1. Squad Tactics:
Tactical Movement

2. Basic Army Elements Team or Crew Squad Platoon Company Battalion
Regiment/Group
Brigade
Division I II
III X XX

3. Organization of a Rifle Squad3

4. Squad Tactics Formations Movement Techniques Fire Team Wedge
Fire Team File
Squad Column
Squad Line
Squad File
Movement Techniques
Traveling
Traveling Overwatch
Bounding Overwatch

5. Movement Formations: Purpose
Teams, Squads, and Platoons use formations for:
Control
Security
Flexibility
Fire Capability

6. Movement Formations: Fire Team File
Use when terrain/visibility precludes use of wedge
10 meters between soldiers
Return to wedge as soon as terrain permits
Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman

7. Movement Formations: Fire Team Wedge
Basic formation
10 meter interval between soldiers
Expand/contract depending on terrain
Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman

8. Movement Formations:

9. Squad Movement Formations:
Squad Column – Normally used as the primary formation
Squad Line – Used when maximum fire power is required to the front (i.e. laying base of fire)
Squad File – Used within close terrain, vegetation, limited visibility conditions

10. Movement Formations: Squad Column
Team Leader
(“Pointman”)
Basic formation
10 meters between soldiers
Distance between teams depends on terrain, visibility, and likelihood of enemy contact
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
(Compass)
Rifleman
(Pace)
Squad Leader
Team Leader
Grenadier
Auto Rifleman
Rifleman

11. Movement Formations: Squad Line
Team Leader
Team Leader
Grenadier
Rifleman
Rifleman
Grenadier
Auto
Rifleman
Auto
Rifleman
Squad Leader
Basic assault formation
Places maximum firepower to the front
Limited flexibility, control and security

12. Movement Formations: Squad File
Team Leader
Same characteristics as fire team file
Position of leaders and weapons depends on the situation
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman
Squad Leader
Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman

13. Squad Movement Formations

14. Squad Movement Techniques
Traveling (Contact not likely)
Traveling Overwatch (Contact possible)
Bounding Overwatch (Contact expected)

15. Movement Techniques
THE PLATOON LEADER CONSIDERS THE METT-T AND THE ABOVE CHARACTERISTICS THEN DIRECTS WHICH MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE THE SQUAD WILL USE

16. Squad Movement Techniques: Traveling
Team Leader
(“Pointman”)
Use when enemy contact is not likely
Squad column, teams close together
Speed is essential.
Not normally used in enemy territory.
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
(Compass)
Rifleman
(Pace)
±20 meters
Squad Leader
Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman

17. Squad Movement Techniques: Traveling Overwatch
Team Leader
(“Pointman”)
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
(Compass)
Use when enemy contact is possible
Squad column, teams farther apart
“Default” technique
Rifleman
(Pace)
±50 meters
Squad Leader
Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman

18. Squad Movement Techniques: Bounding Overwatch
Use when:
Enemy contact is expected.
When the squad leader feels the enemy is near.
When crossing a large, open danger area.
Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman
Squad Leader
Team Leader
Grenadier
Auto Rifleman
Rifleman

19. Squad Movement Techniques: Bounding Overwatch
Overwatch Team is positioned to cover the Bounding Team’s movement.
Team Leader
(“Pointman”)
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
(Compass)
Bounding Team
Rifleman
(Pace)
Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman
Squad Leader
Overwatch Team

20. Bounding Overwatch Bounding overwatch is used when
approaching an objective, or in a
tactical situation where enemy contact is likely or expected, and when speed of movement is not important.