Avoiding detection while effectively and efficiently moving, as an individual or as a group, from a hazardous situation to one of safety involves the sound use of camouflage, concealment and deception; moving along concealed routes; noise discipline, such as avoiding speech with hand-and-arm or other signals if in a group; light discipline, namely abstaining from excessive use of flashlights or other sources of light; appropriate individual and group movement techniques; constant 360 degree awareness; and frequent SLLS (Stop, Look, Listen, Smell) halts. Yet this also involves effective planning and preparation, and it is in this regard that contemporary military patrolling techniques can be directly applicable to individual but especially collective stealth movement in order to avoid detection and reach a safe place.
While military patrols are conducted to perform reconnaissance as well as combat operations, such as ambushes and movement to contact, we can use the same principles, planning considerations, tactics and procedures in order to move as an individual or while leading a group of others to safety. Luckily, however, our mission here is far simpler than the combat operations undertaken by military units, though many of the basic concepts and principles remain the same and can be easily applied to our purposes.
The following material draws directly from the US Army Ranger Handbook,[1] while adapting its contents to our purposes. It deals with the planning and execution aspects of group stealth movement from the perspective of a leader, though such an understanding of the broader picture will benefit any single member of a group with such an objective, or an individual pursuing the same end. Although we have relied mainly on the Ranger Handbook and US Army infantry doctrine to provide an initial framework from which to proceed, we aim to develop this further from the insights of other disciplines and fields of knowledge. Please feel free to pose questions and offer constructive feedback and ideas in the comments to collaborate in this endeavor.
It should also be noted that the planning described in this article should only be carried out after the group has removed itself from any immediate danger, is in an interim and temporary safe place and is maintaining 360 security.
Five Principles of Patrolling
The five fundamental principles of patrolling apply to all types of patrols and include:
Planning – Devise a simple plan quickly and disseminate it to every individual in the group, ensuring that all understand it. A timely acceptable plan is better than a perfect plan that comes too late.
Reconnaissance – Before committing the entire group to a specific route or action, confirm or deny what you suspect and proceed with or adapt the plan accordingly.
Security – Maintain continuous 360 awareness and observation to be able to detect and react to threats (as well as possible sources of aid) as preemptively and proactively as possible.
Control – Have a clear plan that all members of the group understand, do not overextend spacing/dispersal and maintain good communication.
Common Sense – Use good judgement based on available information to make sound and timely decisions.
Main Task and Supporting Tasks
While the main tasks of military patrols are to conduct either reconnaissance or combat operations, our primary task is always reaching a safe place/situation. In this regard, there are also additional interim supporting tasks which may need to be performed in order to facilitate accomplishing this primary task of reaching a safe place/situation. These include, if necessary and appropriate:
-Crossing danger areas
-Establishing a patrol base (bivouac or temporary camp site)
-Acquiring resources (like water, food and shelter)
-Signaling for help
-Breaching or otherwise overcoming obstacles
Designate Responsibilities
There are a number of tasks that may need to be continuously, frequently or just potentially performed while patrolling. If leading a group of entirely untrained individuals or children, one may have to perform all or most of these responsibilities oneself. When possible, however, delegation allows the leader to concentrate on leading and keeping the bigger picture in perspective, thus being able to make better and more timely decisions. Some tasks are relatively simple and persons can be trained in them on the spot, while others, such as especially navigation and first aid, are not and require prior training, knowledge and experience. In most circumstances, especially in smaller groups, persons will often need to perform multiple roles.
Patrol Leader (PL) – Is responsible for everything that the patrol does or fails to do. He or she plans, issues orders, assigns tasks, supervises execution of the patrol and makes timely decisions as required.
Assistant Patrol Leader (APL) – Acts as PL in the absence of the actual PL, advises the PL, monitors the situation of individuals in the patrol, such as physical and emotional well-being and readiness, enforces noise and light discipline, and ensures that individuals are observing their respective security sectors.
Point Person – Responsible for providing frontal security and thus early warning as well as for negotiating the exact route the patrol will take under the direction/guidance of the compass person and the PL.
Navigation (Compass/Map) – Keeps track of where the patrol is on the map and in relation to where they are intending to go while ensuring that they are moving in the correct direction along the selected route (whether following an azimuth or a handrail) and providing direction for the point person accordingly.
Pace Count – Keeps track of the distance the patrol has travelled by counting their steps, thus facilitating navigation. This person should have some idea of their average pace count, and if they are not also assigned the task of navigation, they should be near the compass/map person in the formation and in communication with them.
Communications/Signals – Responsible for communicating with or signaling to possible sources of assistance that are external to the patrol. They may be tasked with carrying signaling devices as well as being alert for opportunities in which such devices could be used. For instance, if mobile phone reception is limited, they would monitor signal strength to identify when a call becomes possible.
First Aid – Provide basic medical care to any injured members of the group. This obviously requires at least some amount of basic medical training. Depending on physical ability, this role may or may not be tasked to the same individuals who are assigned to provide casualty evacuation.
Casualty Evacuation – Responsible for moving or assisting injured group members in moving to the ultimate destination of a safe place. Depending on their level of medical knowledge and skill, this role may or may not be assigned to the same individuals who are tasked to provide first aid.
Breaching/Engineer – Facilitate the smooth movement of all members of the patrol over, through, under or around obstacles. Some examples include laying mats or branches to breach a barbwire obstacle, placing a log over a ravine to allow for ease of crossing, or simply standing at the base of a steep elevated obstacle to support other group members climbing up, onto, down from or over it.
Reconnaissance – Before committing the entire patrol to a specific route or course of action, it may be necessary to first confirm or deny certain suspected conditions, such as route trafficability or enemy presence. This is the function of the reconnaissance element.
Security – While every individual in a patrol performs security by monitoring their respective assigned sector, thus creating 360-degree security through the combined interlocking sectors of the group as a whole, certain tasks require specific security functions. A standard example of this is crossing a linear danger area. Whether as part of the designated security element or as individual members of the patrol, it may be required to alert fellow patrol members of threats via agreed-upon signals or to engage with threats directly to facilitate breaking contact, and thus the escape of the group as a whole.
Planning Considerations
Beyond identifying essential and supporting tasks and ensuring that all of the above positions and responsibilities are assigned, there are a number of other planning considerations that are especially important for patrolling. These include:
Route Selection – Select primary and secondary routes in case, for instance, the first choice is not trafficable due to the terrain or enemy situation. Some considerations include:
-Cover and concealment
-Obstacles and general trafficability
-Distance to the objective
-Avoiding high-speed avenues of approach, unless this is part of the plan for procuring help
-Do not select the same route you were travelling on when you encountered the enemy that you are currently seeking to evade. He or she may be lying in wait, expecting you to be returning along the same way you came or continuing forward on that same route.
Timeline – Estimate the time it will take to travel along selected routes, including each phase if divided into separate segments, as well as the time needed to perform all identified tasks in each phase. Adhering to the planned timeline can be crucial for a variety of reasons, such as with regard to sunrise or sunset, rest plan and whether or not it will be necessary to set up a bivouac/patrol base, movement of seriously injured personnel, or if the safe place one is travelling to is a public area like a shopping mall, since arriving there after closing time would be inadvisable. Deviations from the planned timeline may necessitate changes to the plan. The PL must perform backward planning against any concrete times.
Patrol Base (if necessary) – While en route to the main ultimate objective of a safe place, it may be necessary to stop and set up a temporary camp (bivouac, patrol base) for an extended period, ranging from less or more than an hour to overnight. The details of establishing a patrol base will be covered in a separate article, but the purposes for doing so may include:
-Hide, reducing movement when an adversary is in relative proximity and/or is actively searching for the patrol
-Eat and rest, when necessary and a safe place is not immediately available
-Plan and disseminate the plan
-Rehearse necessary actions
-Wait for a particular change in circumstances, such as sunrise or sunset, or to allow extreme adverse weather to pass
Whatever the reason for establishing a patrol base, never stay at the same location more than once and do not remain there for more than 24 hours.
Signals/Communication – Plan for how you will communicate (a) within the patrol itself, such as by using hand-and-arm signals, whistles and insect/animal mimicry, and (b) with potential sources of aid and assistance, such as by mobile phone, radio, signaling flags, smoke, flares, mirrors or ground-to-air signals made from logs, bright cloth, etc. Ensure that internal signals in particular are rehearsed and familiar to every member of the patrol. Signaling will serve as the topic of a separate article.
Challenge and Password – In the event that one part of the patrol must temporarily separate from the main body, such as on a leader’s recon, it is imperative that upon returning to the main body, the departed element is able to identify itself and reenter the perimeter. This is particularly important in limited visibility conditions caused by poor illumination, inclement weather or dense vegetation. Such reentry can be facilitated by (a) a preplanned challenge and password, or if they must return in haste, by (b) a running password.
Locations of Leaders – The PL typically positions him/herself where they can most effectively control the movement and actions of the group as a whole, especially at decisive points in the plan. This means that (a) while the patrol is moving, the PL is often positioned toward the front of the formation, whereas the APL is typically situated further to the rear while playing a supporting role, like ensuring rear security and enforcing noise/light discipline. On the other hand, (b) when the patrol is stationary and the PL departs from the group for such tasks as reconnaissance, the APL usually remains with the main body, assuming the leadership role and ensuring 360 security and the fulfillment of other requirements as necessary.
Contingency Plans (GOTWA) – The PL may at different points have to leave the main body of the patrol, such as to conduct his/her leader’s reconnaissance of the objective (see below). In such circumstances, he/she leaves the APL in charge of the patrol as they maintain their position with 360 security while also performing any other necessary tasks, such as eating and resting in rotation. But the PL also leaves behind a five-point contingency plan, or GOTWA. This outlines where he/she is Going, Others who are coming along with him/her, the Time they are expected to return, What to do if they do not return on time and the Actions they are to take on enemy contact.
Rally Points (RPs) – These are designated places where the group will meet or return to in order to regroup in the event that members are separated from the group or if the entire group becomes dispersed, such as resulting from enemy contact. RPs should:
-Be easily identifiable
-Avoid natural lines of drift and high-speed avenues of approach (unless the intent is to seek assistance from passing motorists or foot traffic)
-Offer camouflage and concealment
-Not have been the site of recent activity by the adversary
RPs could be designated beforehand through map reconnaissance or they could be assigned en route. If not all members have maps and the navigational skills needed to use them, it may be easiest to establish RPs en route, explaining clearly to group members that if they become separated, it is to the last RP that they should return and wait. Nevertheless, due to the risk of group members not being able to find an RP, to reduce the risk of separation, the dispersal between group members should be minimal and frequent headcounts should be taken. Headcounts should be taken at frequent intervals as well as at certain key events, like before and after crossing danger areas, or any other situations where there is a higher risk of a member becoming separated from the group.
If the route to safety is relatively short and direct, then the PL may designate the starting point of movement as an RP and then establish only one more RP half-way to or just before the objective. If the route is longer or more complicated, then it may be divided into separate phases, with a different RP for each phase.
Actions on Enemy Contact – The actions to be taken upon encountering an adversary are highly situation dependent, but we can consider three main options based on our natural responses to being faced with a threat, as well as their sequence of priority. These are the freeze, flight and fight responses.
-Freezing involves immediately stopping all movement in place or moving into positions of camouflage, cover and concealment to then freeze in order to reduce the possibility of detection. Ideally, the group can then wait until the threat has left the area. Moreover, in the best-case scenario, the patrol has detected the threat before the threat has detected the patrol. In such a case, freezing/hiding will likely be sufficient, and if not, then it is possible to fall back on the flight response.
-If the threat detects the patrol first, then the option of flight is the preferred course of action. Depending on the distance to the objective, the required action may be proceeding directly there, or if it is further away, patrol members may need to flee to a position of concealment, following the point person under the guidance of the PL, or disperse and circle back to the last designated RP.
-If freezing to hide or fleeing are not possible, then the only option left is to fight, but even then, such fighting serves to open a window through which to flee and thus escape the threat. The security element of a patrol may need to carry out this fight response in order to create space for the remainder of the patrol to escape. They could subsequently regroup with the patrol’s main body at the last designated RP.
Objective Rally Point (ORP) – Since the enemy may have anticipated the location the patrol has selected to find safety, and since there may be open spaces and potential areas for enemy interception between one’s last area of concealment and the objective, it may be advisable to halt and perform some amount of observation or reconnaissance before making a sprint for safety to ensure that the patrol is not walking into an ambush. We might call this stop before proceeding to the objective, an Objective Rally Point (ORP).
Leader’s Reconnaissance of the Objective – The leader, along with the reconnaissance element, may need to go beyond the ORP to collect further information to ensure the safety and security of the patrol while proceeding to and conducting actions on the objective. Based on their observations, it may be necessary to modify the plan and update the members of the patrol on such changes.
Actions on the Objective – For when the patrol finally reaches its end objective, it should be clear what actions must be taken and by whom, whether that be, for example, flagging down a passing motorist for assistance or approaching a receptionist, clerk or cashier at a business and asking for sanctuary as well as use of the telephone to call the police.
In this article, we have dealt with the principles of patrolling as well as roles and planning considerations. In a future article, we will deal with other aspects of leading a patrol, such as organizing and communicating this plan (Troop-Leading Procedures [TLPs] and creating and issuing an Operation Order [OPORD] or Fragmentary Order [FRAGO]) to members of the group as well as conducting backbriefs, rehearsals and pre-combat inspections/checks (PCIs/PCCs).
[1] Two versions of the Ranger Handbook were consulted here, the 2000 (SH 21-76) and the current 2017 (TC 3-21.76) editions.