Army Research Institute - Combat Leaders' Guide

ARMY RESEARCH INSTITUTE 

INFANTRY FORCES RESEARCH UNIT 

1997 

LEADER HANDBOOK 

COMBAT LEADERS' 

GUIDE 

C L G

INTRODUCTION 

The Combat Leaders' Guide is both an 

extract of doctrinal publications and a 

compilation of tactics, techniques and 

procedures(TTPs). It is principally 

designed as a pocket reference and 

memory-jogger. 

Some TTPs you have learned in training 

do not appear here. The material in this 

job aid comes from the doctrinal 

literature program. 

Laminate pages to be written on; 

remove, reorganize or tab pages based 

on your mission; insert other job aids, 

TTPs or SOPs as needed. 

Questions? Call SACG at Ft. Benning, 

DSN 835-5741 LT Kirby, SGT Rose, SGT 

Sparks. 

1 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PLAN 

Troop leading procedures 2-1 

Warning order 2-2 

Factors of METT-T 2-3 

Estimate of the situation 2-8 

Operation order (OPORD) 2-15 

Fragmentary order (FRAGO) 2-19 

Time schedule 2-20 

Light and weather data 2-21 

Leading in combat 1-1 

Basic rules of combat 1-2 

Actions before march 3-1 

Duties of quartering party 3-2 

March orders 3-3 

Actions during march 3-4 

Actions at halts 3-5 

Actions at assembly area 3-6 

MOVE 

BASIC COMBAT RULES PAGE 

2 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DEFEND 

Preparation for attack 4-1 

Consolidation 4-3 

Reorganization 4-4 

Defensive priority of work 5-1 

Defense planning outline 5-3 

Coordination checklist 5-5 

Establish observation post 5-7 

Fighting position guidelines 5-8 

Building fighting position 5-9 

Range card preparation 5-11 

Range card (blank) 5-13 

Range card (sample) 5-14 

5-15 

5-17 

5-18 

Sector sketch preparation 

Sector sketch (sample) 

Occupation of a battle position 

ATTACK PAGE 

3 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Disengagement planning 7-1 

Disengagement actions 7-2 

Passage of lines coordination 7-3 

Withdrawal under enemy pressure 7-4 

Withdrawal not under enemy 7-7 

pressure 

Relief in place 7-11 

DELAY 

Fundamentals of delay 6-1 

WITHDRAW 

Fire distribution and control 5-20 

Camouflage 5-21 

Physical security 5-22 

Fighting from a battle position 5-19 

Defending during limited visibility 5-24 

DEFEND PAGE 

4 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PATROL/RECON 

Patrol planning steps 8-1 

Patrol coordination 8-2 

Complete the plan 8-4 

Departure from friendly lines 8-6 

Rally points 8-7 

Patrol report (debriefed) 8-8 

Selection of a patrol base 8-9 

Occupation of a patrol base 8-10 

Patrol base activities 8-11 

Principles of a raid 8-12 

Conduct a raid 8-13 

Principles of an ambush 8-15 

Organize an ambush 8-17 

Conduct an ambush 8-19 

Plan a recon mission 8-21 

Recon zone 8-23 

Recon area 8-25 

PAGE 

5 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

NBC 

NBC-1 report 9-1 

NBC-4 report 9-2 

NBC-prior to attack 9-3 

NBC-during attack 9-4 

NBC-after attack 9-6 

Unmasking with chemical agent 9-8 

detector kit 

Unmask without chemical agent 9-9 

detector kit 

MOPP levels 9-10 

Detailed troop decon 9-11 

MOPP gear exchange 9-12 

Mark contaminated area: 9-13 

radiological/bio/chem 

Prepare for NBC attack/protect 9-15 

against electromagnetic pulse 

Supervise radiation monitoring 9-16 

Using a dosimeter 9-17 

Collect/report total radiation dose 9-18 

PAGE 

6 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Principles of fire support 10-1 

planning/coordination 

Call for fire 10-2 

Call for fire card 10-4 

Target list worksheet 10-5 

Mortar/artillery capabilities 10-6 

AFV Weapon capabilities 10-7 

Target acquisition/signature 10-8 

Attack helicopter capabilities 10-9 

Artillery counterfire 10-10 

Supplies and logistical services 11-1 

Precombat check (mech) 11-2 

Precombat check (light) 11-3 

Classes of supply 11-4 

Electro counter-counter 12-1 

measures 

Radio troubleshooting 12-2 

Splicing field wire 12-3 

Installing commo lines 12-5 

PAGE 

COMMO 

FIRE SUPPORT AND OBSERVATION 

SUPPLIES/LOGISTICS 

7 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PAGE 

MINES/DEMO 

Crossing objects with commo lines 12-6 

Messenger briefing 12-7 

COMMO 

Rules of engagement (ROE) 14-1 

Area assessment checklist 14-2 

Checkpoint/roadblock PIR 14-4 

checklist 

PEACEKEEPING 

Install/remove hasty protective 13-1 

minefield 

DA Form 1355-1-R sample 13-3 

DA Form 1355-1-R (blank) 13-4 

Breaching and clearing minefields 13-5 

Nonelectric firing system 13-6 

Nonelectric/electric priming of 13-8 

demo block 

Clear nonelectric/electric misfires 13-10 

Electric firing system 13-11 

8 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

AIR ASSAULT OPERATIONS 

Aircraft troop commander briefing 15-1 

Safety briefing checklist 15-2 

Reverse planning sequence 15-3 

Ground tactical plan 15-4 

considerations 

Landing plan considerations 15-5 

Landing zone selection criteria 15-6