Previous: 2-43: Sustainment
2-45. The rapid tempo and changing nature of the offense presents challenges to the protection of friendly assets. The forward movement of subordinate units is critical if the leader is to maintain the initiative necessary for offensive tasks. Denying the enemy a chance to plan, prepare, and execute a response to the friendly offense by maintaining a high operational tempo is a vital means the leader employs to ensure the survivability of his force. Using multiple routes, dispersion, highly mobile forces, piecemeal destruction of isolated enemy forces, scheduled rotation and relief of forces before they culminate, and wise use of terrain are techniques for maintaining a high tempo of offense. The exact
techniques employed in a specific situation reflect METT-TC.
2-46. The leader protects subordinate forces to deny the enemy the capability to interfere with their ongoing operations. Protection also meets the leader’s legal and moral obligations to the organization’s Soldiers. Some protection assets may need to be requested from higher. (Refer to ADRP 3-37 for more information.) To help preserve the force, the leader constantly assesses and ensures the following doctrinal protection tasks are addressed during the platoon’s planning, preparation, and execution:
- Conduct operational area security.
- Employ safety techniques (including fratricide avoidance).
- Implement operation security.
- Provide intelligence support to protection.
- Implement physical security procedures.
- Apply antitank measures.
- Conduct survivability operations.
- Conduct CBRN operations.
- Provide support for EOD.
- Coordinate air and missile defense.
Next: 2-47: Additional Planning Considerations
Go Back To: U.S. Army FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad