Battle Drill 1A: React to Direct Fire
CONDITIONS: The unit is moving or halted. The enemy initiates direct fire contact on the unit.
CUE: This drill begins when the enemy initiates direct fire contact.
STANDARDS: The element in contact returns fire immediately and seeks cover. Element in contact locates the enemy and places well-aimed fire on known enemy position(s). The leader can point out at least one-half of the enemy positions and identify the types of weapons (such as small arms, and light machine guns). Platoon leader reports the contact to higher headquarters.
Task Steps
- The element in contact immediately returns well-aimed fire on known enemy position(s). Vehicles move out of the beaten zone.
- Immediately begin to call out the 3 D’s (DIRECTION, DISTANCE, and DESCRIPTION).
- Move to the closest cover or concealment positions.
- Get on line i.e. in a line, facing the enemy.
- Leadership will then determine if the element will continue to engage the enemy. If they choose to assault, move to Battle Drill 2A or 2B. If the element chooses not to engage, move to Battle Drill 3.
Leadership Actions
- Element leaders control the fire of their Soldiers by using standard fire commands (initial and supplemental) containing the following elements:
- a. Alert.
- b. Weapon or ammunition (optional).
- c. Target description.
- d. Direction.
- e. Range.
- f. Method (optional).
- g. Control (optional).
- h. Execution.
- i. Termination.
- Soldiers and vehicle commanders maintain contact (visual or oral) with the leader, other Soldiers, and vehicles on their left or right.
- Soldiers maintain contact with the fireteam leader and indicate the location of enemy positions. Vehicle commanders relay all commands to the mounted infantry squads.
- Squad leaders (visually or orally) check the status of their personnel.
- Squad leaders maintain visual contact with the platoon leader.
Platoon Leader Actions
- The platoon leader moves up to the element in contact and links up with its leader:
- a. Platoon leader brings the joint terminal attack controller, element leader of the nearest element, one crew-served weapon team (machine gun team, if available).
- b. Squad leaders of the elements not in contact move to the front of their element.
- c. The platoon sergeant moves forward with the remaining crew-served weapons and links up with the platoon leader, and assumes control of the support element.
- The platoon leader determines whether or not the platoon must move out of the engagement area.
- The platoon leader determines whether or not the platoon can gain and maintain suppressive fires with the element already in contact (based on the volume and accuracy of enemy fires against the element in contact).
- The platoon leader makes an assessment of the situation and identifies:
- a. The location of the enemy position and obstacles.
- b. The size of the enemy force engaging the unit in contact. (The number of enemy automatic weapons, the presence of any vehicles, and the employment of indirect fires are indicators of enemy strength.)
- c. Vulnerable flanks.
- d. Covered and concealed flanking routes to the enemy positions.
- The platoon leader decides whether to conduct an assault, bypass (if authorized by the company commander), or break contact.
- The platoon leader reports the situation to higher headquarters and begins to maneuver the platoon.