Lesson-7-scouting-and-patrolling

the OP and the objective. Surrounding the objective is an area of thin woods with limited
concealment (brownish in the photo).
Pebble has some crucial decisions to make. He moves south using cover and concealment
and visits the other OP (2), which is from 3rd platoon. The view is not so hot from this point—
a check of the topo map shows that there is a fairly steep wooded slope to the south and east. He
decides to pass the friendly OPL at the northern OP (1). Since it will be daylight, he will move
through the woods directly towards the objective, moving quickly enough to arrive before it is
too dark to see, but carefully enough to avoid detection.
Having determined whether there are Hetzers lurking near the road, the patrol will return on a
route parallel to the light duty road that runs east parallel to the main (red) road. This road is
barely visible on the photo, but clearly marked on the topo map. The patrol will pass friendly
lines at the southern OP (2). As we will see, it’s more complicated than that, but this is the
general plan.
The patrol order. On return, Sergeant Pebble stops by the company CP and briefs the CO on
the general plan, making sure all elements on the MLR (main line of resistance—the front line)
and the OPL know what’s happening. Nothing spoils a successful patrol faster than being lit up
by a friendly MG that didn’t know they were coming.
He then reports to his PL and explains the plan. Pebble is
an old hand; the PL approves the plan.
Pebble than goes off by himself and scratches out the
plan he will brief to the patrol. The patrol order uses the
same general format as any other field order—the five paragraph
FO. Why? Aren’t you making it complicated? You do
it because it assures you “won’t forgit nothin’” as the veteran
Rogers’ Rangers solder played by Walter Brennan put it in
“Northwest Passage.” It makes the patrol leader consider
every aspect of the plan. Don’t get sloppy. The enemy shoots back.
Tips and techniques.
Plan and brief carefully. Losses are common on patrols, and the patrol leader may be terminated,
as we say, with extreme prejudice. Every member of the patrol should be able to take
over if the next guy up in the chain is lost. Don’t just brief your patrol and trust in God—get a
read-back to make sure everybody is clued in.
Inspect the patrol. Make sure they have all the gear they need and that it is rigged properly.
Have each man jump up and down to discover any rattles that can be heard by the enemy. Make
sure camouflage is properly applied.
Maintain head count. People can get lost, particularly at night. At night, the best formation
is a file, Indian-style. Have patrol members pass the count, front to back and back to front. If you
come up a man short, halt and quickly verify a missing man; if somebody is lost, find him. If
somebody messed up the count, caution him or beat the crap out of him for wasting everybody’s
time.
Use rally points. It’s easy for a patrol to get disorganized or scattered, particularly (but not
only) at night. Always designate a marching rally point (if w come under mortar fire or have to
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