August 5th-6th Pioneer Report:

Linear Danger Area Navigation – 5/6 August 2006

By

Black Jack

After a morning of the requisite camouflaging of self and gear, gas mask familiarization fire, road marching & tactical movement review, it was time for Pioneer class A-105 to tackle linear danger area navigation with a twist:  a small but swollen creek.  Sound like fun in almost triple digit humidity?  You bet!  Sound like reality?  Not even close—too much has to be done to do it effectively, especially with a fire team sized patrol.

Patrol size and mission determines trade offs held by the team during mission execution.  Little items such as flank security, rear security, point, and mutual support during battle drills are tasks usually farmed out to separate teams.  In our particular case, all of us were responsible for one or more tasks.  Razor functioned as the PL, flank security (at times) and rifleman.  Super Six functioned as Instructor, rifleman, and security element (at times).  Tank performed as rifleman and commo.  I was on point and had path clearing, far side security, and recon duty.

Things to remember:  Prior to crossing any linear danger area take time to observe where you’re going, the physical layout of the far side of the danger zone, possible ambush sites, land marks, and anything that could be brought against to bear against your patrol.  In our case, as we were crossing a stream, slow, deliberate movement was required with the goal being no splashing noise.   Sound travels well and farther over water than it does overland and an enemy soldier up or down stream could easily hear an inadvertent splash brought about by unsure footing and the associated muffled curse.  Sound is your enemy when dealing with water!  Another very important item is to try very hard not to misjudge the depth of the water you are crossing.  Different heights, weights, and amounts of gear make a definite difference in a soft bottomed creek.  One man can cross well with water barely above his knees while another following the same path can sink in above his waist or even deeper and have a real problem to contend with!

When arriving on the far side, recon an area large enough for the patrol, take up a good vantage point, and signal for the next man to cross.  When he is safely across, he takes up the point’s original position and the point moves into the far side terrain to secure the 12 O’clock position for the team.  Once the entire team is across, the PL will signal the patrol to continue the mission.  Piece of cake, right?  It can be, if the team continuously trains, learns how each other move, and knows their particular jobs cold!  Come on out, volunteer for Pioneer training, and see for yourself.  You might just find that the “cake” is pretty good, after all.

See you in the field.

Black Jack.

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