 The patrol is moving along its route.  The Point person halts the patrol and gives the signal for a danger area.

 The point person signals back to the Patrol Leader to come up front.  The Patrol Leader comes to the front of the column. Only the Patrol Leader can determine whether or not an area is a danger area.

 The Patrol Leader post his flanking security up to the danger area.  Flanking Security now are responsible for covering the road.

 The Patrol Leader then gives the signal for the column to set the perimeter.  The column then sets up a 360 degree perimeter around the communicator using the point man and the Patrol Leader as the 12 O’clock position.

 The Patrol Leader then gives his point man and one other person the signal to do a box recon on the far side of the danger area. The Patrol Leader will decide how big the box should be dependant on the terrain.  The rest of the perimeter closes up on the Patrol Leader.

 The Point Man and the other person cross the danger area and perform a box recon to determine if the area is clear if the area is clear the Point Man will stay posted at the far end of the box as a guide to build the security perimeter off of.  The other person returns to a point directly across the patrol leader.

 Once the Patrol Leader has been given the all clear he sends his flanking security across the road. Their area of responsibility is still the road.

 Now the Patrol Leader calls up the Assistant Patrol Leader and briefs him on the situation.

 Once the Assistant Patrol Leader has been briefed the Patrol Leader and the Communicator cross the Danger Area.  The Patrol Leader Stops directly on the opposite side of the danger area, the communicator continues to the center of where the column will be.

 Once the Patrol Leader is briefed by the person on the other side of the danger area he will post that person and let the Assistant Patrol Leader know to start sending the remaining personnel over.

 As the Assistant Patrol Leader is sending people over they will run by the Patrol Leader who will assign them a position on the perimeter. Remembering that the Point Man is 12 O’clock each member will be assigned a position by number. (IE. 1, 2, 3 and so on.)

 When the Rear Security gets up to the Assistant Patrol Leader he will tap the Assistant Patrol Leader and whisper “Last Man”.

 The Assistant Patrol Leader and the Rear Security will cross last.

 As soon as the Assistant Patrol Leader and the Rear Security reach the far end of the danger crossing the Patrol Leader will post to the center of the column. The Assistant Patrol Leader will do a head count to ensure that all hands have successfully crossed the danger area.

 Once the Assistant Patrol Leader gives the Patrol Leader thumbs up that all hands are present the Patrol Leader gives the signal to stand up, get into ranger file and move out.

 What happens if there are enemy troops on the opposite side of the danger area?  If the enemy is encountered on the opposite side of the danger area the personnel over there with them need to get back to the other side of the road.

Shots firedShots fired

 If the enemy is encountered on the opposite side of the danger area the personnel over there with them need to get back to the safe side of the danger area. As they are approaching friendly troops whoever made contact with the enemy needs to let the Patrol Leader know what he is up against by telling him on the run how many enemy troops you encountered.

 At the same time the Patrol Leader gives hand signal to the patrol to get on line, the patrol then sets up a hasty ambush.

 Now the decision must be made to fight or to retrograde. The rule of thumb is “Never engage an enemy that is greater than you in size.”  If the enemy is a stronger force than you, then the order to break contact should be given.

 To break contact the Patrol Leader orders the patrol “Break contact 6 O’clock 200 meters, move!” Once the first person hits what they estimate as 200 meters a 360 degree perimeter will be established and the process repeated as necessary.

 What happens if someone is wounded or killed on the far side of the danger area?

Shots firedShots fired

 If the Patrol leader decides to cross the danger area do it go in force, do not send one or two people at a time, take everyone.

 Another thing you can do is request Marine support to go in and clear the area and hopefully recover the missing member of the patrol alive.  Just remember that the COC has the final say so in whatever you do, if they say continue with the mission then that’s what you do.