Previous: 2-7: Offensive Tasks
2-8. Movement to contact is an offensive task designed to develop the situation and establish or regain contact. (Refer to FM 3-90-1 for more information.) It creates favorable conditions for subsequent tactical actions. The leader conducts a movement to contact when the enemy situation is vague or not specific enough to conduct an attack. Forces executing this task seek to make contact with the smallest friendly force possible. A movement to contact may result in a meeting engagement, which is a combat action occurring when a moving force engages an enemy at an unexpected time and place. Once making contact with an enemy force, the leader has five options: attack, defend, bypass,
delay, or withdraw. Two movement to contact techniques are search and attack, and cordon and search.
Next: 2-9: Attack
Go Back To: U.S. Army FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad