The Infantry Mission is —

‘to defeat the enemy through close

combat.’

1 Star Fieldcraft Training

DUTIES OF A SENTRY BY
DAY AND NIGHT
PRELIMS My name is..................
Roll Check.

Safety Brief-Classroom -Fire-Toilets-Movement.

Breaks/Smoking Policy.

Take notes/Handout will be issued.

When asked a question don’t call out I will

nominate somebody to answer.

REVISION (IF APPLICABLE)

09/10/23 2
The AIM of this lesson is to teach you the Duties of a Sentry by Day and Night

The REASON WHY is so you know, understand and are able to carry out the
duties of a sentry in a confident and safe manner.

The INCENTIVE is that if you do not carry out your duties correctly you may put
your life or those of your comrades at risk.

This is only one subject you will have to learn out of the following:-

1.Moving with & without rifles.

2.Elementary obstacle crossing.
3.Introduction to night work.
4.Elementary night movement.
5.Identifying sounds at night.
6.Safety Precautions at night.
7.Maintaining Standards of Personal Hygiene in the Field.
8.Maintaining Weapons, Clothing and Equipment in the Field.

09/10/23 3
 INTRODUCTION

Every soldier will be a sentry at some time,

and in battle comrades lives will depend on
the alertness and the ability of the sentry to
perform their duty conscientiously.

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 THE THREE TYPES OF SENTRY

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 Ground Sentry
This sentry is posted by day and night to
protect any body of troops, to give early
warning of enemy movement or attack and
to check the identity of visitors or suspicious
persons in the vicinity.

At night they are posted in pairs, but

staggered to ensure one sentry is always
fresher than the other.
 Chemical Sentry

This sentry is posted by day and night to

give early warning of a chemical attack.

They must wear full individual IPE.

They are normally collocated with either a

ground sentry or an air sentry.
 Air Sentry

This sentry is posted by day to give early

warning on enemy aircraft movement.

The number of sentries posted will depend

on the tactical situation.
In some circumstances sentries can ‘double
up’ but this will only normally occur out of
contact with the enemy.

The sentry roster is organized by the

section commander or their second in
command and one or the other will post the
sentry.
 ANY QUESTIONS

09/10/23 13
DUTIES OF A GROUND SENTRY BY
DAY AND NIGHT

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 Ground sentries must know
• Where they must be whilst on duty and
what is their ‘post’ or ‘beat’.
• The grid reference and location of their
section commander and how to contact
them if radio is used they must know the
frequency changes and the callsigns.
• If posted forward of the main position by
day, the route that they must take to
return to the position.
• The direction of the enemy and the type of
threat i.e., heleborne, armoured
• Arcs of observation and fire.
• The positions of flanking sentry posts.
• The names of landmarks to their front.
• Details and positions of any intruder
alarms, remote ground sensors or aids
such as tripflares.
• The procedure for challenging.
• The password and the time it changes.
• Orders for opening fire. The password
for the next 24 hours if a change is due.
• Friendly patrols in the area
• The signal for defensive fire, the sentry
may well be collocated with the
GPMG(SF)
• Times of mounting relief and details of
the relief system
• The NBC Threat
Nuclear/Biological/Chemical
 ANY QUESTIONS

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 EQUIPMENT TO BE CARRIED

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 Equipment to be carried by sentry
• Duties List
• Range Card
• Watch
• Binoculars
• Note Book and Pencil
• Communications-Radio-String-Whistle
 Types of Range cards
• Simple
• Detailed
 Range Cards should show this information
600m
400m

AXIS
300m

150m

LEFT ARC RIGHT ARC

09/10/23 Troop HQ will also have this information

23
ANY QUESTIONS
 CHALLENGE PROCEDURE

09/10/23 25
 Challenging
The challenging procedure must always be followed.
Failure to do so may result in casualties being inflicted
on our troops, particularly returning patrols.
The section commander must always be alerted if any
unexpected person or group approaches the position
and, if the situation warrants, they will `stand to’ the
section.
The challenge should be given quietly at a distance that
will enable the section to kill any enemy who try to run
away but not so close that the enemy can rush the post.
If the order to halt is not obeyed, it is repeated and if still
not obeyed, the orders for opening fire must be followed.
 The standard procedure for challenging and
reply is:
Passwords
Passwords are changed every 24 hours at 1200 hours
daily.

Challenge
They consist of two parts each consisting of two letters,
for example:

Challenge SIERRA NOVEMBER

Reply OSCAR WHISKY

 Limitations.
Passwords are liable to compromise.
They must therefore be considered as only one of a
number of methods of establishing whether or not troops
are friendly. Thus, the correct response to a challenge
must not be regarded as complete proof of identity.
Other methods of confirming identity are:

Visual identity of persons and equipment.

Identity cards which are only additional evidence not

proof.

Questioning.
 ANY QUESTIONS

09/10/23 29
Action by Sentry
Action by Person or Group Challenged
1
Alerts his immediate commander of the approach of a
person/group and covers him/them with his weapon.

2
Waits until the person/group approaching is within
audible range, but not so close that the position can
be rushed, and then orders him/them to stop with the
command “HALT HANDS UP”.

(Halts and raises hands)

09/10/23 31
3
Orders by voice or sign for one person
to approach — “ADVANCE ONE”.

(Person (or group leader) advances towards

sentry’s position)

4
Allows the unknown person to approach close enough
for visual recognition, or to give the challenge in a quiet
voice, and then orders him to stop — “HALT”.

(Halts)
 What is this soldier doing wrong

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5
Gives the challenge quietly, “SIERRA NOVEMBER” — if
he does not recognize the person. Only repeat if
circumstances warrant, e.g. windy night, friendly forces
in the vicinity etc.

(Gives the reply — “OSCAR WHISKY”)

6
Calls the remainder of the group forward, either as
individuals — “ADVANCE ONE”
or altogether —“ADVANCE” — as the situation or orders
dictate.

Second unknown person, or the remainder of the group,

advance to be recognized by the sentry, assisted by the
group leader who stays with the sentry until all have
passed.
09/10/23 36
 ANY QUESTIONS

09/10/23
 END OF LESSON

QUESTIONS ON WHOLE SUBJECT

state three types of sentry
state the challenging procedure
state two types of range card

PACK UP KIT
Close windows
09/10/23 Wipe Tables 38
 SUMMARY

This lesson you have been taught the duties of a sentry so don’t
forget.

(1) Always challenge just loud enough to be heard.

(2) If in doubt give the alarm quietly before you challenge.
(3) Do not allow an enemy to find out who you are and then get
away to report it.
(4) Do not shoot unless you must and then shoot to kill.

Remember what you have been taught as you will be putting this
knowledge into practice in the future

09/10/23 LOOK FORWARD 39