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.
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.
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 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
