5-24. The company team commander selects from the three movement techniques (traveling, traveling overwatch, and bounding overwatch) based on several battlefield factors:
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The likelihood of enemy contact.•
The type of contact expected.•
Availability of an overwatch element.•
The terrain over which the moving element will pass.•
The level of security required during movement.•
Timeline of higher headquarters.TRAVELING
5-25. Traveling is characterized by continuous movement by all company team elements. It is best suited to situations in which enemy contact is unlikely and speed is important.
NOTE: Organization of the company team in both traveling overwatch and bounding overwatch consists of a lead element (also called the bounding element in bounding overwatch) and a trail (or overwatch) element. The commander constitutes these elements using varying combinations of company team elements; his decision must be based on the results of his METT-TC analysis. As an example, the lead element might be one platoon and the XO’s vehicle, overwatched by the remaining two platoons, the commander, and the FSO.
TRAVELING OVERWATCH
5-26. This is an extended form of traveling that provides additional security when speed is desirable but contact is possible. The lead element moves continuously. The trail element moves at various speeds and may halt periodically to overwatch movement of the lead element and scans possible enemy locations.
5-27. Dispersion between the two elements must be based on the trail element’s ability both to see the lead element and to provide immediate suppressive fires in case the lead element is engaged. The intent is to maintain depth, provide flexibility, and maintain the ability to maneuver if any form of contact occurs, although a unit ideally should make contact while moving in bounding overwatch rather than traveling overwatch.
BOUNDING OVERWATCH
5-28. Bounding overwatch is used when physical or visual contact is expected. It is the most secure, but slowest, movement technique. The purpose of bounding overwatch is to deploy prior to contact, giving the unit the ability to protect a bounding element by immediately suppressing an enemy force.
5-29. In all types of bounding, the overwatch element is assigned sectors to scan while the bounding element uses terrain to achieve cover and concealment. The commander may designate that the overwatch element conduct reconnaissance by fire in order to provide the bounding element
increased security. The bounding element should avoid masking the fires of the overwatch element; it must never move beyond the range at which the overwatch element can effectively suppress likely or suspected enemy positions. The company team can employ either of two bounding methods, alternate bounds and successive bounds; these are discussed in the following paragraphs.
ALTERNATE BOUNDS
5-30. Covered by the rear element, the lead element moves forward, halts, and assumes overwatch positions. The rear element advances past the lead element and takes up overwatch positions. This sequence continues as necessary, with only one element moving at a time. This method is usually more rapid than successive bounds.
SUCCESSIVE BOUNDS
5-31. In the successive bounding method, the lead element, covered by the rear element, advances and takes up overwatch positions. The rear element then advances to an overwatch position roughly abreast of the lead element and halts. The lead element then moves to the next position, and so on.
Only one element moves at a time, and the rear element avoids advancing beyond the lead element. This method is easier to control and more secure than the alternate bounding method, but is slower.
INFILTRATION
5-32. Infiltration is a form of maneuver that company teams can employ in a variety of situations. During an attack, for example, the company team may encounter strong enemy defensive positions. To avoid the enemy’s strength, the company team commander may use stealth to move infantry squads and sometimes mounted elements through gaps or around the enemy positions to conduct operations in the enemy’s rear area. The commander may also infiltrate a platoon or rifle squad to conduct attacks to seize key terrain, such as a choke point that will facilitate movement of the rest of the company team, or it can infiltrate to conduct an ambush.
Infiltration can also be used in many other types of operations, such as reconnaissance and breaching.
5-33. Infiltration is normally conducted in five phases (see FM 3-21.10 [FM 7-10] for a more detailed discussion of infiltration).
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Patrol. Locate enemy positions and find gaps or weak areas in the enemy defense.•
Prepare. Conduct TLP.•
Infiltrate. The primary goal is to avoid enemy contact, normally by moving in the smallest elements possible.•
Consolidate. Link up with other infiltrating elements, and prepare for actions on the objective.•
Execute. Complete the mission.OVERWATCH
5-34. Overwatch is the component of tactical movement in which an element observes and, if necessary, provides direct fire support for a friendly moving element. Situational understanding is crucial for the overwatch
the moving element and provide early warning of enemy elements that could affect it using FM or FBCB2. The overwatch must be able to support the moving element with immediate direct and indirect fires; it can do this either while stationary (as in bounding overwatch) or on the move (as in traveling overwatch). (NOTE: The overwatch element must also maintain 360-degree observation and security for itself.)
5-35. The key to successful overwatch is aggressive scanning of gaps and dead space (that may require the use of dismounted squads, Army Aviation or tactical UAV if available) within the moving element’s formation and on surrounding terrain. If the overwatch is unable to scan gaps and dead space and effectively engage the enemy, it must alert the moving element of the lapse in coverage. The moving element will normally adjust its movement speed and/or formation and initiate its own overwatch until the overwatch force completes movement to a position from which it can continue the overwatch mission.
5-36. Figure 5-1 on page 5-10 illustrates what the overwatch element must look (and listen) for as well as locations where the enemy can often be found.
COMPANY TEAM ROLE
5-37. The company team may be tasked to perform an overwatch mission in support of the task force or a portion of it. In general, because of organic weapons capabilities and normal operational intervals, one company team will not normally provide overwatch for another. At this level, overwatch is usually performed by platoons, sections, or individual vehicles.
STATIONARY OVERWATCH
5-38. If possible, the stationary overwatch element occupies hull-down firing positions that afford effective cover and concealment, unobstructed observation, and clear fields of fire. The leader of the overwatch element (such as the commander or the platoon or section leader) will assign sectors of observation and fire. As noted, the overwatch element is responsible for its own security during both occupation of the overwatch position and execution of the operation. A common security measure is to dismount infantry squads or loaders from the tanks to clear the overwatch position before the rest of the element occupies it.
5-1. Crews aggressively scan their sectors (using slow, rapid or detailed techniques) to identify enemy elements and positions. The leader must structure the mission so the overwatch element can effectively scan for known or likely enemy positions, paying close attention to possible gaps and dead space. The element must have a clear understanding of the enemy situation so crewmen know what to look for and where to look. They use applicable search techniques and employ all available sights and other visual devices (such as binoculars and night vision goggles).
5-2. If contact is made, the overwatch element initiates a high volume of direct and indirect suppressive fires. It moves as necessary between primary and alternate positions to avoid being decisively engaged by the enemy.
Figure 5-1. Overwatch Locations and Techniques OVERWATCH ON THE MOVE
5-39. This type of overwatch is used in conjunction with the traveling overwatch movement technique. While maintaining its location in the overall unit formation, the overwatch element (usually a platoon or section) continuously scans as the lead element bounds and closely monitors all potential gaps and dead space.
5-40. The overwatch maintains a specified interval from the lead element;
this is dictated by weapons capabilities and the effects of terrain, movement,