Marine Corps basics:
Movement
Basic Movement techniques used in urban terrain.
Proper movement techniques within built-up areas are the first fundamental skills you must master. These movement techniques must be practiced until they become habitual. To reduce exposure to enemy fire, you must avoid silhouetting yourself, avoid open areas and select your next covered and concealed position before movement. As a general rule, when crossing danger areas, you should not move unless you are screened by smoke or low-light conditions and supported by covering fire. You should move as quickly as possible from covered position to covered position.
a. Combat Glide: Due to the threat in high-intensity MOUT, you should move into a covered position as quickly as possible. The “combat glide” is normally used once inside a building because once inside you must slow you movement and support one another by fire. The combat glide is performed by having your weapon at the “ready”, scanning for targets “guns and eyeballs”, shooting elbow tucked to reduce exposure, slightly crouched and bent at the knees and moving quickly and silently in a heel-toe fashion.
b. Traversing a Wall: A person must learn the correct method of traversing a wall. After checking for booby traps and the presence of the enemy, quickly roll over the wall keeping a low silhouette. The speed of the move and a low silhouette denies the enemy a good target to engage.
c. Observation Around Corners: The area around a corner must be observed before someone moves beyond it. There are several techniques to make this observation without exposing the body. The preferred technique is to use a mirror on a stick or a hand held mirror to observe for enemy presence without exposing the body. If this is not possible than a person may have to expose their body to observe around the corner. One technique that reduces exposure time is “popping the corner”.
1) Prone Popping: A person will get in the prone position near the corner of a building or obstacle that he needs to observe around. Short stocking the weapon, the muzzle is pointed in the direction the person is looking. The person will crawl to the corner, raise his upper body on his elbows, and then push his body forward with his feet and legs without moving his elbows. The final position will expose the weapon, as section of his helmet and a minimal portion of his face. This gives the Marine a low profile, the ability to observe around the corner and the immediate capability to engage targets with his weapon. He should have another person stand directly over him to provide security to the flank. That person will not expose his body around the corner. This method is slow and difficult to get into. If speed is of the essence then knelling popping should be used.
2) Kneeling Popping: In this method two people move up to the corner of the wall. The first person assumes a kneeling position with his weapon short stocked and the second person behind him will provide flank security. When the first person is in position he will “pop” around the corner exposing his weapon, a section of his helmet and a minimal portion of his face.
d. Movement Past Windows: The preferred technique is to avoid the danger area (window opening) altogether by staying below the window level and “hugging” the side of the building. An enemy rifleman inside the building would have to expose himself to covering fire if he tried to engage a person.
e. Doorways: Doorways should not be used as entrances or exits since enemy fire or booby traps normally cover them. However, sometimes it may be less risky to use a doorway than taking the extra time using a window or an opening. The decision to use a doorway must be made on METT-T (Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops available, and Time available). If someone uses a doorway as an exit, they should move quickly through to their next position. Always stay as low as possible to avoid silhouetting and do not move unless there is covering fire and smoke. Moving past a doorway should also be done quickly if it is closed. Use the pieing technique if it is open.
f. Movement Parallel to Buildings: You may not always be able to use the inside of buildings as their route of advance. When advancing outside, smoke, covering fire, and cover and concealment should be used. “Hug” the sides of buildings, stay in shadows and move rapidly to present a low silhouette.
g. Crossing of Open Areas: Open areas such as streets, alleys and parks should be avoided. They are natural kill zones for enemy crew served weapons. However, if they must be crossed, the following fundamentals should be applied:
1) Concealment: Smoke or low light conditions can be used to conceal the movement of everyone. Supporting fires must be initiated prior to and during movement to suppress enemy fire. Run the shortest distance between the buildings and move along the far building to the next position. Before the movement has begun a visual reconnaissance should be made and the position for best cover and concealment selected. When moving from position to position, each person must be careful not to mask his supporting fires. When he reaches his next position, he must be prepared to cover the movement other members of his force or element.
2) Assault Movement: The assault element will move together fast and tight, keeping muzzles pointed in the direction of probable enemy locations at their next covered position. The support force will provide the base of fire and security for the moving element. The actual size of the element crossing depends on METT-T. There are two schools of thought on this type of movement. The first is when moving a short distance between covered positions, alone or in pairs, alone or in pairs, an enemy sniper may miss the first two but will hit the others. The other theory is that a four man team or larger assault element may be present too large of a target and may be destroyed in whole by well-aimed crew served weapons. The general rule of thumb is to move as a fire team. However, it is the squad leader’s decision, based on METT-T, on how he moves the unit. The reason for the fire team assault element is that a fire team has enough firepower to make initial entry. Additionally, a fire team presents a smaller target than a squad assault. When there is a large distance between covered positions, leap frogging the cover and clearing teams may be more viable.
3) Rabbit Run: If an open area has to be crossed for example an alleyway, this technique can be used. This technique is to draw enemy fire from any hidden position. In this method two Marines move up to the corner of the wall of a building. The first Marine assumes a running position with his weapon. The second Marine behind him will provide security. When the first Marine is given the signal to run by the second marine, the first marine will run across the open area towards another covered position. During the run the second marine will “pop” around the corner exposing his weapon, a section of his helmet and a minimal portion of his face and observe any fire shot at the runner from any hidden position. Once the enemy position has been compromised the second marine will provide suppressive fire and take out the enemy position.
h. Movement inside a Building: When moving inside a building, you should avoid silhouetting yourself in doors and windows. If forced to use a hallway, you should move 6-8 inches off the wall. Studies have shown that small arms rounds tend to ricochet when they hit walls and travel 1-5 inches along the wall in a line.
i. Wall-Body-Weapon: This technique was developed to give people minimal exposure as they move around corner. As a person looks down a passageway or wall he should keep the wall to his back and his body and weapon to the outside. To accomplish this, you may have to switch the weapon to your weak side depending on the direction of travel and side of the wall they are on. Although this technique allows minimal body exposure, it may put you in a situation where you must engage the enemy with your weak side. This will dramatically reduce target accuracy, which in turn could put you in even greater danger. The bottom line is that when you move into a room to clear it you must expose yourself anyway. It is better to be able to hit your target than to have better cover when you initially enter a room. |
