Small Unit Patrolling

Total instructional time: 7.5 hours across 5 consecutive training days.

• Prerequisites: None. Basic individual weapons handling and land navigation familiarity are recommended but not required.
• Evaluation: Diagnostic written pre-test (Day 1, ungraded baseline); written post-test (Day 5, graded); graded practical brief-back (Day 5).
• Primary reference: MCTP 3-01A, Scouting and Patrolling, is the doctrinal source of record for this course.

Administer before instruction begins on Day 1.

• Purpose: Establish a diagnostic baseline of student knowledge. Ungraded.
• Format: Short-answer / multiple-choice, covering patrol types, patrol organization, and the troop leading steps (BAMCIS).
• Time allotted: 10 minutes (recommended; adjust to unit SOP).
• Instructor note: Retain pre-test scores for comparison against the Day 5 written post-test.

Exact item bank and answer key are not provided by this deck — build/validate IAW unit training SOP before use.

Enabling Learning Objectives this day: Purpose & fundamentals of patrolling · Types of patrols · Patrol organization · Troop leading steps (BAMCIS).

ELO 1.1 — Purpose & Fundamentals

A patrol is a detachment sent out by a larger unit to conduct a specific tactical task, mission, or reconnaissance (MCTP 3-01A, Ch. 1).

• Purpose: gain information about the battlespace, identify threats, and either destroy them or deny them freedom of action/maneuver.
  • Gathering information is an implied task of every patrol, regardless of mission type.
• Tenets of Patrolling (MCTP 3-01A, Ch. 1):
  • Detailed planning
  • Productive rehearsals
  • Thorough reconnaissance
  • Positive control
  • All-around security
  • Every Marine a collector
• Mindset: patrols are conducted with the understanding to “always be the hunter, never the prey.”

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 1, Planning.

ELO 1.2 — Combat vs. Reconnaissance Patrols

Patrols are separated into two major types by mission — combat or reconnaissance (MCTP 3-01A, Ch. 1).

Reconnaissance patrols rely on stealth rather than combat strength and fight only when necessary to complete the mission or in self-defense. The rifle squad is ideally suited for reconnaissance patrol missions because of its size and familiarity working together.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapters 1 & 3.

ELO 1.3 — Elements & Teams

The patrol leader forms a headquarters element and task-organizes additional elements based on the assigned mission (MCTP 3-01A, Ch. 2).

*Assault and Support elements are formed for combat patrols. Reconnaissance patrols task-organize headquarters, security, and reconnaissance elements/teams instead.

Supporting teams (formed within elements as required):

• Aid & Litter Team — buddy aid and casualty evacuation
• Detainee Search Team — search, silence, safeguard, segregate, speedily tag, evacuate (“5 S’s and a T”)
• Tracking Team — pursue/maintain contact, locate firing points, recover personnel

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 2, Patrol Organization.

ELO 1.4 — The Six Troop Leading Steps

The patrol leader organizes and prepares the patrol using six troop leading steps, remembered by the acronym BAMCIS:

The patrol leader’s estimate of the situation is built on METT-T: Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and support available, Time available.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 1, Patrol Leader Duties.

A Marine with Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, provides security during a patrol aboard Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Joseph Scanlan. Public domain, via DVIDS.

Discussion: Which element is this Marine most likely part of (headquarters, security, assault, or support)? Which patrol type does this scenario most resemble?

Enabling Learning Objectives this day: The patrol leader’s estimate & warning order · Rally points · The Objective Rally Point (ORP) · Five-point contingency plan (GOTWA) · Danger areas.

ELO 2.1 — Begin Planning, Applied

• The estimate of the situation begins with mission analysis — described in doctrine as “the most important part of the entire planning process.”
• A Warning Order is issued early, using a modified five-paragraph order format (Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration & Logistics, Command & Signal — SMEAC), so subordinates can begin preparation immediately.
  • The full Patrol Warning Order format is provided at Appendix A of MCTP 3-01A.
• Time allocation: the patrol leader plans use of available time so subordinates retain maximum time to prepare, rehearse, and inspect before execution.
  • Common planning guideline: use no more than 1/3 of available time for planning, leaving 2/3 for subordinate preparation.

The specific “1/3–2/3” time-allocation ratio is a widely taught troop-leading-procedures convention; it was not located verbatim in the MCTP 3-01A text reviewed for this course — confirm current wording/unit SOP before teaching it as a hard rule.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 1, Patrol Leader Duties (Begin Planning).

ELO 2.2 — Types & Selection Criteria

A rally point is a place designated by the patrol leader where the unit moves to reassemble and reorganize if dispersed (MCTP 3-01A, Ch. 4).

General selection criteria — a rally point should be:

• Easily identifiable in both daylight and limited visibility
• Free of signs of recent enemy activity
• Covered and concealed
• Away from natural lines of drift and high-speed avenues of approach
• Defendable for short periods of time

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 4, Use of Control Measures — Rally Points.

ELO 2.3 — Final Preparation Before the Objective

The ORP is typically established 200–400 meters from the objective, or at least one major terrain feature away — out of sight, sound, and small-arms range of the objective area.

Actions at the ORP include:

• Conducting “SLSS” — Stop, Look, Listen, and Smell — to familiarize Marines with the environment
• Confirming navigation and the location of the objective area
• Conducting the patrol leader’s reconnaissance of the objective
• Issuing a fragmentary order (FRAGO), if required
• Final preparations: redistributing supplies, adjusting camouflage, arming/inspecting weapons, staging equipment for quick recovery
• Accounting for Marines and equipment after actions on the objective
• Reestablishing the chain of command after actions are complete
• Disseminating reconnaissance information if no contact was made

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 4, Use of Control Measures — Objective Rally Point.

ELO 2.4 — When Leaders Separate From the Patrol

If the patrol leader separates from the assistant patrol leader, the patrol leader issues a five-point contingency plan using the acronym GOTWA (MCTP 3-01A, Ch. 4):

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 4, Use of Control Measures — Five-Point Contingency Plan.

ELO 2.5 — Identification & Crossing Procedure

A danger area is any place on the patrol’s route where the patrol is vulnerable to threat observation or fires. Danger areas should be bypassed whenever possible.

Types: Linear (roads, trails, streams, draws) and Open Areas (meadows, fields).

Basic steps for crossing a danger area (when it cannot be bypassed):

• Pre-plan fires on the danger area and dominating terrain
• Designate near and far side rally points
• Establish security on the near side, both flanks, and the rear
• Reconnoiter and secure the far side
• Cross the danger area by element, as ordered
• Account for personnel/equipment; resume the mission

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 4, Danger Areas.

U.S. Marines with 1st Distribution Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, conduct a patrol during Mountain Warfare Training Exercise 4-26, Bridgeport, California. Courtesy photo, U.S. Marine Corps. Public domain, via DVIDS.

Discussion: Identify a likely danger area in this terrain, and where you would place the near- and far-side rally points.

Enabling Learning Objectives this day: Safety brief · Control of the patrol · Formations for movement · Movement techniques.

Exact weapons-condition, live-fire/blank-fire, and range-control procedures must be verified against current unit range and field-training SOP before this course is executed live.

ELO 3.1 — Signals, Base Unit & Accountability

• Movement is controlled primarily by hand-and-arm signals (standard signals per MCRP 3-10A.4, plus any special signals briefed and rehearsed).
• A signal to halt may be given by any patrol member; the signal to resume movement is given only by the patrol leader.
• Audible signals (e.g., whistles), if used, must be simple, limited in number, and easily understood — never mimic bird or animal calls.
• Radios are used only when hand-and-arm signals or face-to-face contact are impractical.
• Accountability: a count is taken after danger-area crossings, enemy contact, and halts — passed forward or checked by subordinate leaders on the patrol leader’s command.
• Navigation: at least two members are assigned as pace counters (pacers); the average of their counts is used to estimate distance traveled per leg.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 4, Organization for Movement — Exercising Control.

ELO 3.2 — Selecting & Adjusting Formations

MCTP 3-01A states that the squad and fire team formations described in MCRP 3-10A.4, Marine Rifle Squad, are adaptable to most patrol sizes for both mounted and dismounted operations. The patrol leader adjusts formations against three factors:

• Unit integrity — preserve habitual team/squad relationships whenever possible
• All-around security — never sacrificed for speed or control
• Time — mission- vs. time-driven patrols accept different tradeoffs between speed and stealth

Commonly referenced squad/fire-team formations (see MCRP 3-10A.4 for current diagrams and exact hand-and-arm signals):

• Column — good control and speed; reduced firepower to the flanks
• Wedge — good firepower to the front and flanks; harder to control in dense terrain
• File — maximum control in severely restricted terrain; minimum firepower to the flanks

MCTP 3-01A defers the actual formation diagrams to MCRP 3-10A.4, Marine Rifle Squad. This slide’s formation list reflects general, widely-taught usage; confirm current diagrams, names, and hand-and-arm signals against the current MCRP 3-10A.4 before use as a training aid.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 4, Organization for Movement.

ELO 3.3 — Means & Techniques of Movement

Patrol movement can be by foot, mounted, or waterborne (MCTP 3-01A, Ch. 1). Foot movement is most common, offering stealth and versatility at the cost of speed and range.

Movement techniques, by likelihood of contact:

The Traveling / Traveling Overwatch / Bounding Overwatch terminology above is standard cross-service small-unit tactics doctrine; it was not located verbatim in the MCTP 3-01A excerpt reviewed for this course. Confirm current wording in MCRP 3-10A.4 or unit SOP before teaching it as the exact doctrinal term set.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 1, Patrol Movement Techniques.

U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, move to engage simulated opposing forces during patrol training, exercise Ssang Yong 24, Yeongcheon-si, Republic of Korea. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Moses Lopez Franco. Public domain, via DVIDS.

Discussion: What movement technique would you expect this element to be using at this stage of contact, and why?

Enabling Learning Objectives this day: Occupying the ORP · Actions on the objective — reconnaissance patrols · Actions on the objective — combat patrols · Immediate action drills.

ELO 4.1 — From Halt to Leader’s Reconnaissance

• The patrol occupies a security halt short of the tentative ORP, confirms it is suitable, and only then designates it as the ORP.
• Conduct SLSS (Stop, Look, Listen, Smell) to acclimate the patrol to the environment.
• The patrol leader conducts a leader’s reconnaissance of the objective from the ORP before actions on the objective begin.
• All-around (360-degree) security is established and maintained for the duration of the halt.
• The ORP also serves as the point from which elements are released to their positions on the objective, and where the patrol reassembles afterward.

Specific perimeter-organization techniques at the ORP (e.g., assigning fixed clock-position sectors for a squad-sized element) are common cross-service practice but were not located verbatim in the MCTP 3-01A text reviewed here — confirm against unit SOP.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 4, Objective Rally Point.

ELO 4.2 — Zone, Area & Route Reconnaissance

• Reconnaissance patrols avoid enemy contact and rely on stealth to gather information, fighting only in self-defense or to complete the mission.
• From the ORP, the patrol leader confirms the objective, then executes the assigned reconnaissance technique (zone, area, or route — see Day 1).
• Zone reconnaissance may be executed by moving elements, stationary observation teams, or a series of area-reconnaissance actions across the assigned zone.
• Findings are consolidated at (or after departing) the ORP and disseminated to higher headquarters during the post-patrol debrief.

Specific zone-reconnaissance movement methods (e.g., fan, box, converging routes, successive sectors) are standard cross-service technique names; confirm current terminology in MCRP 3-10A.4/unit SOP before teaching them as MCTP 3-01A-specific terms.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 1 & Chapter 3, Reconnaissance Patrols.

ELO 4.3 — Raid & Ambush Execution

• Raid: a limited-objective attack ending with a planned withdrawal; requires detailed intelligence, increased planning, and rehearsal time.
• Ambush: a surprise attack by fire from concealed positions on a moving or temporarily halted enemy. Ambushes are designed to place the enemy in a dilemma where staying in or leaving the kill zone are equally lethal.
• Point ambush attacks along a single kill zone; an area ambush conducts several coordinated point ambushes throughout an area.
• Near ambush occurs at typically less than 50 meters — extremely lethal, often within hand-grenade range; swift, rehearsed action is critical.
• The assault, support, and security elements from Day 1 apply directly: security isolates the objective and secures the ORP/withdrawal; support suppresses by fire; assault clears the kill zone.

Ambush formation diagrams (e.g., L-shaped, linear) are published in MCRP 3-10A.3, Marine Infantry Platoon, per MCTP 3-01A’s own cross-reference — not independently reviewed for this course. Confirm current figures before use as a training aid.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 3, Combat Patrols — Ambush Patrols.

ELO 4.4 — Rehearsed Reactions to Contact

Immediate action drills are rehearsed until they become second nature; they minimize the need for excessive signals or commands (MCTP 3-01A, Ch. 4).

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 4, Actions on Contact & Immediate Action Drills.

A Marine radio operator with All Domain Effects Team, 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, prepares a hasty position during field training in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 2022, Setermoen, Norway. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Davis. Public domain, via DVIDS.

A patrol base shares planning considerations with the ORP but is used for an extended halt — not occupied more than 24 hours, and never occupied twice (MCTP 3-01A, Ch. 5).

U.S. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, clear a building during a squad-level urban assault, Service Level Training Exercise 4-26, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Vincent Needham. Public domain, via DVIDS.

Actions on the objective for a raid follow the same assault/support/security element construct covered on the previous slides.

Enabling Learning Objectives this day: The patrol order · Rehearsals · Brief-back procedure & grading · Practical application exercise.

ELO 5.1 — Issuing the Order (BAMCIS Step “I”)

• The patrol order follows the standard five-paragraph order format — SMEAC: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration & Logistics, Command & Signal.
• It is preceded by the Warning Order (issued during “Begin Planning”) and refined through reconnaissance and coordination before being issued in full.
• MCTP 3-01A provides the Basic Patrol Warning Order format at Appendix A for reference.
• The order must clearly state task organization, routes, rally points, actions at danger areas, actions on the objective, fire support, and the five-point contingency plan.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 1 & Appendix A, The Patrol Warning Order.

ELO 5.2 — Productive Rehearsals (BAMCIS Step “S”)

“Productive rehearsals” is one of the six tenets of patrolling, and supervision is the most important of the six troop leading steps.

• Actions at rally points “should always be rehearsed, whether they are part of the unit’s SOP or not” (MCTP 3-01A).
• Immediate action drills are rehearsed until they become second nature, and retrained whenever new members, teams, or leaders are introduced.
• Rehearse, at minimum: actions at danger areas, actions at the ORP, actions on the objective, and immediate action drills.
• Conduct rehearsals for both day and limited-visibility conditions when the mission requires it.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 1 (Tenets of Patrolling) & Chapter 4 (Rally Point Actions, Immediate Action Drills).

ELO 5.3 — Confirming the Plan Before Execution

A brief-back is the student patrol leader’s read-back/confirmation of the patrol plan to the instructor (acting as the assigning commander) before execution.

Suggested GO / NO-GO checklist items:

• Mission statement and commander’s intent restated accurately
• Task organization (elements/teams) correctly assigned
• Route, rally points, and danger-area plan identified
• Actions on the objective briefed for the assigned patrol type
• Immediate action drills and the five-point contingency plan (GOTWA) briefed
• Fire support and casualty evacuation plan addressed
• Timeline supports the patrol leader’s 1/3–2/3 planning guidance

This checklist is a training-support tool, not a verbatim doctrinal grading form. Validate the exact grading weight and GO/NO-GO thresholds against current unit SOP before use as an official evaluation instrument.

ELO 5.4 — Capstone Evaluation

• Students (individually or in small groups) receive an assigned patrol mission and objective.
• Apply BAMCIS: build the estimate, issue a warning order, plan rally points and danger-area actions, and complete a five-paragraph patrol order.
• Rehearse actions on the objective and immediate action drills with the assigned element.
• Deliver a graded brief-back to the instructor (see previous slide) for a GO/NO-GO decision.
• Conduct a post-exercise debrief — “every Marine is a collector” — capturing lessons learned from all participants.

Reference: MCTP 3-01A, Chapter 1, Patrol Leader Duties & Debriefing.

Course completion requires a GO on both graded Day 5 events, or successful remediation/retest per unit SOP.

Exact post-test passing percentage and remediation/retest procedure are not fixed by this deck — set and confirm IAW current unit training SOP.