Advanced Army Cadet Course

Introduction

The Advanced Army Cadet Course is designed to provide you with information on 3 subjects related to the Army as well as one subject related to the ROTTWEILER Corps to give you the information you need to be successful as a ROTTWEILER Army Cadet. The information provided on this page will prepare you for your course test.

Each lesson below will cover one of the 4 subjects and there will be questions on the test which reflect on each lesson, so make sure to pay close attention. Once you are ready click on the TAKE THE TEST link, and you will be directed to the Advanced Army Cadet Course Test. 

Once you have completed the course test you will be notified by email of your results on the test and whether or not you have passed. In order to pass the test you must get a minimum of 7 out of the 10 questions correct.

In order to be promoted to Trooper you must pass this course, complete one level 2 Trade, 1 Silver Qualification and have 2 weeks time in rank as a Private. 

Lesson One: Advanced Harbour Drills

A patrol harbour is a position established to provide security when a patrol halts for an extended period. Possible reasons for the establishment of the harbour are:

1. To avoid detection.

2. To lie up whilst a detailed recce of an objective is made prior to the formation of a final plan and issue of detailed orders.

3. To form a base from which operations can be mounted e.g. attack, ambush, recce, or establishing OPs.

4. To provide an RV after infiltration into an enemy area by small groups, or after withdrawing from such an area.

5. To provide security for an administrate halt after long periods of movement or close contact.

Stage 1: Selection

The selection of a harbour area can be done from a map, an air photograph, aerial recce, or on the ground. The detailed sighting must be confirmed by a recce and the area secured before occupation.

In selecting an area, the following points are used:

1. Mission. The harbour must be located so that it best enables the patrol to accomplish its task.

2. Location. Choose an area which can be easily defended, where there is dense vegetation, to provide cover from the ground and from the air, Away from human habitation and areas regularly used by civilians, with access to a source of water, with reasonable routes in and out, where communications are good.

3. Avoid. An obvious position, Ridge lines or crests which may be used as routes, Roads, tracks, etc. Wet areas, steep slopes and small valleys.

Stage 2: Occupation

This should be carried out using hand signals with a minimum of noise. Variations are many, a basic method is:

• The platoon halts short of the selected area. It should break track and lay an ambush on its previous route, to engage any enemy patrol following the platoon.

• (2) The platoon commander and his recce party (section commanders and at least one guide) go forward to site the harbour in detail. The "platoon Sergeant" remains with the platoon.

• On arrival at the site, the following tasks are as done:

• The Platoon Commander, points out the platoon HQ position and the location of the 6 and 12o'clock positions. 

• The Platoon Commander's and Section Commander's site the section areas, particularly the LSW positions.

• The perimeter wire is laid to ensure that the sides of the triangle are straight when the platoon occupies the harbour.

• On completion of the recce, a Section Commander and at least one guide are sent back to bring in the platoon. The platoon is led into the harbour area in single file.

• Sections are met by their section commanders at the apex of the section's location and each cadet is shown their position and given their arc.

• This ensures that there is an LSW at each corner of the triangle, no noise and the track plan is identified.

• Once positioned by his Section Commander, each cadet removes their pack and adopts a fire position for their arc.

• Section Commanders should position themselves centrally so that they can see the Platoon Commander and their own 2IC.

• The Platoon Commander should check the perimeter to ensure cohesions between sections. Each Section Commander meets him at his corner LSW position; any minor adjustments to the layout of the harbour can be made at this stage.

Stage 3: Clearance Patrols

• On a signal from the platoon commander, each section sends out a clearance patrol to cover their own section's arc. The rest of the sections remain "stood to".

• The section commander or 2IC and one or two men move out through the neighbouring section's LSW position. They go out to the limit of visibility and sound, then turn and move along their own section's frontage. This drill ensures that the section arc is fully covered. The clearance patrol then returns through their own section's LSW position. In this way all tracks into the position are covered by an LSW position.

• Clearance patrols should detect and report to the platoon commander:

• Signs of recent enemy activity.

• Possible enemy approach routes.

• Unexpected obstacles (i.e. mines and ravines)

• Streams and dominating ground.

• Possible ERV (Emergency RV) locations.

• If a thorough initial reconnaissance has been conducted, it may occasionally not be necessary to send out clearance patrols immediately after the occupation, particularly at night. 

• If there is not much time between occupation and last light, platoon commanders may consider dispensing with clearance patrols. However, if the patrol is to remain in its harbour during the following day, clearance patrols must be sent out at first light. 

Stage 4: Sentries

Once clearance patrols have been completed, sentries should be posted. Points to note are:

1. Sentries should be posted beyond the limit of noise from the harbour (to avoid distraction and to alert the platoon before any enemy hear the harbour).

2. One sentry per section posted in depth will normally suffice.

3. The sentries are to act as early warning of any enemy approach.

4. They should be armed with rifles but fire only in self defence. Their withdrawal route back to the harbour should be via the LSW position and be clearly understood by all. 

5. Communication between sentries and the LSW positions must be established. This should include use of comms cord.

6. The sentries are located outside the harbour only during working routine.

7. By night, sentries will normally consist of staggered double manning of the corner LSWs. The double manning provides continuity at the sentry position allows one sentry to fetch the relief and reduces the chances of sleeping sentry. 

Stage 5: Work Routine

Once sentries are posted, work begins to strengthen the harbour. Tasks include

1. Preparation of stand-to positions and fields of fire, construction of shell scrapes and the positioning of warning devices (e.g. trip flares)

2. Preparation of a path to allow silent movement round the position.

3. Shell scrapes should be on the outside edge of the path. Soldiers should live in and fight from their shell scrapes. Wire should be laid just inside the shell scrapes to mark the path and prevent accidental movement outside the harbour at night. This is lowered during daylight hours.

4. Laying of communications cord from sentries to LSW positions and/or section commanders, and from section commanders to platoon commanders.

5. Positioning of shelters. These are erected over shell scrapes at last light and taken down before first light. They may be erected in poor weather at the platoon commander's discretion.

Confirmatory orders by the platoon commander to establish an operational and administrative routine. The points are as for routine in defence and include:

• Future operations (i.e. patrols)

• Alarm and stand to system (and its rehearsals)

• Orders for opening fire and defence of harbour.

• Location of platoon ERV.

• Sentry roster.

• Resupply

• Sleeping and Feeding

• Track discipline.

• Staggered cleaning of weapons.

• Latrines these should be within the perimeter of the harbour or outside within the sentries arcs. 

Stage 6: Security

The platoon commander must ensure;

1. Sentries are correctly posted and briefed.

2. Good communications with sentries to ensure early warning of enemy approach.

3. All round defence is maintained.

4. Good patrol discipline is maintained.

Points to include:

1. Correct Camouflage.

2. No lights, smells or unnecessary noise.

3. Webbing worn and weapons carried at all times. Kit not in use to be packed away.

4. The harbour is as compact as possible

5. Clearance patrols are sent out at first and last light.

6. All movement into the harbour is done through 6 o'clock or along the route taken during the occupation. Precautions must be taken to counter possible enemy follow up of own patrols

Lesson Two: Ambushes

Often carried out as part of a patrol, an ambush is:

• A surpise attack

• By a force lying in wait

• Upon a moving or temporarily halted enemy

• Usually brief

• Conducted at close quarters

Types of Ambushes:

Deliberate

• With time to plan in advance.

Immediate

• In response to "hot" information

• Contact with the enemy

• No time for recce

• E.g. If you suspect you are being followed when on patrol

The best places for an Ambush site include:

• Known enemy routes

• Known admin/supply/water points, food or ammo dumps, approaches to villages

• Where the terrain changes = edge of wood, valley with steep sides, bend in track, river crossing

• Approaches to own positions 

• Route out or back

Characteristics of a good Ambush Site:

• Covered approach

• Good fields of fire for you

• Good fire positions

• Cover, good natural camouflage

• Bad fields of fire for the enemy

• Few escape routes for the enemy

• Good withdrawal routes

Principles of an Ambush:

• Good intelligence to ensure contact and success

• Thorough planning & prepation

• Security = not to give away site of ambush

• Concealment = good track discipline

• Good control and communications

• Self Discipline = alert, no noise, restricted movement

• Safety = arcs (+ real safety distances)

Lesson Three: Observation

Searching Ground is important in the field as you need to locate foes. Armies of the Commonwealth and beyond use the same techniques to identify friends and foes in the field. 

The normal way to search ground is to split it into three sections: foreground, middle distance and distance. Then you will search each section in turn from right to left. Using this method you can be sure you don't miss out any ground. This method is shown to the right. 

There are other ways to split the ground up though, which are sometimes better particularly if the ground is very broken. The ground may be broken into arcs, into left and right from a centre point. Areas where the enemy is expected to be will be searched more thoroughly. 

Scanning and Searching 

Scanning is a general search of an area to check if there is anything that looks out of the ordinary. Searching is the thorough examination of certain features in that area. Both require concentration and knowledge of why things are seen and camouflage and concealment. 

Scanning  

Divide the area into foreground, middle distance and distance as shown above. Scan each area horizontally starting from the bottom foreground and working your way up. Move the head as well as the eyes to reduce the chance of fatigue. When horizontal scanning is complete, scan areas which are angled away from the observation position. 

Searching

Searching can take place at any time during scanning. As soon as something out of the ordinary is seen when scanning, you search it. Search for all of the factors of why thing are seen (SSSSM). The weather will help for example if it is frosty you will see footprints. Search across hedgerows or rows of trees not along them.