Small Unit Training Ideas

TRAINING IDEA - Crossing Obsticles
 
* Set up a 1-3 mile patrol with your group where you can plan a route that you must:

(1) Cross a river, using several different methods
(2) Cross a highway or roadway, again using several different methods
(3) Cross a bridge. (highway or railroad)
(4) Cross a wire fence. (all types)
(5) Cross a 'open' field area. 
(6) Move through an area of dense underbrush or trees

* Practice using a improvised "rope bridge" when crossing the river. Getting yourself & your equipment across should be a challange. A 10'-15' wide river would work best.

* Practice moving your unit across roadways. Use a remote less used road if your less experienced & work your unit up to crossing busier roads. 

* Practice crossing bridges. Depending on the A.O., crossing a highway or railroad bridge may be your only choice, but remember that actually crossing a bridge is a last resort. It is too dangerous to do on a regular basis, it acts as a funnel to force you into a certain area where the bad guys can set up an ambush.

* Practice crossing fences. Any type fence you have in your AO. Barb-wire, wooden, electric, cyclone, etc. Learn to cross 'em all. Plan FTX routes so you have to cross different fence typs & different conditions. 

* Also practice crossing 'open grassy fields'. Find an area where you must crawl on your stomachs for at least 100 yds where ya can't be seen. 

Make your FTX's as realistic as possible. Put a level of danger in them. Practice your stealth/movement skills and cross/recon private, posted lands. Do real recon missions on possible future use lands without being detected. 

There is a right and a wrong way when crossing obstacles and the wrong way may cost a life. Get out in the field and practice, practice, practice. 

Another good thing to practice are open field transitions, and of course CQB. If you are wondering what these are go to you tube and watch some videos on them. I will get into open field transitions in a later post.

Level One Skills for the Militiaman

Theses skills/tasks are designed for a militia unit that wishes to be a step above the average weekend warrior unit that does not really take training seriously.

This is a list of tasks that I feel members of a militia unit should be able to complete if they want to be an effective fighting force, not just a bunch of targets.


Core Training Tasks for a Militia Unit

Skill Level One:

This is the basic level of training required. All members must be able to accomplish these tasks and demonstrate proficiency in the skills listed in order to be considered an active member of the unit.

• Command and Organization

• Mission Statement

• Foundational Beliefs

• Chain of command

• Explain and follow rules of engagement (ROE)

• Mobilization and alert procedures

• Alert levels

• Automatic deployment criteria

Physical fitness standards

• Two mile forced march in full battle kit with weapon (without rucksack) in 30 minutes or less

• 20 pushups, 20 sit-ups

Basic weapon skills

• Demonstrate safe weapon handling skills

• Score at least “sharpshooter” on the US Army rifle qualification

• Place 8 out of 10 shots into a paper plate at 25 feet with sidearm

• Perform immediate action to correct weapon malfunctions/ failure to fire

• Field strip individual weapons and perform basic maintenance and cleaning

Individual movement techniques

• Know your pace count at 100 meters

• Low crawl/ high crawl

• Move as a member of a fireteam

• Three to 5 second rush

Team movement techniques

• Ranger file

• Team wedge

• Team diamond

• Bound by fireteam (fire and maneuver)

• Cross a linier danger area

• Scrolls to the road

• Heart method

The member should be able to perform these Individual tasks:

• Camouflage yourself and your individual equipment (properly)

• Basic field communications

• Team hand signals

• Operate and perform basic maintenance on personal radio

• Basic radio procedures

• Issue a SALUTE report

Tactical security

• Conduct a security halt

• Select or build a hasty firing position

• Fill out a range card

• Challenge/ password

• Perform guard/ sentry duty

• Perform visual surveillance as a member of a team

First aid

• Evaluate a casualty

• Stop life threatening hemorrhage

• Apply an Israeli battle dressing

• Convert a battle dressing to a pressure dressing

• Use a hemostatic product (celox/ quickclot)

• Apply a combat action tourniquet

• Open and maintain an airway

• Head thrust

• Jaw thrust

• Insert an oral airway

• Perform rescue breathing

• Apply a dressing to an open chest wound

• Apply a dressing to an open abdominal, head, or eye wound

• Prevent and treat for shock

• Splint a fracture

• Immobilize a spinal injury

• Transport a casualty

• Prevent and treat hot and cold weather injuries

• Locate and purify drinking water

• Perform field sanitation and preventative medicine

• Possess an approved IFAK/ ventilator kit

Land navigation

• Read a topographical map

• Find your azimuth with a lensatic compass

• Plot a 6 digit grid position without the aid of a GPS device (UTM, 1000 Meter Grid)

• Navigate dismounted from one spot to another using a map, a compass, and a grid protractor

Mountaineering skills if your unit is located in a mountainous area, or will perform the functions of an Alpine Infantry Unit.

• Tie a Swiss seat and a expedient chest harness

• Tie a Prusik knot

• Tie a square knot

• Tie a double fisherman’s knot

• Tie a figure 8 on a coil knot 

• Also members of an alpine unit or that live in the mountains would need mountaineering equipment, and would also have modified physical standards that would include a march/hike with full kit with a decent altitude accent.