Doctrine assembled from British Army SOPs and US Army Ranger SOPs.
Formations
Refer to your section commander for the appropriate formation for the terrain and threat level.
Note: “FILE” and “COLUMN” are interchangeable terminology, with preference to “COLUMN”.
Movement Techniques
METT-TC Considerations
Before selecting a movement technique, consider METT-TC:
- Mission — Task and purpose
- Enemy — Intentions, capabilities, and course of action
- Terrain and weather — Road condition, trafficability, and visibility
- Troops and equipment — Condition of personnel and their loads, number and types of weapons and radios
- Time — Start time, release time, rate of march, and time available
- Civilians — Movement through populated areas, refugees, and OPSEC
Traveling
Use when enemy contact is not likely but speed is necessary.
- Leave 10m between teammates, 20m between squads.
- Maximum speed, minimum security, minimum dispersion.
Traveling Overwatch
Use when enemy contact is possible. This is the most often used movement technique.
- Leave 20m between teammates, 50m between teams.
- Only the lead squad should use traveling overwatch (in other formations, all squads may use it unless specified otherwise).
- The lead squad stays 50–100m in front of the platoon — far enough to detect the enemy, close enough to be supported by small arms fire.
- Offers good control, dispersion, speed, and security forward.
Bounding Overwatch
Use when enemy contact is likely or when crossing a danger area.
- Both squad and platoon have bounding and overwatch elements.
- The bounding element moves while the other occupies a position to overwatch the route by fire.
- The bounding element remains within firing range of the overwatching element at all times.
Reference: Squad Movement Formations & Techniques