Marine Rifle Squad

• Posting security (listening posts, observation posts, patrols).
• Positioning automatic weapons.
• Clearing fields of fire.
• Digging fighting holes.
• Constructing obstacles.
• Selecting supplementary fighting positions.
• Camouflage measures.
b. Posting Security. Localsecurity consists of measures taken to prevent
surprise and to deny the enemy information concerning the plan of defense.
All-round security and protection against surprise are achieved by—
• Posting a sentinel for surveillance.
• Enforcing noise and light discipline.
• Keeping movement within the squad fighting position to a minimum.
c. Positioning Automatic Rifles. Automatic rifles are positioned to
cover the most likely avenues of approach into the squad area. Their positions
should enable them to cover the fire team's sector of fire, provide
support for adjacent fire teams, and effectively deliver final protective fires.
d. Clearing Fields of Fire. In clearing fields of fire forward of each
fighting position, the following guidelines should be observed:
(1) Do not disclose the squad's fighting position by excessive or careless
clearing. (See fig. 5-11.)
(2) Start clearing near the fighting position and work forward to the limits
of effective small arms fire.
(3) In all cases, leave a thin natural screen of foliage to hide fighting
positions.
(4) In sparsely wooded areas, remove the lower branches of scattered
large trees. It may be desirable to remove entire trees which might be
used as reference points for enemy fire.
5.21