2-1. Commanders use tactical road marches, approach marches, and forced marches to rapidly relocate units within an area of operations (AO) to conduct combat operations. Tactical road marches are used when contact with the enemy is not expected; while approach marches are used when contact is intended. Forced marches are longer or faster than usual or in adverse conditions. Organization of forces for the march must be flexible to changing conditions and responsive to the commander.
Note. For discussion purposes, the unit organization in this section is a battalion-size element.
Tactical Road March
2-2. A tactical road march is a rapid movement used to relocate units within an assigned area to prepare for combat operations (FM 3-90). Tactical road marches are organized into march columns. A march column consists of all march serials using the same route for a single movement under control of a single commander (FM 3-90). March execution depends upon a well-designed task organization to accomplish critical tasks and to provide the flexibility to adjust to changing conditions.
2-3. To facilitate control and scheduling within a march column, units are organized into serials and march units and are given an order of march. A march serial is a subdivision of a march column organized under one commander (FM 3-90), who plans, regulates, and controls the serial. An example is a battalion serial formed from a brigade-size march column. A march unit is a subdivision of a march serial (FM 3-90). It moves and halts under the control of a single commander who uses voice and visual signals. An example of a march unit is a company from a battalion-size march serial.
2-4. During extended road marches, halts are necessary to rest personnel, adjust movement schedules, reorganize march elements, and service vehicles. The movement order or operation order (OPORD) or unit standard operating procedures (SOPs) regulates when to take halts, and addresses actions for various types of halts, such as security, scheduled, unscheduled, rest, and maintenance halts. During halts, march elements normally clear the march route and move to a planned assembly area to prevent route congestion and to avoid being lucrative targets. March elements establish security and take other measures to protect (for example, establish local security) their forces. (See ATP 3-21.10 and ATP 3-21.20 for additional information on tactical road marches.)
March Column Organization
2-5. March columns provide excellent speed, control, and flexibility, but sacrifice flank security. They provide the ability to deploy forces to the front of the column. The commander uses a march column when speed is essential and enemy contact is unlikely. The commander organizes a march column into four elements: reconnaissance, quartering party, main body, and trail party (see figure 2-1 on page 26).
Note. March columns are organized to maintain unit integrity and task-organized as determined by the mission variables of METT-TC (I), which stands for mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, civil considerations, and informational considerations.
Reconnaissance
2-6. The march plan is based on thorough ground reconnaissance if time permits. Map and aerial reconnaissance help formulate plans but are not substitutes for ground reconnaissance. A reconnaissance element performs route reconnaissance and usually includes reconnaissance forces and attached engineer support and traffic control elements. When the situation dictates, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) survey teams may be included in the reconnaissance element. Generally, the unit SOPs establish the reconnaissance element’s base composition that can be modified to meet specific march requirements. The minimum of information required from the reconnaissance element includes—
- Available routes and conditions or trafficability of each route.
- Routes may be specified by higher headquarters.
- Trafficability should include factors such as slope, general route surface (for example, paved, cross-country, sand), and radius of turns that could hinder vehicular movement.
- Recommended rate of march with changes to the rate at different points along the route.
- Start point (SP) and release point (RP) selections and confirmation of their suitability.
- Confirmation of assembly area(s) and halt(s) locations.
- Checkpoint (CP) locations along route.
- Distance between CPs and total distance from SP to RP.
- Location of obstacles including estimations to repair and maintain routes.
- Recommendations to bypass obstacles.
- Number of guides (as necessary) required and their route locations.
- Locations of possible or likely danger areas, potential ambush sites, and chance enemy contacts.
- Locations of possible medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) points along the route.
- Heights and widths of underpasses and overpasses.
- Weight limits for and widths of roads and bridges.
Quartering Party
2-7. A quartering party is a group dispatched to a new assigned area in advance of the main body (FM 3-90). The dispatched group (generally made up of unit representatives) secures, reconnoiters, and organizes the new assigned area before the main body’s arrival and occupation. As an example, using a battalion-size unit, the composition and responsibilities of quartering parties may include—
- Quartering party commander; battalion logistics staff officer (S-4) and battalion CBRN representative; company representatives including—
- Supply personnel.
- Communications.
- Security.
- Unit guide (if available).
- Medical personnel.
- Quartering party commander indicates the location of major subordinate units on the ground and selects exact locations for battalion command posts and support areas based on general locations selected by the battalion operations staff officer (S-3), in coordination with the S-4.
- Other considerations regarding locations include—
- Company representatives select locations for company headquarters, platoons, messing, and latrines.
- Communications personnel install equipment ensuring immediate control of units as units arrive in their assigned areas.
- Medical personnel advise other quartering party personnel on sanitation measures and select a site for the battalion aid station.
- The quartering party commander also formulates plans to receive and guide units from the RP to their areas:
- Plans are prepared to guide each unit over a designated route based on order of march.
- This route begins at the RP and extends to the unit’s new area.
- Guides must understand and rehearse the plan.
- These plans prevent congestion or delays near RPs.
- Actual dispatch of the quartering party can follow the issuance of the movement order or OPORD.
Main Body
2-8. The main body of the march column consists of the remainder of the unit, including attachments and minus the trail party The main body is the principal part of a tactical command or formation. It does not include detached elements of the command, such as advance guards, flank guards, and covering forces (ADP 3-90). Before starting the march, each march unit of a serial reconnoiters its route to the SP and determines the exact time for reaching it. The movement order or OPORD states the time the serial must arrive and clear its SP. Serial commanders determine and announce times for march units of their serials. Arrival time at the SP is critical. Each march unit must arrive at and clear the SP on time; otherwise, movement of other elements may be delayed. Each leader reconnoiters routes from their position to the SP to help decide when their unit must move to meet its SP time.
2-9. During movement, march units move at the constant rate of march designated in the movement order or OPORD while maintaining proper interval and column gap. Erratic increases and decreases in rate of march, particularly on hills, create an accordion or whipping effect. This can force tail elements to move at increased and unsafe rates of march to keep up with the lead column or element. If the march unit is behind schedule, it uses the designated catchup rate of march. March units report crossing each control point as assigned by the movement order or OPORD. During movement, air and ground security must be maintained.
Trail Party
2-10. The trail party is the last march unit in a march column (FM 3-90). It normally consists of primarily maintenance elements in a mounted march. As an example, using a battalion-size unit, the trail party is usually led by the assistant march commander or the battalion maintenance officer when vehicles are included in the march and may consist of elements of the maintenance and medical sections. The trail party recovers disabled vehicles and stragglers. If disabled vehicles cannot be repaired or towed, vehicles and crew members are moved off the road into a secure area. Drivers and crew members are left with the vehicle, along with food and water. When vehicles are left behind, the trail party calls in its location and tells the battalion S-4 why it was left.
2-11. Medical personnel attached to the trail party comprise the personnel evacuation section. This section is responsible for recovering stragglers from the march column who require medical care. Company medics try to maintain march unit discipline by treating casualties within their ability and not allowing stragglers to delay them or the progress of the foot march. Trail party personnel evacuation section must have troop carrying assets to pick up and treat stragglers from various march units within the battalion serial. Once the trail party picks up stragglers, the battalion personnel staff officer (S-1) should be notified to maintain accountability.
2-12. When the trail party completes the march, the battalion’s first priority is to recover vehicles left behind and return stragglers to their parent units. Marches are not complete until the unit establishes a 100 percent accountability of all march units, vehicles, equipment, and personnel.
2-13. When the trail party is responsible for rear security of the march, the party is attached with a small security force. The security force ensures no one surprises the march from the rear. The trail party maintains constant communication with the main body and march commander to ensure no wide separations between the main body and trail party occur.
Order of March
2-14. During marches, the order of march depends on the mission, terrain, probable order of commitment into action, and mobility of units. March units and serials are placed in the desired order of march by scheduling the arrival of march units at the SP. When different types of units are included in the march, the following is an example how units might be broken down:
- Tanks and Infantry units included in marches are interspersed throughout the column to facilitate integrated entry into combat.
- Artillery and mortars are placed forward and throughout the column to ensure support of forward elements and the initial action of the main body.
- Air defense weapons are deployed throughout the column or are moved by bounds to protect passage of critical points.
- Engineer units are located well forward to facilitate movement of units through enemy obstacles and explosive hazards along the march route.
- Antitank weapons can be arranged to provide protection throughout the column. Some antitank weapons may be employed to overwatch forward elements.
Note. Integration of different units may have an adverse impact on rate of march but increases combat power and protection level.
March Techniques
2-15. Organized march columns employ three march techniques: open column, close column, and infiltration. Each of these techniques use scheduled halts to control and sustain the march. Mission variables of METT-TC (I) require adjustments in standard distances between dismounted Soldiers and if used, vehicles.
2-16. During movement, elements in a column may encounter many different types of routes and obstacles simultaneously. Consequently, parts of the column may be moving at different speeds, which can produce an undesirable accordion effect. The movement order or OPORD establishes order of march, rate of march, interval or time gaps between units, column gap, and maximum catch-up rate of march. Unless the commander directs them not to do so for security reasons, march units report when their lead elements have crossed each control point. Throughout the march, movement elements maintain air and ground security.
Open Column
2-17. In an open column, the commander increases the distance between dismounted Soldiers and vehicles when applicable for greater dispersion. Distance between dismounted Soldiers varies from 2 to 5 meters allowing dispersion and space for marching comfort. Distances exceeding 5 meters between dismounted Soldiers increase column length and hinder control. Vehicle distance varies from 50 to 100 meters and maybe greater, if required. The open column technique normally is used during day movements. It may be used at night with passive night-vision equipment, infrared lights, or blackout lights.
2-18. Using an open column roughly doubles the column’s length and the time it takes to clear a point when compared to a close column moving at the same speed. Open column is the preferred movement technique because it offers security while still providing the commander a reasonable degree of control. In an open column, a single Infantry company, with intervals between its platoons, occupies about 1 kilometer of road or trail. Vehicle density varies from 15 to 20 vehicles per kilometer.
Close Column
2-19. The dismounted movement equivalent to the close column is a limited visibility march (see paragraphs 2 30 to 2-40). Distance between Soldiers is reduced to 1 to 3 meters to help maintain contact and facilitate control. Limited visibility marches are characterized by close formations, reconnaissance, a slow rate of march, and good concealment from enemy ground and air observation.
2-20. In a close column, commanders space vehicles about 20 to 25 meters apart. At night, vehicles are spaced so each driver can see two lights in the blackout marker of the vehicle ahead. Commanders normally employ close columns for marches during darkness, under blackout driving conditions, or for marches in restricted terrain. This method takes maximum advantage of traffic capacity of a route but provides little dispersion. Normally, vehicle density is from 40 to 50 vehicles per kilometer along the route in a close column.
Infiltration
2-21. Infiltration provides the best possible passive defense against enemy observation and attack. It is suited when time, space, security, deception, and dispersion are necessary. During infiltration, dismounted units are dispatched in small groups, or at irregular intervals, at rates keeping march density down and prevents undue massing of units and Soldiers during movement.
2-22. Infiltration requires more time to complete the movement, column control is more difficult and complex, and recovery of stragglers and broken-down vehicles by the trail party is protracted when compared to recovery in close and open columns. Additionally, unit integrity is not restored until the last vehicle arrives at its destination, complicating the unit’s onward movement or employment.
Note. Infiltration as a march technique during troop movement differs from the infiltration discussion as a form of maneuver. (See ATP 3-21.10 chapter 2 for information on the forms of maneuver.)
Approach March
2-23. An approach march is the advance of a combat unit when direct contact with the enemy is intended (FM 3-90). Commanders employ an approach march when the enemy’s approximate location is known, emphasizing speed over tactical deployment, and less physical security or dispersion. An approach march terminates in a march objective (attack position, assembly area, or assault position), or it can be used to transition to an attack. Follow-and-assume and reserve forces may conduct an approach march forward of the line of departure since the lead force provides those units a measure of security.
March Organization
2-24. Commanders task-organize units conducting an approach march before the march begins to allow them to transition to an on-order or be-prepared mission without making major organizational adjustments. Based on the mission variables of METT-TC (I), the commander assigns an AO or an axis of advance in combination with routes to units conducting an approach march (see figure 2-2). These routes, AOs, or axes facilitate the force’s movement and maximize its use of concealment. Within the approach march, the commander may assign separate routes, AOs, or axes of advance for each element unless an individual subunit has the task of either follow-and-assume or follow-and-support.
Order of March
2-25. As the approach march nears areas of likely enemy interference, the commander divides the unit’s main body into smaller, less vulnerable columns that move on multiple routes or cross country while continuing to employ security elements (see figure 2-3). The commander may employ reconnaissance and/or security forces forward and to the flanks to increase the distance traveled before the main body must transition to a tactical formation. The advance and flank guards remain within supporting distance of the main body, which stays in these smaller columns to facilitate rapid movement.
2-26. The tactical situation and order in which the commander wants subordinate units to arrive at their attack position, assembly area, or assault position, or at the transition to an attack primarily govern the march formation during tactical movement. Tactical movement differences between approach marches and tactical road marches include the following:
- Approach marches employ larger security forces because of their greater exposure to enemy attack.
- Approach marches are arranged into combined arms organizations.
- Approach marches allow the commander to disperse the task-organized force into a tactical formation without being constrained to roads and trails.
- Tactical road marches can organize their columns for administrative convenience by similar type, speed, and cross-country capabilities.
- Units conducting an approach march establish appropriate tactical intervals between elements, and if applicable vehicles; they do not normally employ close columns.
- Units conducting an approach march typically use more routes than units conducting a tactical road march.
Movement Techniques
2-27. Movement techniques limit unit exposure to enemy fire and position it to react to enemy contact. The commander selects the appropriate movement technique based on the likelihood of enemy contact. While moving, individual Soldiers, and if applicable vehicles, use terrain to protect themselves when enemy contact is possible or expected. They use natural cover and concealment to avoid enemy fires.
2-28. The commander conducts tactical movement using movement formations described in ATP 3-21.8 in conjunction with three movement techniques: traveling, traveling overwatch, and bounding overwatch. (See ATP 3-21.10 and ATP 3-21.20 for additional information on the approach march.)
Forced March
2-29. When necessary, a unit can accelerate its forced march, so it arrives at its destination quickly. This is normally accomplished by increasing marching hours for each day rather than rate of march (speed of units conducting the march); however, sometimes the rate of march must be increased to adjust to the situation. The commander must understand that immediately following a long and fast march, Soldiers experience a temporary deterioration in their physical condition. The combat effectiveness and cohesion of the unit also temporarily decreases.
Note. March rates are always dependent on the mission variables of METT-TC (I). The march organization, order, and techniques for the forced march are the same as for the tactical road march (see paragraphs 2-2 to 2-22).
2-30. A normal foot march day, under ideal conditions, is 8 hours, for 32 kilometers at a rate of 4 kilometers per hour (kph). Under ideal conditions, maximum distances recommended for forced marches are—
- 56 kilometers in 24 hours (14 hours of marching in 24 hours).
- 96 kilometers in 48 hours (12 hours of marching each 24-hour period).
- 128 kilometers in 72 hours (12 hours of marching in the first two 24-hour periods, 8 hours in the last 24-hour period).
2-31. Although forced marches may impair fighting effectiveness of units, urgent conditions on the battlefield could require them. Rest periods should be scheduled to avoid marching at the hottest time of day to ensure the arrival of the unit in combat-ready condition. Full advantage should be taken of periods when Soldiers are rested to increase rate of march, if necessary.
Next Page : Section 2 – Conduct of the March