FM 17-98 SCOUT PLATOON

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Determine if the area is suitable Once the area is secure, the OIC or NCOIC must conduct a reconnaissance to verify the area’s suitability and to position guides and markings. This task can be conducted in conjunction with the initial area reconnaissance. When checking the position for suitability, the quartering party analyzes cover and concealment, drainage, routes into and out of the area, internal routes, defensibility, and fields of fire. If the area is unsatisfactory, the scouts should immediately begin looking for an alternate site to recommend to the commander. The OIC or NCOIC should notify the commander immediately, reporting his actions and recommendations and requesting further instructions. Organize the area The quartering party designates positions on the ground for the various elements within the assembly area. The siting should be consistent with the commander’s guidance, unit SOP, and follow-on missions. The frontages selected for the various elements must be consistent with terrain considerations and must allow adequate defensive coverage. Improve and mark entrances, exits, and internal routes Once the organization of the assembly area is complete, the quartering party marks the positions. It also reconnoiters and marks routes from the RP to the assembly area. The actual entrance and exit for the assembly area must be well marked to facilitate easy movement. The quartering party designates and marks internal routes to prevent excessive movement that could create a large unit signature. Unit SOP should dictate the marking system to be used. Examples of markings include chem lights, engineer tape, unit tactical signs, flashlights, VS-17 panels, and thermal tape. Mark or remove obstacles and mines Ideally, the commander should have some indication of current or past presence of an enemy in the proposed area. If there is a possibility of mines or CBUs in the assembly area, additional scouts or combat engineers with minedetecting equipment should be requested before the quartering party departs. Obstacle and mine clearance requires prior planning to ensure sufficient quantities of the proper equipment are available. This equipment may include pioneer tools, demolitions, or engineer vehicles. Sufficient time must also be allocated to allow the quartering party to accomplish this mission before the main body arrives. If the first area selected contains numerous obstacles, an alternate area should be reconnoitered. Perform guide duties The quartering party prepares the assembly area to make the occupation of the new positions swift and efficient. This can be a wasted effort if the guides do not perform their duties properly. Because the quartering party is familiar with the area and the vehicle positions, the vehicle commanders rely, at least initially, on the guides to position the platoon; therefore, guides must be thoroughly briefed prior to the mission. The guides are positioned between the RP and the assembly area entrance so that they can meet their unit as it crosses the RP. They must know the proper route from the RP to the new positions; they quickly move their units through the RP and into the assembly area. They do not stop until vehicle positions are occupied. Once in the new area, the guides direct the vehicles to their tentative positions. Immediately afterward, they walk the platoon leader through the positions, briefing him on the individual vehicle positions, adjacent units, fields of fire, location of the CP, and any other essential information. Accomplish additional assigned tasks If the commander assigns any additional tasks, the quartering party must accomplish them. The commander should prioritize these tasks; if he does not, the quartering party leader must arrange a priority of tasks that allows for the most important to be accomplished first. Examples of such additional tasks include establishing priorities of work, providing security for the command group, test-firing weapons, and assisting in traffic control. OCCUPATION When a unit arrives at an assembly area, all elements move off the route of march and clear it without slowing or halting. The platoon leader should keep this in mind as he posts guides, selects routes, and allocates space in the assembly area. After a march serial has cleared the route, it can adjust vehicle positions without holding up traffic.
ACTIONS IN THE ASSEMBLY AREA As soon as the platoon occupies its area, it must automatically execute the priority of tasks outlined in FKSM 17-98-3. Initial tasks include these: • Position vehicles. • Establish local security. • Establish lateral contact with vehicles on the flanks. • Develop range cards or sector sketches and submit them to the platoon leader for inclusion in the platoon fire plan. Scouts may have to adjust their positions accordingly. • Camouflage positions. • Perform preventive maintenance checks and services (PMCS). Security is a constant concern in assembly areas. Noise and light discipline are especially important, as is limiting the number of vehicles that enter and exit the assembly area. The local security that is initially established will be replaced by more permanent OPs once the platoon is established in position; these OPs are deployed in accordance with procedures outlined in Chapter 8 of this manual. The platoon leader or higher commander may also require patrols (mounted and dismounted) within the assembly area, especially in limited visibility. Wire and messengers are the primary means of communications. How many wire lines are laid depends on how long the platoon will be in the assembly area. Radio is used only in emergencies when no other means of communications is available. DEPARTING THE ASSEMBLY AREA Departing an assembly area is a critical and often overlooked task. A well-organized departure sets up the platoon for its next mission. A poorly organized departure can cause delays and other problems that may adversely affect the platoon’s mission before it begins. The departure requires thorough planning and preparation, including a walk-through rehearsal. As part of the preparation, a thorough police call must be conducted. This ensures that all evidence of the unit’s occupation is removed and denies the enemy any equipment, supplies, or other items that might be of tactical or intelligence value. Leaders must carefully supervise execution of the departure to ensure that no delays occur. SECTION 2 — ROAD MARCHES Units not engaged in combat may have to travel long distances to position themselves for future operations. These movements are planned at battalion, squadron, and company/troop level, but they are executed by the subordinate units involved, including the scout platoon. Success depends largely on unit discipline and the platoon’s ability to execute the plan with strict adherence to SOP. The road march differs from other forms of movement in these ways: • The purpose is relocation, not making contact. • The primary consideration is rapid movement of vehicles. • It is conducted at a prescribed speed. • A prescribed interval is maintained between vehicles. As part of a battalion task force, a scout platoon may perform various duties during a road march: manning traffic control points (TCP), serving as road guides or as a quartering party, or conducting route reconnaissance. PREPARING FOR ROAD MARCHES The basic considerations in planning any road march are METT-TC factors (especially the enemy situation and the mission), the march order, and the type, number, and characteristics of vehicles available for the movement. When preparing for a tactical road march, the scout platoon should use the following planning sequence if time permits: • Prepare and issue the warning order as early as possible to allow maximum time for preparation. • Prepare an estimate of the situation, specifying organization of the march column. • Organize and dispatch reconnaissance and quartering parties.
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FIELD MANUAL No. 17-98 *FM 17-98 He
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Preface On the ever-changing landsc
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Figure 1-2. HMMWV scout platoon. VE
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Figure 1-4. CFV scout platoon two-s
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Eight-squad organization Figure 1-8
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general have capabilities and limit
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Figure 1-11. HMMWV characteristics.
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tactical and operational considerat
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• Models that depict the enemy’
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Figure 2-4. Example decision suppor
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Figure 2-6. Example R&S tasking mat
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The military decision-making proces
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Step 1 - Receive and analyze the mi
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• Where is the key terrain • Ho
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After the platoon leader has analyz
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leaders have issued their orders, t
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different colors for friendly and e
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Figure 2-11A. Optimizing battle spa
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Figure 2-12. Route chart for compas
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these means of communication must b
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Administrative/logistics. The scout
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• Use a brevity code that reduces
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The scout platoon’s scheme of man
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Figure 3-1. Area reconnaissance usi
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Converging routes method. The patro
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signatures of the vehicle and the l
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In each type of organization, the g
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EXAMPLE OF A ROUTE RECONNAISSANCE F
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Figure 3-8D. Route reconnaissance (
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Figure 3-8H. Route reconnaissance (
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oundaries, an LD, and an LOA or obj
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Figure 3-9D. Zone reconnaissance (c
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Figure 3-9H. Zone reconnaissance (c
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Page 69 and 70: Figure 3-10D. Area reconnaissance (
Page 71 and 72: Figure 3-10H. Area reconnaissance (
Page 73 and 74: troop-leading process (normally a m
Page 75 and 76: Recommending/executing a course of
Page 77 and 78: Figure 3-11D. Reconnaissance of a r
Page 79 and 80: Figure 3-12B. Reconnaissance of an
Page 81 and 82: Figure 3-12F. Reconnaissance of an
Page 83 and 84: Figure 3-13A. Infiltration scheme o
Page 85 and 86: Planning and coordination Figure 3-
Page 87 and 88: defensive operations, forcing it to
Page 89 and 90: CHAPTER 4 Security Operations In se
Page 91 and 92: Scouts maintain surveillance from a
Page 93 and 94: Redundancy. The platoon leader may
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Page 97 and 98: ecause the scouts must move to the
Page 99 and 100: Figure 4-9b. Repositioning OPs in d
Page 101 and 102: Figure 4-10. Scout and tank team co
Page 103 and 104: With his troop commander’s guidan
Page 105 and 106: eposition to BP A5. The tank platoo
Page 107 and 108: A. OP J maintains contact with the
Page 109 and 110: Figure 4-21. Cavalry scout platoon
Page 111 and 112: Figure 4-24A. Convoy escort actioni
Page 113 and 114: Figure 4-25C. Escort breaking conta
Page 115 and 116: The following actions should be tak
Page 117: CHAPTER 5 Other Tactical Operations
Page 121 and 122: Checkpoints on a route are used for
Page 123 and 124: SECTION 3 — BATTLE HANDOVER AND P
Page 125 and 126: movement, movement formation, and e
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Page 129 and 130: CHAPTER 6 Combat Support The scout
Page 131 and 132: • Scatterable mines. These includ
Page 133 and 134: Figure 6-2. Scouts requesting fire
Page 135 and 136: The scout platoon leader must be pr
Page 137 and 138: Figure 6-8. Attack helicopter batta
Page 139 and 140: movement. In addition, the air cava
Page 141 and 142: The first action in the handoff pro
Page 143 and 144: SECTION 3 — COMBAT ENGINEERS Brig
Page 145 and 146: Although passive measures are the f
Page 147 and 148: Figure 6-17. Stinger air defense sy
Page 149 and 150: sight range of 10,000 meters agains
Page 151 and 152: Whatever support the scout platoon
Page 153 and 154: should conduct resupply during miss
Page 155 and 156: of inspecting, testing, servicing,
Page 157 and 158: When a vehicle must be evacuated, t
Page 159 and 160: SECTION 5 — PRISONERS EPWs are ex
Page 161 and 162: CHAPTER 8 Basic Scout Skills Scouts
Page 163 and 164: This type of local security task is
Page 165 and 166: • Unobstructed observation of the
Page 167 and 168: is located with his vehicle in the
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Figure 8-7. Sample format and infor
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In this position, the vehicle comma
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Figure 8-13. Platoon column formati
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Figure 8-17. Section vee and wedge
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BOUNDING OVERWATCH Bounding overwat
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Figure 8-23. Mounted crest drill. D
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most vulnerable in wooded areas whe
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The scouts that are not in contact
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Maintain contact to support a hasty
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section/squad leader simply informs
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Deviation spotting As applied to de
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Figure 8-27. Bracketing Bracketing
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CHAPTER 9 Miscellaneous Field Data
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Figure 9-1. Reconnaissance overlay
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Figure 9-1. Reconnaissance overlay
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Figure 9-2. Example of overlay grap
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• Stretching a string or measurin
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7 inches = 17.78 centimeters 8 inch
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the antenna connector on the radio.
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FOOD AND WATER Water collection Wit
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Figure 9-7. Enemy weapons, vehicles
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higher commander’s intent. The sc
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• Linkup time and location. • P
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APPENDIX B Nuclear, Biological, and
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Equipment MOPP level MOPP READY MOP
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Give the alarm. Have all unmasked s
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Figure B-1. NBC marking devices. UN
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contamination remains, so periodic
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movement in the direction of the co
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• Once the wing vehicles reach th
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APPENDIX C Stability and Support Op
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activities. Examples of these are l
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Because of the unique requirements
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US military forces may be tasked fo
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excellent hasty roadblocks because
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Figure C-5. Deliberate checkpoint o
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approaching traffic until it is too
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Photographic filter Instant cameras
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• Contact your checkpoint command
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Figure C-14. Ankle-to-ankle positio
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CORDON AND SEARCH OPERATIONS When i
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the armored unit’s mobility, prot
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APPENDIX D Military Operations on U
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The friendly commander should try t
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• It is vulnerable to enemy infan
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Figure D-3. Gaining a foothold in M
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Figure D-5. CFV provides support as
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Figure E-1. Figure E-1. Environment
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APPENDIX F Risk Management Risk is
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Moderate (M) Low (L) Expected degra
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• Thoroughly brief all aspects of
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APPENDIX G Fratricide Prevention Fr
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Lapses in individual discipline can
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target identification before they i
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Glossary A AA AAR ABF ACE ACR ADA A
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div DP DPICM DS DST DTD division de
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I J k ICM ID IEDK IFF IFSAS IPB IR
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NCO NCOIC NCS NEO NGO NLT NOD nonco
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RISTA ROE ROI ROUTEREP RP RSI rte R
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TTP tactics, techniques, and proced
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ARTEP 17-237-10-MTP Mission Trainin
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FM 17-98 SCOUT PLATOON

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