Previous: 5-79: Defile
5-80. An increased awareness of the situation helps the platoon leader control the platoon when it makes contact with the enemy. If the platoon makes contact in or near the danger area, it moves to the designated rally points. Based on the direction of enemy contact, the leader designates the far- or near-side rally point. During limited visibility, he also can use his laser systems to point out the rally points at a distance. If the platoon has a difficult time linking up at the rally point, the first element to arrive should mark the rally point with an infrared light source. This helps direct the rest of the platoon to the location. During movement to the rally point, position updates allow separated elements to identify each other’s locations. These updates help them linkup at the rally point by identifying friends and foes.
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Go Back To: U.S. Army FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad