. At night, silhouette the wire against the sky and figure out its design. Check for mines, booby traps, and warning devices. In the daytime, cross in the manner which will expose you for the shortest period of time.
6.
ENEMY POSITION.
Pass on the downwind side; they also may have scout dogs.
Be alert for trip wires and warning devices. 7.
NATIVE VILLAGES.
Pass on the downwind side, well away from the village.
Near farm villages, avoid animals, especially dogs, which may betray your
presence. REFERENCE Battle Skills Training Handbook, Book 2, January 1993 Field Medical Service School
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