*Click on the image to see a patrolling video
Whether you’re in
a doomsday tactical scenario or simply patrolling the area around your
homestead, the principles of patrolling are relevant, and should be
applied. Unless you’re just going out for Instagram pictures, a patrol is not
just “go out in the woods and walk around looking at stuff.” Even a basic
property patrol should include some sort of planning. No, it does not have to
be a full blown 5-paragraph Operations Order – a simple 5Ws, “who, what, when,
where, why,” and a how, which is your concept of operations, will suffice. So,
what are the principles, and how do we apply them?
1. Planning: gathering information, setting objectives, and
creating a detailed plan of action. This includes identifying potential
threats, establishing routes, and allocating resources (logistics). Effective
planning ensures that patrols are conducted with a clear purpose and strategy.
Every patrol should serve a specific purpose, and will often lead to further
patrols or missions.
Example: you have
recently purchased land in a rural area would like to get to know the area
around your property. This could become an Area Reconnaissance: you want to
identify all the trails in and out of your property, roads nearby, or other
civil infrastructure in your area, as well as key terrain in that area. This
initial reconnaissance will give you a great deal of intelligence, which will
lead to follow on patrols. Next, you may conduct “Route Reconnaissance,” where
you will learn more about those trails coming from the National Forest and into
your property.
2. Reconnaissance: gathering information about the area to be
patrolled. It includes identifying key locations, potential hazards, and points
of interest. This information allows patrols to make informed decisions and
respond effectively to any situation.
Back to the first
example, before you head out for your Area Reconnaissance, you can conduct map
reconnaissance on google maps, earth, or your own printed topo map, and already
identify a lot of the key terrain in the area you will patrol.
3. Security: This includes maintaining communication, practicing
situational awareness, and being prepared for any security threats.
Again with our
property patrol: we develop a communications PACE plan with our family or
neighbors, and can already begin to develop a Standard Operating Procedure
(SOP) for homestead defense and future patrols. “I am going here to do this,
and should be back by this time. Unless I call you, if I am not back by this
time, you should do this.” You will also be “reconnoitering” dead spots for
comms while you are out, as well as testing your skills in mission planning and
refining your SOP.
4. Control: maintaining discipline and order during patrols. It
involves adhering to the established plan or SOPs, following chain of command,
and ensuring that the patrol’s objectives are met. Control is essential for the
safety and success of the patrol.
On your property
Patrol or Area Reconnaissance, go ahead and practice light, sound, and litter
discipline. Practice SLLS – stop, look, listen, smell; Get regular radio checks
to rehearse and refine your PACE plan.
5. Common Sense: when working with groups, we encourage patrol
teams to use their judgment and make decisions based on the situation at hand. Sounds
like we should have a firm understanding of how to apply METTTC, right? While
following established SOPs is important, common sense allows for flexibility
and adaptability. How are we supposed to update, or refine our SOPs if we don’t
even allow people to test them and adapt to begin with?
Let’s say your
friend joins you on your property patrol. You can boil it all down to the 5Ws
and the how, in about 5 minutes, so that he clearly understands what the point
is. Now he knows how to best help you. Even better, he’ll take home those
lessons for his own patrols. Maybe his patrols will gather intelligence that
supports your own understanding of the local area. This can only improve your
neighborhood’s security.
Now for the Types
of Patrols. Don’t get too down in the weeds on these, as they have a
military-specific context. However, you can apply most of these to even your
standard property patrols alone, or with your group. The two categories of
patrols are:
Reconnaissance Patrols: Area, zone, and route reconnaissance, Point Recon, Leader’s Recon, and
more
Combat patrols: security, ambush, raid (mostly movements to contact) and presence
patrols. You may utilize presence patrols on your property to deter unwanted
activity in that area. Most of these can be
applied to a Minuteman Scenario, and even a lone homesteader building on his
knowledge of the area around his property.
MISSION
ANALYSIS – HOW DO WE DECIDE AND PLAN THE PATROL?
We begin with the
Operations Order (OPORD) – SMESC. This
is most likely unnecessary for the average community group, but if you don’t
know where to start, this planning matrix helps you identify and organize all
the critical information someone should know for a mission: What’s the
scenario? What are we doing? How are we doing it? What personnel, toys, and
food do we have? Who are we talking to, and how? - just to keep it simple. Believe me, there are
people who can debate OPORDs and all the fun variables around a mission for
days. Just have a look at the tactical doctrine experts on Instagram. However, having
key leaders build them every now and then is great practice. A barebones, clear
and concise OPORD for a mission can be built in less than 15 minutes, and
briefed to a team in 5 minutes. As long as everyone knows what the desired end
state or (the whole point) is, the OPORD is good.
Although not a
linear process, at some point we will begin utilizing the Troop Leading
Procedures: this tool helps us manage our personnel and time more efficiently.
Next, we evaluate all the available intelligence that we already have on the area:
Intel from your
previous patrols, map Reconnaissance, ASCOPE, google, interviewing people like
simply talking to Billy Bob over at the smoke pit about what he saw last time
he was out.
ASCOPE – if you
want to know more about your local area, and you should, ASCOPE is the best
matrix to keep you on track with pertinent information. You may come across the
PMESII-ASCOPE crosswalk, just know that that is sometimes overkill, as it often
leads to redundant information. ASCOPE helps you identify nearly every
important fact about your area, the people, and the infrastructure.

Warning Order
(WARNO) - usually an abbreviated OPORD
for smaller units. They might be for individual missions (patrols) that support
the larger, main mission. It also follows the same format as the OPORD. As an
example: Defend the Compound and Surrounding area, might be your main OPORD
that is 20 pages long and is constantly updated. Your WARNO will be the 5
paragraph for each patrol or mission you conduct to support that OPORD.
Therefore, many paragraphs, such as the situation may not need to be changed –
in fact, the only paragraph that may change will be the mission. In a smaller
group, the WARNO will most likely be your planning tool.
We cannot discuss
mission analysis and planning without METT-TC | OAKOC - the absolute bread and butter of decision
making. Nearly everything you do from planning to execution is filtered through
these Matrices. Use OAKOC for offensive and defensive operations, tactical
movements, establishing patrol bases and OPs, providing route security, and nearly
every other tactical decision you make.
Although
patrolling is one major task, it actually includes 100s of other skillsets and
tasks. Which means by conducting just one organized patrol, you are actually training
and refining many other skills simultaneously. In the future, we will cover some
of the other major skills and tasks: land
navigation and map reading, communications and comms security, and reporting, and a lot more.
For now, let’s
talk about a few other relevant components of a patrol: Patrol Bases and OPs,
Rally Points, and Traveling.
Most references
discuss three types of movement: traveling, traveling overwatch, or bounding
overwatch. Each method serves a specific purpose and is chosen through (you
guessed it) METTTC and OAKOC.
Traveling is
exactly what it sounds like: one person, a team, or multiple teams moving
together to either a rally point or objective, as one element.
Traveling
overwatch is when teams (or individuals) split up into different elements. One
element follows the main route while the other provides overwatch, usually for
security purposes. They can move simultaneously or one at a time while the overwatch
element scans the area or route for enemy activity or, in our minuteman case,
any other dangers to the team.
Bounding
Overwatch is typically used when “contact with the enemy is expected.” Each
element maneuvers as quickly as possible while the other provides overwatch.
The main difference between traveling and bounding overwatch is the expectation
of contact with an enemy force. Now, your route planning through OAKOC will be
strictly focused on moving as quickly as possible while also being prepared for
contact.
Keep in mind that
you might use all three multiple times, or just one method during a patrol. It
is not a linear process.
FM 3-21.8
We always use
some sort of formation for teams. Wedge and file will be the most common. Of
course, it’s all filtered through METTTC and OAKOC, surprise. If you understand
the principles, this process doesn’t need to be rigid, or over complicated.
Your formation depends completely on METTTC, OAKOC, and your own judgement.
Practicing different formations and explaining why each is used bolsters the control
and common sense principles. Basically everyone on your team should know
which formation to use without you having to tell them constantly.
Danger Areas
*click on the image for a video on an LDA crossing
A danger area is
any section of your route where cover and concealment cannot be utilized.
Linear includes roads, trails, or short breaks in the forest, such as for power
lines. Circular is essentially all others, like farm or open fields. This is
another topic that could be beat to death in the tacticool forums, but it’s
best to just stick to the basics and implement the principles of security,
control, and common sense.
Here are a few basics to crossing a danger area:
- Sections before
the danger area are also a threat. People sit along roads, camp just off of
trails, and humans naturally congregate around open areas and just inside the
forest
- Identify danger
areas during map and route reconnaissance, and if you discover a new one,
adjust before walking right to the edge
- If possible, establish
an ORP and send the smallest unit possible to reconnoiter the danger area,
utilizing SLLS while waiting
- Try to cross LDAs
at the bend or curve to limit how far away a possible enemy will see you cross
and limit exposure
- Try to flank or
skirt around circular danger areas. If that is not feasible, send a small
scouting element along one of your flanks for security
- Issue or remind
personnel of link-up SOPs and what to do if contact is made
- Establish a far
side security: this small element conducts a rapid reconnaissance on the other
side and provides security for the main body’s crossing
- Establish near
side security: this small element remains until the main body has crossed
- Once everyone has
crossed, conduct SLLS to determine if you were detected and get accountability
of all personnel and equipment
- If METTTC and
OAKOC permit, avoid danger areas completely
- If you’re the
lone homesteader, you’ll probably just conduct 30 minute SLLS, cross, and then
do another 30 minutes of SLLS.
Nearly every
danger area crossing will look almost completely different than previous
crossings. Just remember: security, control, and common sense. At the
very least ask, “how can we cross this without being seen, heard, and shot at,
and if we are shot at, how do we not die while trying to regroup?”
Camouflage
*click on the image for a video on OPs
Camouflage is
crucial during both movement and when occupying a position. I’ve often noticed
teams walking nonchalantly through an AO as if they’re going for a Sunday walk,
only caring about their camouflage once they reach their destination. Don’t
ever believe you own the area, and only have to be stealthy once you get to an
objective. As usual, camouflage is also not a rigid process that must be
debated endlessly. Follow the basic principles, use common sense, go out and
practice, and you will do fine. There are many acronyms but they all cover the
same principles. I was taught CCSSM:
Color and
contrast
Most of your
uniform should match the area you are operating in. You should not contrast the
colors in your area, and your mixed clothing should not contrast each other. The
same goes with your equipment. As an example, I often wear faded Summer OCP
bottoms that matches the tall grass, and the M81 top, which fits the greenery
off the ground. Both are very worn and do not contrast one another. Fun fact,
you could wear OD green in almost every environment and be just fine. For new
clothing, conduct a ghillie wash: get your clothing soaked and drag it all
through your area so it gets worn and takes up the local environment. In sniper
school we swam through a cold lake and then low crawled 100m, but you can just
do it in your back yard. The more worn your clothing is, the better.
Shape
The fastest
giveaway is our silhouette, from head to shoulders. You can spend a day working
on your cammo, have tons of money in a ghillie suit, but if your head and
shoulders silhouette is not accounted for, you WILL be easily spotted. A simple
sniper veil or cammo net draped over you breaks up your silhouette easily. Just consider that you may have to move
quickly, and you could lose those.
If you’re in the
wilderness: avoid sharp points, straight edges and angles, which is why we
paint our rifles.
Shine
Ensure all metal
is painted or sharpied, and that all lenses are covered. I am a budget dude so
I use 90MPH tape on lenses, then I just remove the tape when I am working.
Draping my sniper veil over everything still allows me to see, but there is no
longer a shine or reflection. Don’t forget about your watch face. Also consider
how you and your equipment look under night vision. A great deal of tactical
gear and clothing shines, especially with IR pointed at it. A quick matt spray
paint job can help subdue new clothing and equipment that shines. PCCs/PCIs
should include a NODs check as well.
Movement
Movement is also
one of the fastest giveaways. Humans eyes have developed to easily detect
movement, even at great distances. This is why we must understand OAKOC and know
how to use the terrain to our advantage. Coupled with solid land nav skills,
knowing the terrain can make you a ghost to anyone looking for you.
Other considerations: sound and smell. Both can be detected at great distances, and can be the first alerts an enemy picks up on.
Camouflage should
be considered before, during, and after movement. In static positions, we
continually improve our camouflage, if the situation allows it. Just remember,
all the work you are doing in your Patrol Base or OP is movement, which may
render your efforts useless. Remember the principle of control? As always,
utilize METTTC to make those calls. A good way to train on these principles is
to have one group trying to spot another, and then switch. If you know what to
look for, that aids in your ability to hide and mitigate detection. Lastly, do
not think about camouflage simply from the aspect of where you think the enemy
is: you must consider all directions and avenues of approach, including from
the air.
Rally Points,
Patrol Bases, and Observation Posts (OP)
Whenever we are
headed to a destination, we should place stops along the route: this is a Rally
Point. These stops allow personnel to rest, adjust equipment, we conduct SLLS
for security, we drink water, we enforce personnel and equipment accountability,
and we might make a comms check with our HQ or other element. If we’re in
vehicles, this could also be when we slow down to allow others to catch up.
Sometimes we make major turns for vehicles a “check point,” so everyone knows
exactly where we are, and where to go if something happens with the convoy. If
the rally point has already been designed and briefed beforehand, the leader
can simply call out “turning south at checkpoint 1, new Rally Point.” Now
everyone knows where to meet if there’s a break in contact or emergency. These
points can be pre-determined during mission analysis, or called out on the
ground; however, leaders should prepare to create at least a few rally points
between major objectives. It sucks to
lose a friendly element and not realize it until hours later. Now you get to
find each other in the dark – great.
You may have
heard the term Objective Rally Point or ORP. This is simply the last rally
point before the objective, where leaders accomplish many tasks: we confirm we
are in the right spot, the mission is a go, we review emergency plans with the
team, and we may send out a smaller element to conduct a leader’s recon for the
next phase of our mission. The ORP involves a lot of critical tasks, mostly
concerning security and preparing for upcoming missions. As an example, your
ORP might conclude at dawn, when you have everyone dismount their NODs instead
of keeping them on their heads for no reason. Yup, I see ya Instagram.
Then we have the
Patrol Base, your home away from home. Patrol Bases are used to plan and
support follow on missions or patrols. You may have an Area Reconnaissance
where you have to hike in for 2 days. You may be conducting reconnaissance at
night but need to halt during the day. We do not just set up camps and go to
sleep. There must be an organized procedure for how we maintain security, while
allowing the unit to rest and prepare for the next mission. By doctrine, patrol
bases should not be occupied for more than 24 hours and, depending on your
situation, you may want to reduce that to 12 hours. The longer dudes sit in one
position, the more complacent they become, and the more likely they will
generate trash and waste to leave behind. This is also why we do not use the
same area for a patrol base twice. You should adjust as necessary, but the
priorities of work in the Patrol Base are: 1. Continuous security, Withdrawal
plan creation and dissemination, Communication, follow-on Mission Preparation
and Planning, Weapons and Equipment Maintenance, Water Resupply, Mess Plan,
rest. Notice how eating and sleeping are dead last. At night your security may
be 50%, while during the day it may be 75% awake. As usual, we use METTTC and
OAKOC to determine our Patrol Base location, its activities, as well as the
time spent occupying it.

The Observation
Post, often misused during the GWOT, is not simply a position where two dudes go
to sit and watch an area. The OP supports a larger element, serves a crucial purpose, and is meticulously
planned. Typically we emplace OPs connected with Patrol Bases and ORPs, to enhance
their security. Site selection is heavily METTTC and OAKOC dependent, shocker, but
a few key factors are that the OP is within range of your weapon capabilities
so you can support them, it can detect possible enemy activity near your patrol
base, and can quickly be occupied and broken down. Also consider how far
personnel must travel to replace OP members. You don’t want two guys traversing
horrible terrain for hours just because you really want an OP on that other
hill top. This means you have to consider routes to and from the OP so members
don’t get lost or compromised. The number of personnel occupying an OP depends
on, you got it, METTTC, especially how long the OP will last. If the OP is
connected to your compound, you may have 4 personnel rotating through it every
12 hours for months. Now consider all that traffic to and from the OP, and all
the possible waste and litter between the two. An OP could also be used as a
radio relay position, to enhance comms.
We must also discuss military doctrine that does
NOT apply to our world. While you may
have to improve your position slightly, you should not be sawing, chopping, and
rearranging the forest for a temporary position, for many reasons:
- You have neither
the man power nor the time
- You’re creating a
ton of extra noise and movement, which will eventually be heard or seen. And
unlike the military, you do not have a platoon on QRF or gun ships to come in
and save you when your bushcrafting has gotten you compromised and overrun
- If we are out in
possibly contested areas, we must implement a strict “leave no trace” mentality.
I have never seen a group of grunts able to break down an OP where they have
cleared the forest, and return the site to even close to normal. Now anyone who
comes through later knows someone has been there, and that they also know some
tactics
If you find
yourself in a possible Patrol Base or OP location where bushcrafting is
required to improve the area, you have made a lot of bad decisions up to that
point. You can
A: create an ORP
and develop a new plan and site for the patrol base or
B: in a training
environment, learn the lesson that you need to work on your understanding of
OAKOC, your map recon, and overall planning
While the
military is afforded the forgiveness of massive errors in mission analysis and
planning, you are not. You do not have the resources, the man power, or the
equipment to go save every patrol that could have just spent an extra 15
minutes developing a better plan. In addition, just like all these principles
we have discussed, no SOP or plan should be treated as gospel. It sucks, you
may have spent 8 hours planning every variable and deciding the perfect Patrol
Base location, only to find out on the ground that it is a horrible spot. You
must be mature, wise, and flexible enough to recognize your error, and plan a
new patrol base location. You’ll get picked on, but you'll hopefully survive.

In summary,
following the basic principles of patrolling and the associated tasks is quite
simple and easy to train. Start with a simple OPORD or WARNO, “what you want to
accomplish,” and begin planning. Again, a clear and well written small unit
OPORD should take you no more than 15 minutes to create, and no more than 5
minutes to brief. Always be sure to get a back brief from your members to
ensure they understand the mission, and do not skip out on PCC and PCIs.
Conduct your PCC and PCIs at least 30 minutes prior to movement, which allows
teammates time to actually correct their deficiencies. Utilize your acronyms to
help you plan and organize your information and decisions and if you forget
everything else, just remember: KISS: KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID.
Stay tuned for further discussions on: Line of Departures, Reporting, Communications, and more.
OUT
Further Reading:
US Army FM 3-21.8: Infantry Rifle Platoon & Squad
US Army Infantry Small Unit Mountain Operations
Professional Citizen Project, Citizen Manual 2: Reconnaissance
Professional Citizen Project, Citizen Manual 8: The Modern Minuteman