What are Tactics? Here is a good definition of what Tactics mean; “The employment and ordered arrangement of forces in relation to each other and the given terrain to accomplish a given task.” It is both art and science. As with an artist, it takes experience over a long period to become proficient with knowing which tactic to use at the right time. As with a scientist, it takes an understanding that your actions create reactions from the enemy and to use the course of action to either prevent or mitigate those reactions.
Do not get it confused with Strategy, they are two different terms. As the military theorist Carl von Clausewitz put it another way: “Tactics is the art of using troops in battle; strategy is the art of using battles to win the war.” Strategy is the overall goal as Tactics is how you achieve that overall goal.
In the military, Tactics are based on Doctrine which is a set of beliefs or ideas that are taught or believed to be true. When it comes to Tactical Doctrine, you have certain critical tasks that need to be accomplished in order to achieve success. These tasks have been used for centuries and have stood to the test of time. For an Ambush to be successful you must have Security, Reconnaissance, Assault, Support, Actions of the objective, Communications, Control, and movement to and from ambush location. Doctrinally this would be conducted in a basic way. Like if it was on flat terrain. Assault/Support positions 35 meters from road, linear shape with support on one end of ambush line, left and right security 200 meters from either end, etc. But in different terrain you sometimes can’t achieve or establish these positions according to doctrine. Doctrine is your base level of tactics, but when you apply METT-TC (Mission, Enemy sit, Terrain/weather, Troops available, Time available, Civilians), everything can and will change. Your terrain will dictate your distances and shape of your ambush, your troops available will determine your elements or size (you may not have extended security), Your mission and time available may constraint what you can accomplish, and the enemy situation will always have a final say in how and when you conduct your mission.
In being prepared, tactics are part of everything you do. The route you take from home to work, the items you take with you when you go on vacation, the amount of food supplies you have on hand for emergencies, etc. Let’s look at the route part; routes should always have at the minimum a Primary route and alternate route. If terrain and time allows, you should also have a contingency and emergency route (PACE Plan). If you are bugging out and moving tactically with a few vehicles in your convoy, then terrain will dictate the distance in between your vehicles and how you conduct rest stops or RON positions. If you are in desert conditions with open terrain, you would be more spread out, maybe even in a lateral formation like an inverted “V” or “Y”. This will provide better security for the group. During nighttime driving you may condense your formation into a single file and reduce the distance in between vehicles. Mountainous terrain is one of the most difficult environments for vehicles. You will always be channelized and in a disadvantageous position. You will have high ground above you and numerous of choke points to address. If you are moving by foot, you will have similar issues but on a smaller scale. But you will have more choices of routes since you can travel off road and over rougher terrain than in a vehicle. But you will have less gear and a harder time resupplying yourself during the movement.
Logistical issues will arise during your movement for both foot and vehicle movements. For a vehicle convoy you will have fuel to worry about, maintenance issues will arise or a loss of a vehicle due to enemy contact and/or accident. If you lose a vehicle or must leave one behind, you will need a cross load plan for taking the most important equipment from that vehicle onto the others, not to mention the personnel that need space to ride. Do you destroy that vehicle, or do you have a recovery plan to go back for it? Both plans have pros and cons. If you are moving by foot, you must take in consideration the physical condition of the people traveling with you. How will you resupply along the way? Water? Food? Having a way to purify water for your movement and planning your routes near a suitable water source is critical for your team to make it the destination. Other option is to have preplanned caches along your routes. This will have its own issues like security of the site, potential for it to be discovered and stolen. Best course of action is to have both planned. Emergency caches for that unforeseen event that prevents you from stopping at the planned water source. You will also have limited amount of gear and food that you could bring along. If you are heading to a bug out location like a cabin, make sure it has supplies stocked for your arrival.
Security should be a constant in all your activities. The bad guys only must be lucky once and you must be lucky all the time. A hard target is less likely to be attacked versus an easy target. Whenever you make your plans and prepare for emergencies always have a plan to evacuate from your location every night. If it is a clandestine patrol base or a cabin bug out location, designate link up points, a minimum of two in opposite directions. Normally we would say about 1000 meters and/or a terrain feature away, but that depends on your groups training and ability to execute. These two initial link-up points will then merge into a final link up point to move to an alternate location to remain overnight. This whole event may take time to accomplish depending on terrain. Urban setting it may be only several hours, mountainous and wooded terrain it could be days.
Planning is preparing. So, as you sit there and plan your Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) here are some things to consider:
5 Principles of Patrolling – Planning, Reconnaissance, Security, Control, Common Sense
Route Planning – Comprehensive study of your primary and alternate routes
Area Study – Extensive study of your operational area, it is a living document. Maps, Imagery, Local knowledge, Key Terrain, Choke Points, Supply locations
Camouflage – Person, Vehicle, Equipment, Disguises
Movement – Navigation, Counter Tracking, Routes, Hole Up Sites, Remain Overnight (RON) Sites, Chance Contact, Ambush, React to Ambush, Cross load plan, Destruction Plan
Danger Areas – Open Areas, River Crossings, Roads, Large Trails, Thickly Vegetated Draws, Urban Areas, Bridges, Choke Points
Link Up – Location, Signals, Code Word, Number Combos, Bonafides
Contingencies – Bug Out, Initial Rally Points, Evasion, Lost Person, Injured Person, Vehicle Breakdown
PCI – Pre-Combat Inspection
SOP – Standard Operating Procedures
EPA – Emergency Plan of Action
PACE Plan – Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency
METT-TC – Mission, Enemy Situation, Terrain/Weather effects, Troops Available, Time Available, Civilians/Others
OCOKA – Observation, Concealment, Obstacles, Key Terrain, Avenues of Approach
When you discuss Tactics, it will cover an immense area of operational activities. Planning, Movement, Logistics, Security, Control, etc. It is the “how” you will accomplish the given task. The above list will assist you and/or your group in planning the tactics that best fits your Operational Area. Doctrine is the base plan as if it was to be executed on flat terrain void of METT-TC. When you apply terrain to it, it changes to adapt to the environment. The enemy situation will always have a say. Before you plan your tactics to accomplish the task at hand, you must develop your overall strategy for success. Once you have that strategy planned, goals established, and your vision defined; it will become clear “how” you will accomplish those tasks.
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