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ANNEX I (Movement Technique Tips) to Detachment B-52 (Project Delta) Reconnaissance Tips of the Trade.

Movement Technique Tips

1. Movement technique: There are five basic techniques of movement that can be employed by small recon teams to avoid being detected or encircled by enemy forces. Each of these are explained and discussed below:

a. The Box Technique: This is a simple and effective method to use and takes very little practice to employ. From a given point the team moves on a set azimuth for a specific set number of meters or paces, for example, let’s say 35 meters. The team makes a 90 degree turn and moves 75 meters, then another 90 degree turn for 30 meters, another 90 degree turn for 30 meters, another for 30 meters. You will have formed a “box”. At this point you can do one of several things. You can wait in ambush for your tracker, or pursuers, walk backward across your old trail, if the vegetation and soil is such that it is impossible to hide your tracks or continue on. When you move out, after having formed your first “box”, move for another 50 to 75 meters and form another box. By forming these boxes it will enable you to ambush your pursuers and will definitely confuse any tracker s to your direction of movement. It will also discourage the enemy if you occasionally booby-trap your back trail. You can maintain a general heading that you desire to go without the enemy force becoming aware of it until you are out of the danger area or until he loses you completely. A word of caution though, and that is to not continually make your boxes the same size or to continually turn right or left. Never set a definite pattern of movement.

b. The Figure Eight Technique: The figure eight method is very similar to the box technique, in that you are basically doing the same thing except here you are making circles instead of squares.

c. Angle Technique: Another effective method to use in evasion and takes very little practice to employ. The patrol will change direction of movement from the present patrol route of march in a series of angle movements. For example, the team will make an angle move to change direction such as 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 70 degrees, for a hundred or so meters then do it again to confuse the enemy.

d. Step Method: The simple method of changing route of march in 90 degree turns for a distance of 100 meters or so.

2. Skip Method: An effective method that requires practice to employ. The patrol will stop in place and on command will move right or left of present route. Each member will move as carefully as possible not to make a trail or leave tell-tale signs to the flank for a distance of 20-30 meters and then resume the patrol’s former route of march. The team leader should send the point man ahead to make a false trail for 30 - 50 meters before using the skip method. This method takes practice and team members have to be careful not to leave signs as they move.

3. Additional Information:
a. never set a pattern if one technique does not work, change to another.
b. In both the box and figure eight techniques the size of the squares or circles will depend on the vegetation. The box technique is extremely effective at night. Both methods can be used to find a hold (Sic Hole) or weak point in the enemy’s encircling perimeter from which to break out.
ANNEX I (movement Technique Tips) Reconnaissance Tips of the Trade (con’d)

Both techniques have been used successfully in the past by recon teams. One survivor of an ambushed recon team succeeded for three days in ambushing and killing six enemy pursuers by employing the figure eight method before he was spotted and recovered by searching aircraft.
c. During the dry season CS powder spread over your back trail is extremely helpful in stopping dogs.
d. During the rainy season CS powder is almost useless or very ineffective against dogs. It is much more effective to drop a CS grenade during wet weather since it will hang low to the ground and remain effective against enemy personnel, especially those that do not have or carry protective masks.
e. In closing I might remind you that your tactics and techniques are only as good or effective as you make them. This can only be done through constant practice, training and rehearsals.