FM 17-98 SCOUT PLATOON

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• Conduct it by priority. These principles are consistent with doctrine that places the burden of decontamination at battalion or troop level. For this reason, the scout platoon must use all of the available decontamination assets to maximum benefit and develop a thorough SOP covering decontamination methods and priorities. Refer to FM 3-5 for more detailed information on NBC decontamination. IMMEDIATE DECONTAMINATION Immediate decontamination is a basic soldier survival skill carried out by soldiers as soon as possible after they discover they are contaminated. Its basic purposes are to minimize casualties, save lives, and limit the further spread of contamination. Any contact between chemical or biological agents and bare skin should be treated as an emergency. Some agents can kill if they remain on the skin for longer than a minute. The best technique for removing or neutralizing these agents is to use the M291 skin decontamination kit. Leaders must ensure that their soldiers are trained to execute this technique automatically, without waiting for orders. Personal wipedown should begin within 15 minutes of contamination. The wipedown removes or neutralizes contamination on the hood, mask, gloves, and personal weapon. For chemical and biological contamination, soldiers use mitts from the M295 individual equipment decontamination kit (IEDK). For radiological contamination, they wipe off the contamination with a cloth or simply brush or shake it away. Operator’s spraydown of equipment should begin immediately after completion of personal wipedown. The spraydown removes or neutralizes contamination on the surfaces operators must touch frequently to perform their mission. For chemical and biological contamination, operators can use on-board decontamination apparatuses, such as the M11/M13, or the M295 IEDK to decontaminate surfaces to which DS2 cannot be applied. (NOTE: DS2 must be washed off surfaces no more than 30 minutes after application. If necessary, use 5-gallon water cans or other water sources to assist in removing DS2.) For radiological contamination, they brush or scrape away the contamination with whatever is at hand or flush it with water and wipe it away. OPERATIONAL DECONTAMINATION Operational decontamination allows a force to continue fighting and sustain its mission after being contaminated. It limits the hazard of transferring contamination by removing most of the gross contamination on equipment and nearly all the contamination on soldiers. This speeds the weathering process and allows clean areas (people, equipment, and terrain) to stay clean. Following operational decontamination, soldiers who have removed sources of vapor contamination from their clothing and equipment can use hazard-free areas to unmask temporarily to eat, drink, and rest. Operational decontamination is accomplished using assets of the parent unit. It makes use of two decontamination techniques: vehicle washdown and MOPP gear exchange. These procedures are conducted at the same time and are best performed at squad level. Vehicles and personnel that are not contaminated should not go through either technique. Vehicle washdown, conducted as far forward as possible, is performed by the task force power-driven decontamination equipment (PDDE) crew with assistance from the squad decontamination crew. It is most effective if started within 1 hour after contamination. There are two steps in vehicle washdown: • Step 1. Button up the vehicle and secure equipment. • Step 2. Wash down the vehicle and equipment with hot, soapy water for 2 to 3 minutes. Because speed is important, do not check vehicles for contamination after vehicle washdown. Remove only gross contamination. THOROUGH DECONTAMINATION Thorough decontamination reduces contamination to negligible risk levels. It restores combat power by removing nearly all contamination from unit and individual equipment. This allows troops to operate equipment safely for extended periods at reduced MOPP levels. A contaminated unit conducts detailed troop decontamination (DTD) under supervision of the chemical unit. Ordinarily, the chemical unit selects a site, sets it up, and performs the detailed equipment decontamination (DED) with assistance from the contaminated unit. A small risk from residual
contamination remains, so periodic contamination checks must be made after this operation. Thorough decontamination is conducted as part of an extensive reconstitution effort in brigade, division, and corps support areas; support sites at lower levels cannot provide the quantities of decontamination resources (such as water, decontaminants, and time) required for such an extensive process. In some cases, a contaminated unit could conduct a thorough decontamination operation with organic decontamination assets, but support from a chemical unit is usually required. After thorough decontamination, the unit moves into an adjacent assembly area for reconstitution. Support elements from the brigade, division, or corps support areas replenish combat stocks, refit equipment, and replace personnel and equipment. The newly reconstituted unit leaves the assembly area fully operational and fit to return to battle. Thorough decontamination does the most thorough job of getting rid of contamination and its hazards, but it often is not possible. It requires large quantities of valuable resources that may not be immediately available. The next best solution is to decontaminate only what is necessary to sustain the force and continue to fight. SECTION 4 — RECONNAISSANCE AND SECURITY IN AN NBC ENVIRONMENT In an ideal situation, all NBC reconnaissance will be performed by an NBC reconnaissance platoon. Given the very limited number of these platoons available and the likelihood of chemicals being used on the battlefield, the scout platoon not only must be able to perform its own missions in a contaminated environment, but also must have the capability of conducting NBC reconnaissance. RELATIONSHIP OF THE NBC RECONNAISSANCE ELEMENT AND THE SCOUT PLATOON The NBC reconnaissance platoon, particularly in the division and cavalry regiment, often works closely with either battalion or cavalry scout platoons. When the two organizations are working together, their capabilities should be used to complement each other. The command relationship between the platoons, which should be based on METT-TC factors, can be one of the following: • The scout platoon OPCON to the NBC reconnaissance platoon. • The NBC reconnaissance platoon OPCON to the scout platoon. • The two platoons working together under the control of a common commander. As an example, if the primary focus of the platoons’ reconnaissance mission is to locate contaminated areas, the NBC reconnaissance platoon leader may be selected to lead the operation. On the other hand, the scout platoon leader may be selected to lead and coordinate the mission if enemy presence is significant, if extensive dismounted operations are anticipated, or if the mission is oriented on the enemy force. In all cases when the two types of platoons are operating together, the NBC platoon’s primary task should be NBC reconnaissance. The scout platoon has capabilities for which it is better equipped or organized; it should perform tasks related to those capabilities, such as the following: • Overwatch and security for NBC reconnaissance elements. • Dismounted operations in concert with NBC reconnaissance. • Reconnaissance of bypasses once a contaminated area is identified. • Initial location of contaminated areas, followed by handoff to the NBC reconnaissance platoon for detailed reconnaissance and marking. • Liaison or command and control linkup between the NBC reconnaissance platoon and the commander of the scouts. RECONNAISSANCE OPERATIONS In the event that NBC reconnaissance assets are not available, the scout platoon may be required to conduct NBC reconnaissance. The platoon must be aware of where on the battlefield the enemy may place chemical agents and understand the impact on maneuver forces if that area is contaminated. The scout platoon must be aware of the large volume of munitions required to place a chemical strike on the ground. Understanding the enemy’s doctrine will allow
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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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leader feels there may be enemy for
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Figure 3-10D. Area reconnaissance (
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Figure 3-10H. Area reconnaissance (
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troop-leading process (normally a m
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Recommending/executing a course of
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Figure 3-11D. Reconnaissance of a r
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Figure 3-12B. Reconnaissance of an
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Figure 3-12F. Reconnaissance of an
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Figure 3-13A. Infiltration scheme o
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Planning and coordination Figure 3-
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defensive operations, forcing it to
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CHAPTER 4 Security Operations In se
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Scouts maintain surveillance from a
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Redundancy. The platoon leader may
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most appropriate role for the scout
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ecause the scouts must move to the
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Figure 4-9b. Repositioning OPs in d
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Figure 4-10. Scout and tank team co
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With his troop commander’s guidan
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eposition to BP A5. The tank platoo
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A. OP J maintains contact with the
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Figure 4-21. Cavalry scout platoon
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Figure 4-24A. Convoy escort actioni
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Figure 4-25C. Escort breaking conta
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The following actions should be tak
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CHAPTER 5 Other Tactical Operations
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ACTIONS IN THE ASSEMBLY AREA As soo
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Checkpoints on a route are used for
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SECTION 3 — BATTLE HANDOVER AND P
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movement, movement formation, and e
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stationary unit is responsible for
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CHAPTER 6 Combat Support The scout
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• Scatterable mines. These includ
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Figure 6-2. Scouts requesting fire
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The scout platoon leader must be pr
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Figure 6-8. Attack helicopter batta
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movement. In addition, the air cava
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The first action in the handoff pro
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SECTION 3 — COMBAT ENGINEERS Brig
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Although passive measures are the f
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Figure 6-17. Stinger air defense sy
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sight range of 10,000 meters agains
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Whatever support the scout platoon
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should conduct resupply during miss
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of inspecting, testing, servicing,
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When a vehicle must be evacuated, t
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SECTION 5 — PRISONERS EPWs are ex
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CHAPTER 8 Basic Scout Skills Scouts
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This type of local security task is
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• Unobstructed observation of the
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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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Page 189 and 190: Deviation spotting As applied to de
Page 191 and 192: Figure 8-27. Bracketing Bracketing
Page 193 and 194: CHAPTER 9 Miscellaneous Field Data
Page 195 and 196: Figure 9-1. Reconnaissance overlay
Page 197 and 198: Figure 9-1. Reconnaissance overlay
Page 199 and 200: Figure 9-2. Example of overlay grap
Page 201 and 202: • Stretching a string or measurin
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Page 205 and 206: the antenna connector on the radio.
Page 207 and 208: FOOD AND WATER Water collection Wit
Page 209 and 210: Figure 9-7. Enemy weapons, vehicles
Page 223 and 224: higher commander’s intent. The sc
Page 225 and 226: • Linkup time and location. • P
Page 227 and 228: APPENDIX B Nuclear, Biological, and
Page 229 and 230: Equipment MOPP level MOPP READY MOP
Page 231 and 232: Give the alarm. Have all unmasked s
Page 233: Figure B-1. NBC marking devices. UN
Page 237 and 238: movement in the direction of the co
Page 239 and 240: • Once the wing vehicles reach th
Page 241 and 242: APPENDIX C Stability and Support Op
Page 243 and 244: activities. Examples of these are l
Page 245 and 246: Because of the unique requirements
Page 247 and 248: US military forces may be tasked fo
Page 249 and 250: excellent hasty roadblocks because
Page 251 and 252: Figure C-5. Deliberate checkpoint o
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Page 255 and 256: Photographic filter Instant cameras
Page 257 and 258: • Contact your checkpoint command
Page 259 and 260: Figure C-14. Ankle-to-ankle positio
Page 261 and 262: CORDON AND SEARCH OPERATIONS When i
Page 263 and 264: the armored unit’s mobility, prot
Page 265 and 266: APPENDIX D Military Operations on U
Page 267 and 268: The friendly commander should try t
Page 269 and 270: • It is vulnerable to enemy infan
Page 271 and 272: Figure D-3. Gaining a foothold in M
Page 273 and 274: Figure D-5. CFV provides support as
Page 275 and 276: Figure E-1. Figure E-1. Environment
Page 277 and 278: APPENDIX F Risk Management Risk is
Page 279 and 280: Moderate (M) Low (L) Expected degra
Page 281 and 282: • Thoroughly brief all aspects of
Page 283 and 284: 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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