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B-58. A trigger is a specific set of conditions dictating initiation of fires. Often referred to as engagement criteria, a trigger specifies the circumstances in which subordinate elements should engage. The circumstances can be based on a friendly or enemy event. For example, the trigger for a friendly platoon to initiate engagement could be three or more enemy combat vehicles passing or crossing a given point or line. This line can be natural or man made linear feature, such as a road, ridge line, or stream. It also may be a line perpendicular to the unit’s orientation, delineated by one or more reference points.
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Go Back To: U.S. Army FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad