by silencer.

helling3r

V. 1.5.0

Fireteam
operations,
reports,
procedures
and more that keeps you alive and lets you work
as an FTL or team member on the ARMA battlefield

SILENCERS.FIELDHANDBOOK

This handbook is based on information from Dslyecxi's TTP guide (http://ttp2.dslyecxi.com),

experiences from the UnitedOperations community and its UOTC as well as real life tactics, US Army
Field Manuals and other information available from globalsecurity.org. Most NATO symbols and the
NATO phonetic alphabet from wikipedia. Some NATO symbols created by the author.
This guide is meant as a quick reference for the average mature ARMA player interested in tactical
gameplay. It is not intended as a fully featured step-by-step guide, please refer to the field manuals, read
the excellent TTP gude and visit the famous UnitedOperations Training Center (UOTC) courses.

This guide is maintained at http://silencers.de/~army/sfh/FieldHandbook.pdf

silencers.home: http://www.silencers.de

Authors: silencer.helling3r
Contributors: Godhand, Yaxxo, j0hnanderson (UnitedOperations), FReaK (Gamers Level/DESBL)

Fireteam Roles.................................................................................1
General Responsibilities..................................................................2
General Communication..................................................................3
Fire Control Commands, ROE, Rates of fire..................................4
Reports............................................................................................5
Radio procedures.............................................................................7
Clearing Backblast procedure...........................................................8
Actions on ......................................................................................9
Contact (effective enemy fire).....................................................9
Ineffective or no enemy fire.........................................................9
Casualties....................................................................................9
The Firefight..................................................................................10
The 4 F's...................................................................................10
Peeling...........................................................................................11
Fireteam Rush................................................................................11
Bounding.......................................................................................12
Fireteam Formations......................................................................13
Squad Formations..........................................................................14
METT-TC & OCOKA...................................................................15
Range estimation...........................................................................16
NATO military symbols.................................................................17
NATO phonetic alphabet & morse codes........................................18

TOC

Automatic Rifleman
Has 40% of the team's firepower
Usually covers the fireteam's 12 o'clock sector
Suppressing and fixing the enemy with area fire (unless told otherwise)
Controls own rate of fire and is always aware of how much AR
ammunition is left
On contact, achieve fire superiority

AR

RFLM Rifleman
Role is flexible, as the situation and the FTL decides
Delivers accurate and precise point fire (under the direction of the FTL)
May carry AT-Launcher, extra ammunition or special equipment

GRN Grenadier
Is proficient with the grenade launcher and knows when to use it
Attacks enemy with indirect (when hidden) and direct fire
Focus on high value targets (machine guns, clusters of enemy, bunkers etc)

Fireteam Leader
Uses his team as his weapon; keeps tactical overview: Fighting is
second priority
Assigns tasks when neccessary and keeps the team together
Communicates with his Squad leader
Assigns Buddy Teams and their leaders (usually FTL+G / AR+RFLM)
Assigns who is in charge if FTL gets killed (chain of command)
Establishes formations and maintains the members combat spacing
Controls and directs the team's fire (weapon state, rates of fire, ROE)
Gives decisive orders (tell who to do what) and leads by example
Always communicates to the team:

Current situation and further plans (goal to achieve)

FTL

Charlie

(OSS-CAH)

(SEE-AIR-RAH)
(TANG-GO)

Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform

R
S
T
U

(ECKS-RAY)
(YANG-KEY)
(ZOO-LOO)
(WUN)
(TOO)
(TREE)
(FOW-ER)
(FIFE)
(SIX)
(SEV-EN)
(AIT)
(NIN-ER)
(ZEE-RO)

Xray
Yankee
Zulu
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Zero

X
Y
Z
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0

(VIK-TAH)
(WISS-KEY)

Victor
Whiskey

V
W

(YOU-NEE-FORM)
or
(OO-NEE-FORM)

(KEH-BECK)
(ROW-ME-OH)

Quebec
Q

(PAH-PAH)

Oscar

Papa

(NO-VEM-BER)
November

(MIKE)
Mike

(KEY-LOH)

(JEW-LEE-ETT)
Juliet

(LEE-MAH)

(IN-DEE-AH)

Hotel
India

Kilo

(GOLF)
(HOH-TEL)

Lima

(FOKS-TROT)

Golf

(ECK-OH)

Foxtrot

(DELL-TAH)

Delta
Echo

(CHAR-LEE) or
(SHAR-LEE)

(AL-FAH)
(BRAH-VOH)

Alfa
Bravo

PHONIC
(PRONUNCIATION)

TELEPHONY

MORSE
CODE

NATO phonetic alphabet & morse codes

Fireteam Roles
CHARACTER

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The fireteam is the smallest combat-effective unit possible.

18

17

Type
Unit
Size
Parent(s)

Medical

Anti Armor

Anti Air

Recon

Supply

Maintenance

Signals

Missile

Armor

Infantry

Motorized Infantry

Mechanized Infantry

Aviation (fixed Wing)

Aviation (rotary)

Artillery

Mortar

2/15

22

HQ

Generic Unit

Infantry Platoon

Infantry Squad

Infantry Fireteam

S
T

Fireteam
Patrol
Squad
Platoon
Company
Battalion
Regiment
4
4-9
9
~ 35
60-250
300-1000
500-2000

/
/
/
/
/
/
/

n.a.
1
2
4
12
36
108

Persons / Vehicles

Strength

OPFOR (RED Diamond.

Type etc. stays the same)
Example: OPFOR Infantry

BLUFOR (BLUE, rectangle)

Alpha Company of second Battalion,

15 Infantry Regiment

Third Infantry Platoon,

Bravo Company

First Tank,
22nd Armor Platoon

Symbol

Know what to say and when to say it

Think before you talk
Be clear and concise

Know the environment

Look for appropriate cover and concealment in case you need it
Look for possible enemy positions
Look for effective firing positions for your weapon;
Let the FTL know when you can't find one

Know the enemy

Maintain situational awareness and stay alert.
Report contacts (double reporting is less worse then not reporting at all)
Tell the team anything suspicious you see

Know the bigger plan

Make sure you know what the FTL plans to do next
Know important locations
Know positions and movement plans of friendly troops

Know and assist your team

Always work in your buddy team, but also in the fire team
Know the names and roles of your comrades (note it down)
Know where your comrades are
Know what they are doing (arc of fire, special orders, etc)
Tell your teammates what you are doing
Tell your teammates when your weapon goes down and when it is
up again
Mirror commands given by the FTL, let him know you understand
his order
If in doubt, ask (clarify missing/unclear information actively)
Avoid friendly fire: Always go behind your comrades, not in front

General Responsibilities

NATO military symbols

Size

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Get ready to execute a forementioned (or obvious) action

OR signal that further information will be passed shortly

Stand by

Stop current movement (remember 360 security!)

Get into a vehicle. Without further detail, the teams

assigned vehicle.

All passengers get off a vehicle (gunners and drivers stay

in unless told otherwise)

Emergency command: Get out ASAP and get some

meters away from the vehicle (get cover)

Establish all-round security

Hold / Stop

(Re-)Mount /
Embark

Dismount

Bail out

Pull security

A Weapon is temporarily out of order (jammed etc)

A weapon is out of ammo

Person or Weapon returned to operational state

Ready at the pre-agreed position

I did what you told me and now im ready for orders

Weapon down

Weapon dry

Up

Set

Ready

Personal Status
Hit / Down
A Person is wounded or dead

Start or continue movement.

Also a readback: I am moving now.

Move out /
moving

Team Movement & Control

On Me /
Leader tells his subordinates to form up on him and
Form up
follow. If a formation is not specified, use FT-File (or the
FTLs ordered default formation)

Negation: Did not understand OR can't confirm etc.

Negative

2,75 m
2,02 m

Ural-375 (Height at driving cab)

UAZ-469

1,95 m

2,35 m

3,25 m

3,80 m

1,79 m

2,65 m

2,65 m

3,20 m

3,20 m

3,30 m

3,37 m

Width

5,35 m

4,70 m

6,71 m

8,00 m

4,03 m

7,62 m

7,70 m

7,31 m

7,64 m

6,95 m

6,95 m

Length

16

M145 (Machingegun optics): The vertical gaps represent the heigth of a

crouched person (152,4 cm) at the range indicated by the adjacent hor. line

Sniper scopes: Each dot is 1 mil

Acog: The width of the horizontal lines equals the width of the shoulders at
the given range (Numbers: x * 100 = range)

Binoculars: Each line is 5 mils (Numbers: x * 10 = mils)

1,91 m

2,75 m

Kamaz-5350 (Height at driving cab)

Hilux

2,44 m

BMP-3

2,02 m

2,98 m

BTR-90

HMMWV

2,10 m

T-90 (Hull, without MG or Gun)

2,95 m

2,20 m

T-72 (Hull, without MG or Gun)

Bradley (Hull, without Antenna or Guns)

~1,55 m

Person (crouching, w. Helmet)

2,25 m

~1,80 m

Person (standing, w. Helmet)

M1 Abrams (Hull, without MG or Gun)

Height

Range = 1000 * Real-Size / Mils-in-Scope

Real-Size = Range / 1000 * Mils-in-Scope

Object

(metric)

Range and Size estimation

General Communication
Basic formulas:

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General terms
Roger / Copy Affirmation: I understood that, I will do as ordered

Observation &
Fields of Fire

T errain &
Weather

Is there cover/concealment?
What kind, how much?
From where to where?

Cliffs, Rivers, Car roadblocks, houses,

walls, barbed wire, minefields, ...

Cover &
Concealment

Obstacles

Routes that can be used to navigate the

terrain, in relation to objectives, key
terrain, and anything else of significance

Units and support, that are supporting your troops:

Assets, Vehicles, special support (CAS, Artillery, etc)

Time available for the mission

Civilians but also possibility for insurgents.

T ime

C ivilians

Weather: Time of day, Moon phase, cloud covering, rain, Fog

Avenues of
Approach

Key or Decisive Dominating hills, Houses providing

Terrain
overwatch, ...

Areas in which weapon systems could

be employed effectively
Areas where the battlefield can be
best observed
Danger areas or likely combat areas
Defensible terrain

T roops
available

(OCOKA/
Weather)

E nemy

Composition: only Infantry, or with tanks?

Capabilitys: AT-soldiers? Artillery support available?
Number: How many are there?
Location: Where are they, or where are they supposed?
Posture: Defending, Patrolling, Alert, Attacking, ...

What do you need to do? Why do you need to do it? Who is

involved? Where is it being done? When is it being done?

METT-TC & OCOKA

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M ission

15

Grenade is about to explode near friendlies, take cover

The team is only to return fire if the team or other nearby

Weapons tight

Stop shooting immediately and do not reopen fire

~1 aimed shots/long bursts (~8 rounds) each 2 seconds

=> initially suppress the enemy and gain fire superiority
~1 aimed shots/bursts (~3 rounds) each 2-5 seconds
=> keep them suppressed, take good aim
~1-2 aimed shots/bursts (~3 rounds) each 10 seconds
=> save ammo, when they don't return effective fire
Only shoot on clear targets (visible enemy)
=> when its assumed that the enemy is destroyed

Normal Rate
Slow Rate
Watch and
shoot

(mostly used in Friendly Fire situations: FF must not be returned!)

Rapid Rate

Hold Fire

Only engage positively identified targets

Check Fire

(watch out, there may be friendlys in the area, double check targets)

Stop shooting unless you see enemies in effective range

Return fire if your own team is under effective enemy

fire. Never open fire without clearance.

Cease Fire

(Weapons red)

Weapons hold

(Weapons yellow) friendlies take effective enemy fire.

Default mode

Open or return fire at your own discretion;

Report the contact

(Weapons green)

Weapons free

Fire Control Commands, ROE, Rates of fire

Incoming / IDF Indirect fire (Artillery, Mortars...) is about to splash near

your position, take cover

Grenade

General warnings
Frag out
You are about to throw a frag grenade

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Reports

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Location and/or direction: front, rear, left, right, ...

D irection

KIA and WIA of your team; at individuals: health status

green = no sustained injuries
yellow = light injuries, but fighting ability is not hindered
red
= critical injury that prevents mobility or
needs immediate attention
black = KIA (add names of soldiers)

If critical equipment is used or lost (Satchels, AT, M249, ...)

green = Report changes (no change, AT4 expended)
red
= only if mission-critical equipment was lost

C asualties
(CASREP)

E quipment

consecutive

Travelling

Squad File

Travelling

Squad Column

FT1:
Wedge,
HVY-Left

Squad Line

~ 20m

Status report (ACEREP, ACE Report)

FTL may request ACEREP from his subordinates to get information on the
team's status; respond in team order.
FTL: At least collect and send to SL as soon as firefight is completed.
A mmo
General ammo status:
(AMMOCAS)
green = plenty of ammo left
yellow = roughly half, but can continue mission
red
= nearly out of ammo, unable to continue
mission effectively

What you are looking at (Infantry, Armor, LAV, Bunker, ...)

Include size, if possible and resonably accurate (don't guess)
Example: Contact! | medium range | front, left of the Barn | 3 times infantry

Approx. Range like close, medium, far

close
= < 300m
(effective for everyone)
medium = 300m-600m (effective for AR)
far
= > 600m
(usually ineffective)

D istance

T ype

Say CONTACT! to gain attention of teammates

C ontact

Only report facts and fill in missing details when they become evident.
Reporting contacts is about speed, do not go into too much detail: be concise but fast!

Contact report: Report enemy contacts to your Fireteam

FT2:
File, but AR at the End

SL

FT1:
File

FT2:
Wedge
(HVY: opposite of FT1)

SL

FT1:
Wedge

SL

Overwatch

FT2:
Wedge
(HVY: opposite of FT1)

SL

FT1:
Wedge

FT2:
Wedge,
HVY-Right

Squad Formations

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~ 50m

14

RN

AR

Standard: TL in front.
No perfect straight line.
Last man always watches back.

RFLM

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TL

0m

~1

GRN

Compared to FT-File:
much more spacing

RFLM

AR

TL

Staggered Column

Heavy-Right

Heavy-Right

AR

TL

Fireteam Formations

TL

TL

GRN

AR

TL

Fireteam File

Heavy-Left

LM

RF

Fireteam Line

Heavy-Left

RFLM

GRN

Fireteam Wedge

13

TL and AR may
also swap positions

RN

GRN

LM

RF

RFLM

Grid coordinates, when possible

Posture, movement speed+direction, activity (patrol, ...)

Priority Intelligence Requirements: point out mission

critical observations

P IR

Example: ALPHA, My LOC (Location), Grid 0898 1155, displacement 50 meter west to
east, moving south to 0884 1161

1. Send grid of own position and displacement

2. Send grid of intended destination

Location Status/Report (LOCSTAT): FTL reports team's position to SL

(Do you need anything? Ammo? Medical? Supplies? Reinforcements? Etc?)

4. Administrative points

(We are moving through, we are holding here, we are defending this position, we
are staging for attack, we are receiving no enemy in area and are secure etc)
3. Own actions (What do you plan on doing)

2. Current situaton at the location

(Holding near train station, spread out 50m east to west, etc.)

Situational report (SITREP): FTL reports the current situation to SL

1. Your location (grid, position, ...) and displacement

MANPADS seen if you use air assets, IEDs if you are mounted, ...

Special equipment (static weapons, AT, intelligence, ...)

Time of the spotting or period of observation

E quipment

T ime

U nit/Uniform Russians? Insurgents? What type of camo?

Also high value targets (eg. VIPs that are mission target)

L ocation

A ctivity

SALUTE-P: FTL reports enemy spottings to SL (only proven facts again)

S ize
Size and Type of enemy force. Simplify when possible
(20 Men = platoon). Identify vehicles if possible

clear, 7/10)

Radiocheck: As COUNT, but also tell the quality of radio link (loud and

Example: FTL: COUNT!; AR: two, GRN: three, RFLM: four

COUNT and RADIOCHECK / COMMOCHECK

Each unit will, in numerical order, respond with its callsign (or number at
FT level). Used as a quick check to see if and which teammates are down.

Silencers.FieldHandbook

Bounding

Radio procedures

The whole conversation is over, i don't expect an answer

I want to send a longer message, please stand by.

Will comply with your order

On the Move, i am moving now, i'm on the way

Did you understand the last message?

I understood your last message, transmission was good

Please Repeat last message, last order, etc.

Out

Message

Wilco

Oscar Mike

How Copy

Solid copy /
Good Copy

Say again

Please wait, i cannot listen now

Sender wants you to repeat important information to

make sure they were understood right. (Figures like grids etc)

Busy

Read back

Note: Repeat means redo the last fire mission; FO/FAC only

This message is finished, you are clear to speak

Over

General radio terms

Break
Used to announce a short pause (wait for sender to
continue). Also used to split up lines in a formalized
message.

3. Ending traffic: Initiator always terminates traffic

S: <your callsign> last Message, OUT

2. Message(s)
S/R: <own callsign> <Message>, OVER (or BREAK)
(Announce longer messages with MESSAGE)

Generic message layout

1. Initiate traffic: Call in receiver, and tell them your callsign
S: <receiving callsign>, this is <sending callsign>
R: <callsing> SEND (<quality of net like loud and clear>)

12

TL

Successive bounds

Base of Fire

RN
Maneuver

1
RF
LM

TL

Maneuver

G
RN

1
RF
LM
Overlapping bounds (leapfrogging,
more dangerous but slightly faster)

Base of Fire

A
R

6. Finally the FTL gives either new orders or the order for the
maneuver element to start the next bounding cycle (often implicit).

5. Firebase bounds up the same way (calling Moving! etc.)

like above, either by shouting Covering! or by suppressing fire

4. T2-Lead establishes cover

3. T2-Lead calls Moving! and starts a fire team rush once ready

With enemy: Team 1, covering fire; Team 2, move when ready!

Without enemy: Team 1, gives cover; Team 2, move when ready!

2. FTL establishes cover

team is base of fire, team 2 is the maneuver element.

1. FTL prepares by assigning base of fire and maneuver elements

by using buddy teams: Team, prepare to bound up to this trench. My buddy

(The following example assumes FT-level)

Bounding works at any organizational level and is used to advance towards

known or suspected enemies. There is always one base of fire element
(trail) and one maneuver element (lead). These elements are designated
by the SL or FTL as and when required, and are usually located in line
beside each other. Bounding is usually verbally guided by the leader:

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Radio ABC: Accuracy, Brevity, Clarity

Callsigns: Usually not relevant at intra-squad level (use player names)

Clearing Backblast procedure

Peeling

4. Ca

ds

2. Ru
n beh
ind
3. Ca
ll "La
st ma
e left
n"
"

ll "On

3 seconds is the time an average shooter needs to get aim on you and fire.

Movement from the prone position into a quick run for the duration of at
most 3 seconds, finished with dropping on the floor again.
(Memorize: I'm up, they see me, i'm down).

Fireteam Rush

Peeling to the left

5. Get back in line

twar

rn ou

1. Tu

5. When reaching the end of the line, get back in line formation and
call SET.

4. When reaching the second comrade, call ONE LEFT!

This is the signal for the last man to begin his peel (start at 2.)

3. When reaching the next comrade, call <Name>, last man! to get
him prepared

2. Right-most soldier turns outwards and runs along behind the line

1. FTL calls PEEL LEFT, PEEL LEFT (or right)

More details if time permits (... behind that wall)

It is not meant for long distances. It is better to prepare the team in safety
(Team, we are going to cross that street, if we get under fire, peel back left
into cover).

4. Firing (verify aim and pull trigger)

After the last warning, the gunner verifies his aim and launches the
rocket. He stays alert to cancel requests from comrades in case
someone has entered his backblast danger area.

3. Preparing the fire: ROCKET, ROCKET, ROCKET!

When the Backblast was cleared OR the gunner can visually
confirm himself for sure that it is clear, he says loudly and clearly
three times ROCKET!

2. Clearing the backblast: BACKBLAST ALL CLEAR!

Any soldier nearby, when hearing the warning call, must
immediately leave the danger area and announce it.
Any individual that is not within the backblast area double checks it
is free of friendly personnel. When it has been visually confirmed
that it's free, he yells BACKBLAST ALL CLEAR!

1. Scan and warn: CLEAR BACKBLAST!

When preparing an AT shot, quickly scan to your left and right to
make sure you don't kill yourself or others from your backblast.
While doing so, yell out CLEAR BACKBLAST! at least once
loudly (direct speach, not radio).

AT gunners must always clear the backblast area prior to firing:

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Peeling is used to get quickly into nearby cover with the squad moving
either left or right of its line, usually whilst under fire. Effective
suppression of the enemy will assist in maintaining good security
throughout the maneuver.

11

2. You are the casualty:

Call out I am hit! and assess your wounds. If minor: continue
firefight until the current magazine is empty. Get to cover (use smoke)
and treat your wounds, then return to the fight (communicate status UP)

Use smoke when appropriate (only extract the buddy if its safe! If it's not, continue
the firefight). Apply first aid in order of severity. Further actions: Call in Squad
medic, CASEVAC, etc

Casualties
1. You see a wounded comrade:
Call out Man down!. Await FTLs orders while continuing the fight.
Usually FTL decides on: Ensure 360 security, then bring the casualty to cover.

Common actions: report contact to superiors and wait for orders, hasty
defence/attack, withdrawal, move to better position,

Ineffective or no enemy fire

1. Contact report
2. All members hit the dirt and form line (towards reported enemy)
3. Open fire only when ordered to (open fire, or weapons free)
4. FTL decides further orders

Common actions: report contact to superiors, adjust Rate of fire, initiate Fireteam
rush (bounding), initiate peeling and/or flanking, initiate egression and break
contact (reverse bounding), get reinforcements / support, Execute 4-F's

5. FTL decides further actions

Keep communicating, avoid tunnel vision, watch out for flanking enemies!
Especially the FTL is tasked with finding the enemy (use binos)

4. Everyone looks for enemy positions and tries to make the reports
more precise / fill in missing information.

Everyone is expected to shoot! If no visual enemy is present, shoot at suspected

positions and/or the general direction.

Contact (effective enemy fire)

1. Contact report
2. Everyone hit the dirt and form line (towards reported enemy)
3. Everyone returns fire (rate=rapid) to the direction the contact was
reported at, especially the AR needs to suppress immediately.

Troops from the maneuver element should enter the enemy

position to clear it of any remaining enemy.

F inish

Actions after a firefight

1. FTL organizes a hasty 360 defence for possible counter attacks
2. FTL requests his team's status (via ACEREP) to get an overview
about ammunition state, casualties and special equippment
3. FTL organizes treatment of casualties and distribution of weapons,
ammuniton and equipment
4. FTL reports status to superiors (SITREP + ACEREP)

When the enemy is fixed, send troops to his flank in order to

negate enemy cover. The maneuver element should move
fast and in cover while the base-of-fire element maintains
suppression. Once in a good flanking position, open fire from
there too.

Achieve fire superiority. You have it when the enemy fire

decreases significantly. When fire superiority is established,
maintain it. Fire superiority is your first priority!

F lank

F ix

10

Locate the enemy and determine what it is doing (defending?

flanking?)

The Firefight

Actions on ...
The 4 F's
F ind

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Depending on current Situation and fire control orders. FTL decides.