To Gain and Maintain

-IiI To Gain and Maintain by Lieutenant Colonel Robert R. lvany and Captain Michael D. Formica Glance over anv after-action scout has been a ".jack of all trades." report from the the National Training Center and, all too often, you will find epitaphs for incompetent scouts. Poor movement techniques, failure to anticipate enemy actions, or losing contact with the enemy fre-qucntly result in heavy losses for their battalion. But are they to blame? For many years our 1YD Today, our modern "Old Bill" must master the most difficult and important craft of his profession: The ability to gain and maintain contact with the enemy.

Detecting enemy forces before the battle and keeping them under continuous surveillance requires a special combination of patience and aggressiveness. Experience makes a big difference.

Veteran scouts versed in the subtle art of scouting are hard to find. The Army expects to fill only 80% of its JYD slots in FY88. Combat units, meanwhile, must contend with high personnel turbulence and with scouts who have been serving on recruiting or drill sergeant duty. ln the 1st Squadron, 3d ACR, we developed a series of platoon-level training exercises to overcome these obstacles. Designed to train "experienced" scouts who can gain and maintain contact in any cnviron-ment, these force-on-force drills can ARMOR -

Time 1st Platoon

Troop Cdr. Receives OPORD Screen a Stationary Force

Move to OPFOR Assy Area OPFOR Probes, Attacks AAR and MILES Check Hot Refuel and Rearm Troop Cdr Receives OPORD Reconnoiter a Zone

Move to OPFOR Assy Area OPFOR Screens

Time o900 2nd Platoon

Move to OPFOR Assy Area OPFOR Probes, Attacks

Troop Cdr Receives OPORD Screen a Stationary Force AAR and MILES Check Hot Refuel and Rearm Move to OPFOR Assy Area OPFOR Screens

Troop Cdr Receives OPORD Reconnoiter a Zone be adapted to divisional cavalry squadrons or to the scout platoons of armor or mechanized batt it I' Ions.

named "Quickfighter," these 24-hour exercises challenge everyone from the platoon leader to the youngest scout. The exercise begins with some self-diagnosis by the squadron leadership. Relying on input from the troop commanders, his own observations and after-action reports, the squadron commander designs the exercises to meet his unit's particular requirements. With the help of ARTEP 17-55, the squadron S3 incorporates these requirements into a fast-paced exercise. The attached scenario portrays a typical Quickfighter exercise. In this case, the commander wanted to develop the scouts' cross-country movement techniques during zone reconnaissance and screening operations. These requirements translate into ARTEP tasks such as "Reconnoiter a Zone" (3-1V-2-5), "Screen a Stationary Force" (3-1V-3-4), and

(3-IV-2-18). Each platoon has the opportunity to conduct the missions and act as the OPFOR. The squadron stitff plays an importilnt role in developing realistic training. It coordiniitcs outside support, publishes the necessary orders and provides two evaluator/controllers. One officer or NCO from the shop mancuvers with the OPFOR platoon. A member of the S3 shadows the friendly platoon. The stall's participation allows the troop commander to focus his attention on the movement, reporting, and calls for lire lrom his scouts. Quickfighter exercises make the scouts fcel "at home" during the evaluation. The commander directs the platoon leader according to the troop's standard operating procedure. Logistical resupply arrives undcr the control of the unit first sergeant. The troop's maintenance section responds to vehicle breakdowns. In this way, the entire unit benefits from the training, not just the scout platoons. "Quickfighter is not a 'Yreeplay" exercise. While the friendly platoon responds to its troop commander, the OPFOR platoon maneuvers under the direction of the S2. Troopers learn a great deal from their experience as the OPFOR. I' Quickfighter is not ii "free-play" exercise. While the friendly platoon responds to its troop commander, the OPFOR platoon maneuvers under the direction or the S2. Troopers learn a great deal from their experience as the OPFOR. In addition to controlling their movements, the S2 explains OPFOR for- mations and tactics. Using colored llags to designate them as BRDMs, BMPs, or T-72s, he configures them as the Forward Security Element or as part of an Advance Guard. The OPFOR attacks or defends undcr the S2's watchful eye. If conducting a recon, for example, the OPFOR moves on a prearranged dog-leg with prescrihed speeds for each leg. If the OPFOR defends, the S2 positions them as combat outposts or part of a defensive belt. Most importantly, the S2 teaches the scouts to fight and movc as the OPFOR. When the platoons trade roles later in the day, the scouts will be knowledgeable about the enemy's tactics. The friendly scouts conduct their zone reconnaissance or screen under the command of their platoon leader and troop commander. Neither knows the OPFOR scheme of maneuver. Routine, but ARMOR - MayJune 1989 often insistent, queries, find their way to the platoon leader. Oues-ticins like, “Where’s the enemy?” and “How many tanks are there?” keep the platoon leadcr focused on the irnportancc of gaining and maintaining contact. The S3 representative follows the evaluated scouts so he can observe their movement and actions on contact. From his vantage poinl, he can restrain or hastcn the pace of the enemy to challenge units with differing abilities. By increasing the speed of the OPFOR’s advance by only 5 mph, for example, the controller quickly builds pressure on the friendly unit.

The ability to perform under pressure usually separates the veterans from the newcomers. Actions on contact, on losing contact, or on being overrun provide plenty of excitement for the evaluated platoon. It takes guts to follow on the heels of eneniy outposts as they withdraw or to shadow OPFOR elements after they have penetrated the screen. Scouts quickly learn the size of the cushion they must maintain with thc enemy. Retrograde screening operations as well as night reconnaissance missions especially challenge inexperienced leaders. The use of MILES significantly helps the evaluator and commander assess a platoon’s effectiveness. During some missions, the commander may ordcr his scouts to avoid engaging all enemy forces, even recon elements, so their positions will not be compromised. Some young scouts, however, can’t resist the temptation to kill a BMP or T-72. These scouts and their units usually pay a high price lor such trigger-happiness. Flashing yellow lights quickly pinpoint those scouts who have allowed the enemy to detect and overtake them. Fortunately, each platoon has the op-’ portunity to learn from its mistakes when it switches sides during the exercise.

The real learning process takes place during the After Action Review (AAR) follcwing each phase of the drill. Ouicklighter AARs bring together both plihtoons, evaluators, and the troop commander. Everyone examines the friendly platoon’s actions. Where did they lose contact? How accurate were the spot reports? Whatever the shortcomings, the AAR ends on a positive note as the scouts go out and try again. Ouickfightcr exercises bcnefit every level of the command. The platoon leadership learns by being forced to handle a resourceful and cunning enemy. The troop commander has the opportunity to exercise his command and control and to discovcr each pliltoon’s weaknesses and strcngths.

The squidron commander, meanwhile, is able to watch, listen, and gain an appreciation of his “eyes and ears.“ As the units progress, he can add more challenges, such as barriers, operations in MOPP 4, and the integration of the tank platoons with thc scouts. These additional requirements can challenge even veteran scouts. As the Army faces major funding constraints, Quickfighter offers comniandcrs a low cost and low overhead exercise which can generate high trooper interest. It will develop experienced scouts who can gain and maintain contact in any environment. and live to tcll about it. Lieutenant Colonel Robert

R. lvany was commissioned in Armor from West Point in 1969. He earned a Ph. D. in history from the University of Wisconsin and graduated from the Command & General Staff College. He served with cavalry regiments in CONUS, the FRG, and the Republic of Vietnam. He recently commanded the 1st Sqn., 3d ACR, and is currently assigned to the Combined Arms and Tactics Department, U. S. Army Air Defense Center.

Captain Michael D. Formica was commissioned in the Regular Army in Military Intelligence after being selected a distinguished military graduate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

He transferred to Armor in 1984 and has served as battalion S2 and scout platoon leader with 1st Bn, 64th Armor in the FRG. He served as squadron S3-Air and commanded D Co., 1st Sqn., 3d ACR. A graduate of MIOBC, AOAC, and the Airborne School, he is currently the plans officer, 3d ACR.

ARMOR - May-June 7989