1963 US Army Vietnam War Armor Operations ... - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMSection II. SECURITY92. General curate warning and space for maneuver isa. Security includes all measures taken byparamount.The actions of security forcesa. Security includes all measuresn taken by acommandshould be guided by the practicalto protectapplicationitselfoffrom espionage, observation,sabotage,these fundamentalsannoyance,throughor surprise.the effective useof available resources.Its purpose is to preserve secrecy and to gainand maintain freedom of action,a. Provide Timely and Accurate Warning.b. Security is achieved by effectively providmanderThe security force must provide the comingfor the detection of a threat; for sufficient manderofofthetheforceforcebeingbeingsecuredsecuredearlyearlwarn-ing of the location andtimemovementand maneuverof'enemyspace to react to the threat; forcesforcesthatthat constituteconstitute a threatthreattotohishismission.mission.and for the avoidance, neutralization, or destructionof the threat. Security is enhancedby timely and accurate intelligence and rapid, cured choose the forces, time, and place to toaggressive movement. All units are responsi-e enem and maneuver his forces toble for their own security, regardless of the gain tactical surprise and advantagesecurity provided by other units. A securityforce for a larger formation must be strong b. Provide Space for Maneuver. Securityenough, and properly located, to provide ade- forces operate far enough from the force beingquate time for the main body to react. Within secured to insure that this force has enoughtheir capabilities, security forces will engage time and space to maneuver to meet or avoidthe enemy as necessary to accomplish their the enemy threat. The distance between a semission.However, security measures must curity force and the force being secured variesnot unnecessarily divert forces or effort from according to the factors of METT.the accomplishment of the mission of the force c. Orient on the Location or Movement ofbeing secured.the Force Being Secured. A security force maneuversaccording to the location and move-93. Security Against Ground Action ment of the force being secured, and positionsGround threats to the security of a command itself between the friendly force and the knowninclude reconnaissance, fire, attack by ground or suspected enemy threat.forces, infiltration, irregular forces, partisans, d. Perform Continuous Reconnaissance. Alland airmobile and airborne forces. Security security forces must perform continuous andforces must use terrain and terrain obstacles aggressive reconnaissance. The reconnaissanceto enhance their security efforts. Security provides the security force commander withagainst ground attack is provided by air and information of enemy forces in his area of regroundreconnaissance; covering forces; ad- sponsibility and enables him to properly posivance,flank and rear guards; and local security tion the security force in relation to the forceelements. Size and composition of security being secured and the enemy threat. Reconforcesare dependent upon the factors of naissance provides security from surprise byMETT. Against a highly mobile enemy, strong naissance provides security from surprisein armor, security forces must be of equal or keeping the commander of the force being segreatermobility and possess adequate antitank cured informed of enemy locations and movecapabilities.Natural and artificial obstacles ments, and by maintaining contact with enemyare used to the maximum. In any case, secur- forces that constitute a threat.ity forces must be afforded the capability of e. Maintain Enemy Contact. Once contacteffective operations under the same conditions with the enemy has been gained, it must beas the enemy force that poses the threat. maintained until the enemy ceases to be athreat to the force being secured or moves out94. Fundamentals of Security Operations of the assigned area of responsibility. ContactAlthough the fundamentals of security are is not voluntarily broken unless ordered byclosely related, the provision of timely and ac- higher headquarters. Enemy forces must notAGO 9139A 45