QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON REINFORCEMENT

Question. What is Reinforcement?

Answer:

1. ‘Reinforcement’ could be defined as:

a. The movement of personnel and equipment from the Communication Zone

to the Combat Zone to bring units to their fight ORBAT or to replace casualties.

Question. There are two types of individual reinforcement. Name and describe them?

Answer:

1. The two types are:

a. War Establishment Reinforcement (WER). Reinforcement to bring units

from posted strength to war establishment.

b. Battle Casualty Replacement (BCR). Individual reinforcements held

centrally at reinforcement holding units to provide reserves of manpower from battle
casualties may be replaced.

Question. How will a Battalion in battle receive personnel reinforcement?

Answer:

1. To receive reinforcement, the following may be done:

a. The Adjutant submits Daily Strength and Casualty Reports to the Brigade
Group Headquarters. (These returns form the basis for brigade group estimates of
reinforcements required). Reinforcements may also be demanded by using Weekly
Field Returns or by message.

b. Reinforcements are normally sent forward to BAA generally in the Brigade

Group Second line transport.

a. Reinforcements will make their first contact with the Battalion at ‘B ‘

Echelon.

d. The Officer Commanding B Echelon must ensure that the new reinforcements
are:

(1) Equipped up to the scale required for:

(a) Clothing.
 (b) Equipment.

(2) Given the opportunity to rest.

(3) Fed.

(4) Briefed on:

(a) The Battalion’s location.

(b) The Battalion’s tasks.

(c) The Battalion’s customs.

(d) The Battalion’s history.

(5) Generally made to feel part of the Battalion.

e. Reinforcements may be sent forward from B Echelon to ‘A’ Echelon by unit

first line or by second line transport.

f. They are then incorporated into companies and platoons, preferably during a
quiet period.

Question. How will a Battalion receive a new vehicle in battle, when it has reported BLR of one
of its re vehicles?

Answer:

1. The following action may be taken:

a. The units report the fact to Brigade Group Headquarters by a Daily Vehicle
Casualty Report.

a. This will be followed by Weekly Summary called Part X Orders.

Consolidated Vehicle Casualty Reports are sent daily to Corps HQ.

c. If the vehicle is available in Corps reserve, replacement vehicles are released

from the Corps Ordnance Maintenance Park (COMP) for issue to units.
d. Vehicles to replace issues from the Corps reserves and vehicles, which are not
available in Corps reserves, are supplied from vehicle depots in the Formation
Maintenance Area (FMA).

e. Vehicles released from vehicle depots in the FMA and those released from
reserves held by COMP are driven by reinforcement drivers if available to Brigade
Group FOCs if circumstances permit, or to RPs where unit drivers take over.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON DROPPING ZONE (DZ)

Question. What is DZ?

Answer:

1. A Dropping Zone is a specified area upon which Airborne troops and equipment
are dropped.

Question. What are the responsibilities of the OIC DZ?

Answer:

1. The responsibilities of the Officer-in-Charge may include

a. The selection of the actual Dropping Zone within the area defined by the
Staff.

b. Clearing the Dropping Zone of undergrowth to facilitate the locating and

collection of stores.

b. Marking of the Dropping Zone and provide radio or visual ground to air
communication as laid down.

c. Divide the Dropping Zone into sectors for collection and detail a Collection
Party for each Section in case clearance is done by the sector method.

d. Organize Spotters to observe and locate stores, which drop, outside the
Dropping Zone.

e. Arrange the storage of parachute and other Supply Dropping Equipment.

Question. What factors will affect the Selection of Dropping Zone?

Answer:

1. The factors that will affect the Selection of DZ may include:

a. Tactical factors.

b. Physical factors.
2. Tactical Factors.
 a. Proximity to enemy and its ability to bring observe fire to bear on the
Dropping Zone.

b. Locations of Units to be supplied.

c. Alternate Dropping Zone.

3. Physical Factors.

a. Size and Shape. Consider the type of aircraft flight from; drop altitude,
speed and method of dropping. Prefer direction of prevailing wind. The size of the
Dropping Zone should be 1,200yd x 400yds.

b. Terrain. To be level and free of obstructions such as fences, ditches, hedges,

high-tension wires and firm ground.

c. Approaches. To be clear of high obstacles of more than 60m high within 1

km of either extremity of the Dropping Zone.

d. Accessibility. To contain area for vehicles and near main routes.

e. Ease of identification. To be easily recognizable from the air under expected

conditions of visibility.

Question. What aids would be used in marking a DZ?

Answer:

1. The aids for marking may include:

a. By Day.

(1) Panels. Orange, Yellow, Red and White flourescent panels.

(2) Improvised Marking. Substitutes such as sheets, clothing, canvas

strips or lime.

(1) Flames or Smoke. Verey lights and smoke grenades.

(2) Electronic Aids.

(3) Radio Ground to Air.

b. By Night.

(1) Vehicle lights, Small fires, Flame pots, and Flash lights.

(2) Electronic Aids.

(3) Radio Ground to Air.

 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES IN THE JUNGLE

Question. What steps would you take to eliminate the spread of communicable diseases among
troops in the Jungle?

Answer:

1. The following measures could be taken:

a. Airborne Diseases.

(1) Sneezing or coughing into the air droplets of moisture causes this, and it is within these droplets that

germs of most such diseases known as airborne diseases are spread. Examples are cold, influenza (flu),

pneumonia, TB, measles, whooping cough and chicken pox, etc.

(2) Prevention.

(a) Bed spreading and avoiding overcrowding.

(b) Ensure adequate ventilation.

(c) Control of dust.

(d) Adequate heating.

(e) Segregation of the sick or infected persons.

(f) Use of handkerchief.

(g) Immunization against those diseases with vaccines.

(h) Adequate care of eating and drinking utensils.

b. Insect Borne Diseases.

(1) The major insect borne diseases are malaria, elephantiasis and
sleeping sickness (tripanosomiasis). Malaria is transmitted to man by the
bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito while sleeping sickness is the
result from the tsetse fly.

(2) Prevention.

(a) Taking anti-malaria tablets.

(b) Wearing rolled sleeves down and long trousers between dusk
and dawn.
 (c) Using mosquito repellant at night when no net is available.

(d) Siting camps at least half a mile from local habitation where
possible.

(e) Avoid sources of infection such as swamps.

(f) Destroying adult mosquitoes and preventing breeding within

camps.

c. Intestinal Diseases.

(1) These include typhoid fever, dysentery and cholera. They may be
contracted through ‘carriers’ who have the germ in the bowels, from dirty
hands of food handlers; or through drinking contaminated drinking water.

(2) Prevention.

(a) Washing fruits in treated water.

(b) Rat and fly infested areas should be avoided.

(c) Protection of food refuse and latrines from flies.

(d) Shellfish should be boiled adequately.

d. Contact Diseases.

(1) Venereal diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea and ringworm are
contact diseases. This can be obtained through individual contact. Good
discipline is undoubtedly an important factor in the prevention and control of
venereal diseases and troops should be reminded that is not a crime to
contact a venereal disease but a crime to conceal it.

(2) Prevention.

(a) Health education.

(b) High moral standards and good discipline.

(c) Early treatment of infected persons.

(d) The use of condoms is most advisable.