Light Discipline

If soldiers need more illumination than an image intensifier can provide in infrared mode during movement, they should use additional infrared light sources to provide the light needed with the least risk of enemy detection. When using infrared light, leaders must consider the enemy’s night vision and infrared capabilities. For instance, an enemy with night vision capability can send infrared light signals and can concentrate direct and indirect fire on a platoon that is using infrared light.

SOLDIER’S LOAD

The soldier’s load greatly affects movement and is of crucial concern to leaders. Research has shown that a soldier can carry up to 30 percent of his body weight and still retain a high percentage of his agility, stamina, alertness, and mobility. For the average soldier weighing 160 pounds, that would be a 48-pound load. The soldier loses a proportional amount of his functional ability for each pound over 30 percent.

Load Management

Use the following techniques for load management:

•Distribute loads evenly over the body and load-bearing equipment (LBE), load-bearing vest (LBV), or modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE).

•Don’t carry anything on the front of the body that would prevent the soldier from taking well-aimed shots.

•Distribute loads throughout the unit. If it is necessary to man-pack bulk ammunition, water, rations, or demolitions, divide them into small loads.

•Rotate heavy loads (radios, machine guns, mortars, and antitank weapons) among several soldiers.

•Always consider transportation assets to carry loads.

•Upon enemy contact, drop rucksacks or leave them in an objective rally point (ORP), an assault position, or the assembly area.

•Share or consolidate items. Carry only enough sleeping bags for those who will sleep at the same time. In the same manner, two or three soldiers can share a rucksack and take turns carrying it.

•Consider carrying fewer rations for short operations.

•While carrying rucksacks, use water and rations carried in them first. Then rucksacks can be dropped and soldiers will still have a full supply on their LBE, LBV, or MOLLE.

A recent combat load study called “Soldier Loads in Combat” was conducted on dismounted infantry serving in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. A cover letter summarized conditions as such: “Despite the best efforts made by military leaders, today’s dismounted infantry soldier continues to carry excessive loads even during the conduct of short duration missions. This harsh reality is not due to these soldiers carrying unnecessary equipment, but due to the facts that the essential items that they must carry simply weigh too much and that we have few to no means today for offloading the dismounted soldier while keeping his gear near at hand.” Leaders should always attempt to keep the combat load of the soldier as light as possible without sacrificing protection and mission-essential equipment. Until we can find better ways to lighten the soldier’s load and get him into battle, the following doctrine still applies.

Combat Load. The combat load consists of the minimum mission-essential equipment—as determined by the commander responsible for carrying out the mission—required for soldiers to fight and survive immediate combat operations. It is the essential load carried by soldiers in forward sub-units, or the load that accompanies soldiers other than fighting loads.

Fighting Load. The fighting load includes a soldier’s armor, bayonet, weapon, clothing, helmet, IFAK, water and LBE, and a reduced amount of ammunition. Keep fighting loads under 48 pounds when cross-loading small-unit equipment.

Approach March Load. The approach march load consists of only mission-essential gear: clothing, weapon, the basic load of ammunition, armor, water, and special equipment. Enforce a limit of 72 pounds.

Emergency Approach March Loads. Circumstances such as approach marches through terrain impassable to vehicles or areas where ground or air transportation resources are not available could require soldiers to carry loads heavier than 72 pounds in larger rucksacks. These emergency approach march loads can be carried easily by well-conditioned soldiers. When the mission demands that soldiers be employed as porters, loads of up to 120 pounds can be carried for several days over distances of 20 kilometers a day. Although loads of up to 150 pounds are feasible, soldiers could become fatigued or even injured. If possible, avoid contact with the enemy since march speeds will be slow.

FOOT MARCH

Foot marches are the movement of troops and equipment mainly by foot, with limited support by vehicles. They are characterized by combat readiness, ease of control, adaptability to terrain, slow rate of movement, and increased personnel fatigue. Foot marches do not depend on the existence of roads.

A dismounted company moves in a column of twos, with a file on each side of the road. Distances are: day, 2 to 5 meters between men, 50 meters between platoons; night, 1 to 3 meters between men, 25 meters between platoons. Rates are: day, 4 kmph; night, 3.2 kmph. Cross-country rates are: day, 2.4 kmph; night, 1.6 kmph. Halts are: 15 minutes after the first 45 minutes, 10 minutes out of every hour thereafter.

Road Space, Foot Column

The road space (RS) of a company foot column, used in determining time length (TL) of the column, consists of two parts: the space occupied by the men alone (including the distance between them) and the sum of distances between elements of the foot column. Total RS = RS men + RS platoon distances.

The RS of the men alone is determined by multiplying the number of men by the appropriate factor selected from the table below:

Formation

2 meters per man

5 meters per man

Single file

2.4

5.4

Column of twos

1.2

2.7

The total RS between platoons is obtained by multiplying the number of platoons (minus one) by the platoon distances.

TIME LENGTH (TL), FOOT COLUMN

Rate

Formula

4.0 kmph

TL (min.) = RS (meters) × .0150

3.2 kmph

TL (min.) = RS (meters) × .0187

2.4 kmph

TL (min.) = RS (meters) × .0250

1.6 kmph

TL (min.) = RS (meters) × .0375

Completion Time

The completion time of a foot march is determined by using this formula: Completion time = SP (start point) time + TL + scheduled halts.

4

Offense

The four types of offensive operations are movement to contact (MTC), attack, exploitation, and pursuit. Companies can execute MTCs and attacks. Platoons generally conduct these forms of the offense as part of a company. Companies and platoons participate in an exploitation or pursuit as part of a larger force. The nature of these operations depends largely on the amount of time and enemy information available during the planning and preparation for the operational phases. This chapter will focus on the first two types of offense: attacks and movements to contact.

The MTC is a type of offensive operation designed to develop the situation and establish or regain contact. The platoon will likely conduct an MTC as part of a company when the enemy situation is vague or not specific enough to conduct an attack.

An attack is an offensive operation that destroys enemy forces or seizes or secures terrain. Movement supported by fires characterizes an attack. The platoon will likely participate in a synchronized company attack; however, it may conduct a special purpose attack as part of or separate from a company offensive or defensive operation. Special purpose attacks consist of ambushes, spoiling attacks, counterattacks, raids, feints, and demonstrations.