1. Individual Camouflage, Firing Techniques and Fighting Positions

2. Terminal Learning Objective
Action: Camouflage self and equipment in a snow covered environment
Condition: In any snow covered environment, given individual load bearing equipment, helmet, weapon, ECWCS, over-whites and camouflage tape
Standard:
Soldier:
- Selected the camouflage outerwear appropriate for the specific terrain.
- Camouflaged equipment and weapon without affecting the function.
- Changed camouflage scheme as the conditions changed.

3. Concealment by blending in with the natural surroundings
Camouflage
Concealment by blending in with the natural surroundings

4. Camouflage Combinations for Different Types of Terrain
Thickly Wooded Area……….All Green
Low Brush or Light Scrub…White Parka and Green Trousers
On trails/roads………………...Green Parka and White Trousers
Above Treeline (open field)…All White
Thickly wooded areas- wear darker, woodland pattern, camouflage uniform
Low brush or light scrub area- wear over white parka top with darker camouflage trousers.
Forested areas- wear darker camouflage top with over white bottoms.
Above treeline, open areas- wear full over white camouflage.
Additional considerations-
Avoid routes requiring numerous changes in camouflage pattern
Have camouflage garments handy so changes in pattern can be made fast, on the move.
Avoid using face paint as it hides signs of frostbite; use issued white or green cold weather mask or balaclava.

5. Thickly Wooded Area
Soldier is in full green green camouflage in the tree’s

6. Low Brush/Light Scrub
Approximately waist high vegetation; soldier incorporates over white Kevlar cover, top and gloves, LBV broken up.

7. On trails/roads
Used when skirting treelines, soldier wears over white bottoms, ECWCS parka and standard kevlar cover.

8. Open Field
Above or below treeline

9. What Can Be Used? Materials that can be used-
Tape is good but can become brittle in cold and fall off (use cloth tape)
Old overwhites/cloth- insure no interfere with function of weapon
Spray Paint (check with unit armorer)
Discuss pro’s and cons of camo equipment
Use as much white as necessary to break pattern and blend with surrounding snow cover.
Snow covered terrain is rarely solid white.
Leaving some black exposed on the M16, for example, blends better than completely covering the weapon in white.
Care must be taken not to interfere with moving parts and normal equipment/weapons operation

10. Summary
Action: Camouflage self and equipment in a snow covered environment
Condition: In any snow covered environment, given individual load bearing equipment, helmet, weapon, ECWCS, over-whites and camouflage tape
Standard:
Soldier:
- Selected the camouflage outerwear appropriate for the specific terrain.
- Camouflaged equipment and weapon without affecting the function.
- Changed camouflage scheme as the conditions changed.

11. Individual Firing Techniques on Skis and Snowshoes
Talk about 3 different firing positions-
Standing
Kneeling
Prone

12. Terminal Learning Objective
Action: Engage targets with assigned weapons in a snow covered environment
Condition: Given load bearing equipment, helmet, assigned weapon, ECWCS, over-white set, skis or snowshoes with poles, ahkio sled, M-122 tripod and traversing and elevating mechanism
Standard:
Soldier:
Engaged targets from a standing, kneeling and prone position on skis and snowshoes.
Engaged targets using crew served weapons.

13. Standing Firing Position
Stance- Poles crossed shoulder width apart
grasp with non-firing hand
ski on non-firing foot pointed in direction of fire
other ski in half-herringbone position
Pro- good for long distance rolling terrain
Con- high silhouette, long to get in position – line of sight for you and enemy

14. Standing Snowshoes Same as skiing Standing-
Stance- Poles crossed shoulder width apart
grasp with non-firing hand
snowshoe on non-firing foot pointed in direction of fire
other snowshoe in half-herringbone position
Pro- good for long distance rolling terrain
Con- high silhouette, long to get in position

15. Kneeling on Skis Stance-
Same as standing except takes a knee and points the non-firing ski in the direction of fire
Pros- lower silhouette, stable for long periods
Cons- Still higher than necessary, hard to get into and out of

16. Kneeling on Skis - Alternate Position
Knee on ski instead of on the ground

17. Kneeling on Snowshoes
Standing and/or kneeling- ski poles can be crossed and stuck in the snow for a weapon support
Same as standing – talk about shins and knee placement

18. Prone Firing Position on Skis
Same as normal prone except use poles under elbows for flotation and place each ski at 1/2 herringbone position.
Pros- low silhouette, very stable
Cons- contact with ground causes loss of heat, hard to get out of in deep snow

19. Prone with Snowshoes
Same position as with skis except there’s no need to herringbone

20. Using a Snowshoe for a Firing Platform

21. Crew Served - Using Ahkio as a Support
The Ahkio works as an excellent platform because it allows for a stable firing position and keeps the ammo out of the snow reducing jamming

22. Gunner and AG
Ahkio sleds can be used for support of crew served weapons
AG can help feed “snow-free” ammo

23. Ahkio sleds can be used for support of crew served weapons
AG can help feed “snow-free” ammo

24. Summary
Action: Engage targets with assigned weapons in a snow covered environment
Condition: Given load bearing equipment, helmet, assigned weapon, ECWCS, over-white set, skis or snowshoes with poles, ahkio sled, M-122 tripod and traversing and elevating mechanism
Standard:
Soldier:
Engaged targets from a standing, kneeling and prone position on skis and snowshoes.
Engaged targets using crew served weapons.

25. Fighting Positions

26. Terminal Learning Objective
Action: Construct a fighting position in a snow covered environment
Condition: Given load bearing equipment, helmet, personal weapon, appropriate clothing, a specific location with trees able to support a wall, a sector of fire, snow, logs, binding materials, and pioneer tools. A location for ice crete will be furnished if it is necessary to produce ice crete blocks. This location will have a water source, gravel, forms of uniform size and snow.
Standard:
Soldier:
Constructed a fighting position wide enough for self, battle buddy and all equipment.
Ensured that fire can be placed into assigned sector of fire. The position has side, rear and overhead cover.

27. Construction Materials
Snow
Frozen soil
Ice
Stone
Timber

28. Wet Snow Dry Snow Hard Packed Snow
Packs well and is easier to shape
Becomes stronger as it sets
Strongest when temperature decreases after construction
Dry Snow
Less suitable for expedient construction
Does not pack as well as wet snow
Generally takes a few hours to consolidate (after it is moved)
Hard Packed Snow
Wind moves snow and it consolidates into hard packed snow
Used for fortification and expedient shelters
Construction is easier- packs well and can be shaped into parapets
Becomes stronger as it sets
Strongest when temperatures decrease after construction

29. Ice Crete Mixture of soil, water, rock, gravel, sand, silt
Pour and tamp into forms
Properties of Portland cement; stronger than ice but it will generally melt faster
Cover with snow to delay meting and to camouflage
Use for above or below ground positions
Mixture of water and dirt, sand or gravel
Poured and tamped into forms like concrete
Stronger than ice alone, but darker and will melt quicker than ice
Cover with snow to delay melting and for camouflage
Can be used for above and below ground positions

30. Small Arms Penetration Tables
Snow Characteristics
Feet
Centimeters
Newly Fallen Snow 13
400
Firmly Frozen
8-10
Packed Snow
6.5
200
Frozen Snow/Water Mixture
4-5
Ice
3.25
100
Ice Crete 1 30
NOTE: Based on penetration of a single 7.62 NATO round

31. Below Ground Positions

32. Below Ground Positions
Use conventional methods when frost line is one foot thick or less
If more than one foot thick, engineer support or demolition is required
Snow for camouflage and additional protection
Use timber for revetment

33. Overhead Cover Logs approximately 6 inches in diameter
3 feet of packed snow
Logs approximately 2 inches in diameter- bursting layer
Snow for camouflage

34. Above Ground Fighting Positions

35. Above Ground Fighting Positions
Used when frost line is greater than one foot thick and demo/engineer support not available; also used when little time is available
Dug as deep as possible
Parapets made of snow – 8-9 feet thick in front and 2-3 feet thick on sides
Parapets flat on top to deflect rounds
Reinforce parapets by adding sticks, twigs, etc. to the snow during packing
Snow bags or logs used for revetments for greater resistance to small arms and shrapnel

36. TOW / Machine Gun Position

37. TOW / Machine Gun Position
Platform of plywood or timber
Parapets 8 to 9 feet
Side parapets 2 to 3 feet
Overhead cover offset to the rear

38. Snow Trench At least two snowshoes wide Pack snow in front of trench
Excavate the trench, placing snow to the front
Log or sandbag revetment can be used

39. Snow Trench With Wood Revetment
Approximately 6.5 feet of packed snow
Snow trench dug armpit deep
Logs or timber used for revetment
Ensure a base platform is constructed for TOW and similar weapon systems

40. Tree and Log Form

41. Log Form

42. Tripod Supported Wall: Side View

43. Tripod Supported Wall: Rear View

44. Tree Supported Wall: Oblique View

45. Tree Supported Wall: Side View

46. Summary
Action: Construct a fighting position in a snow covered environment
Condition: Given load bearing equipment, helmet, personal weapon, appropriate clothing, a specific location with trees able to support a wall, a sector of fire, snow, logs, binding materials, and pioneer tools. A location for ice crete will be furnished if it is necessary to produce ice crete blocks. This location will have a water source, gravel, forms of uniform size and snow.
Standard:
Soldier:
Constructed a fighting position wide enough for self, battle buddy and all equipment.
Ensured that fire can be placed into assigned sector of fire. The position has side, rear and overhead cover.