Individual Movement Techniques

Individual Movement Techniques or IMTs (also known as Infantry Minor Tactics in Australia) are the most basic tactics that are employed at the fireteam, squad, section or platoon level. They are similar in most modern armies.

In most situations except static defense, IMTs are based on the principle of fire and movement. That is, firing and moving as fire teams, with one team supporting suppress the enemy whilst the other moves either toward the enemy or to a more favourable position. The movement is often only 5–10 metres per move. When closing on the enemy position, the team breaks down into pairs for better angles of suppression, and this technique is referred to as "pepper-potting" (British/Commonwealth).

IMTs are typically taught to all arms and services both in basic training and often also whilst undergoing non-infantry specialty training. In some military forces, such as the Australian Army, the entire British Armed Forces and the United States Marine Corps all units in the field force regardless of corps, regiment, trade or specialty are supposed to undergo annual refresher training in IMTs, on the basis that all soldiers can be expected to at least provide local security for their unit.^{[citation needed]}

Most IMTs are taught in the form of a battle drill, a series of choreographed steps that occur automatically in reaction to certain stimuli, such as sighting an enemy to the front, or being fired upon by an enemy from the flank. The initial stages of the drill are always the same and therefore action does not require full appraisal of the situation. Such stimulus-response training allows coordinated responses without the need for direct orders.

In combat, this allows the first few moments of the engagement to occur almost automatically and gives the soldiers a way to respond appropriately and predictably while the unit commander evaluates the situation prior to issuing orders.

Basic Drill

Perhaps the most basic of all IMTs is the "Basic Drill". The Basic Drill is one that all individual soldiers are supposed to perform if they come under fire.^{[citation needed]}

The basic drill is:

• Double tap
• Run two or three steps
• Drop to the ground or into cover
• Crawl a few yards (or move under concealment/cover)
• Observe
• Shoot (identified targets of opportunity within effective range)
• Move
• Observe
• Shoot
• Repeat until issued orders.

The basic drill is designed to provide a soldier with simple steps to follow under the stress of combat. The essential goal of the basic drill is to move the soldier into cover, remove him from the last position where he was likely to be seen by the enemy, and keep him positively engaged by identifying and shooting any targets in range until his commander makes an appraisal and issues instructions.

Other Drills

In addition to the basic drill, many forces, especially British Commonwealth forces have a variety of standard drills intended to deal with common situations/scenarios. These drills include drills for situations where contact with the enemy has been initiated or is considered imminent as well as drills that do not anticipate imminent contact with the enemy.

Examples of drills that are employed when contact has been initiated or is considered imminent are contact drill, ambush drill and counter ambush drill.

By quickly and aggressively executing these drills without waiting for orders the unit can gain or regain the initiative without needing to wait for orders from their commander.

An example of a drill that is employed when contact with the enemy is not considered imminent is harbor drill (a harbor is an overnight defensive position, stopping place or patrol base).

These drills generally take the form of a standardised reaction depending on the type of drill and the direction of enemy contact if any.

Similar drills are laid down and rehearsed for armoured or mechanized units, and units mounted in soft transport.

Below are some example section and platoon drills used by the Australian Army up until the 90s. These drills are intended for stealthy patrolling in close country. There were extensively and effectively used and improved throughout various conflicts in South East Asia, including Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam.

Contact Drill

1. Scouts engage the enemy
2. Gun team moves to the high ground or right hand side
3. Rifle group deploys behind the gun group and awaits orders.
4. Generally the section command will use the rifle team to attack the enemy's flank

Counter-ambush Drill

1. Elements caught under effective fire in the ambush kill zone fight back
2. Other elements form up and assault the ambushers from the flank
3. If all elements are caught under effective fire in the ambush kill zone, the unit aggressively assaults into the ambush

Harbor Drill (Infantry/Dismounted Troops)

The mnemoic word to aid memory for this drill is DROSCCSS

1. Deception - a deception manourvre is undertaken, e.g. a "hook" where the unit loops back and ambushes its own trail to ensure it is not being tailed
2. Recon - the commander performs a recon of the proposed harbor site
3. Occupation - the unit occupies the harbor. This is often undertaken as a drill where the elements of the unit's positions are based on a clock. E.g. Commander indicates a direction to be 12 O'Clock. 1 section occupies 12-4 O'clock, 2 section occupies 4-8 O'clock, 3 section occupies 8-12 O'Clock and platoon headquarters occupies the center. As the unit occupies the harbor each unit files past the commander and each individual is counted. Normally machine guns will be placed at 12,4 and 8 O'Clock.
4. Stand to - all troops stand to - that is face out in cover, weapons in hand, combat equipment on, packs off.
5. Clearing patrols - scout teams perform a local patrol around the perimeter of the harbor. Clearing patrols stay within sight of the perimeter.
6. Co-ord - the commander tours the perimeter and ensures that the sub units are providing all round defence and the key terrain/approaches is appropriately covered. Claymores, tripflares etc. are deployed.
7. Sentries - the machine guns are manned, a radio watch is established and additional sentries may be deployed.
8. Stand down - troops not on sentry or other duties are stood down and begin harbour routine, e.g. preparing fighting positions, clearing firelanes, weapon servicing, personal admin etc.

Harbor Drill Cavalry Unit

1. Deception - a deception manourvre is undertaken, e.g. a "hook" where the unit loops back and ambushes its own trail to ensure it is not being tailed
2. Recon - the commander performs a recon of the proposed harbor site
3. Occuptation - the unit occupies the harbor. Vehicles move into a position of all round defence, facing out. depending on terrain the rear of the vehicles may be almost touching (in very close terrain) or they may be 10s of meters apart, in more open terrain. At a visual signal from the commander all vehicles are switched off simultaneously. This makes it difficult for any enemy that can hear the vehicles to count the number of vehicles.
4. Stand to - crewmen remain in their fighting positions. Assault troops or infantry will dismount and move out in front of the vehicles to the edge of visibility or 20-100m depending on terrain.
5. Clearing patrols - scout teams perform a local patrol around the perimeter of the harbor.
6. Co-ord - the commander tours the perimeter and ensures that the sub units are providing all round defence and the key terrain/approaches is appropriately covered. Concertina wire may be placed in front of or between the vehicles, depending on the terrain and situation. Claymores, tripflares, seismic sensors etc. are deployed.
7. Sentries - sentries are posted and a number (the number depends on the situation) turrets are manned. Dismounted static or mobile sentries may also be posted.
8. Stand down - troops not on sentry or other duties are stood down and begin harbour routine, e.g. servicing, clearing fire lanes,battle procedure, personal admin etc.

See also

• Tactic (method)