Training - React to Contact

React to Contact is the initial phase of Battle Drill 1 (Squad Attack) and other related U.S. Army infantry battle drills, as outlined in ATP 3-21.8 (Infantry Platoon and Squad).

It is the immediate response to enemy fire or observation, designed to protect the unit, return fire, and set conditions for follow-on actions (e.g., suppress, assault, or break contact).

The actions taken during "React to Contact" are critical for gaining the initiative and surviving the initial engagement. While the principles remain consistent across echelons (fire team, squad, platoon), the execution varies based on the unit’s size, composition, and available resources.

Here we describe "React to Contact" in depth and compare its execution within the context of a fire team (4-5 soldiers), and a squad (8-12 soldiers).

React to Contact: General Description

React to Contact occurs when a unit encounters enemy fire (direct, indirect, or observed) or detects an enemy presence. The immediate goals are to:

1. Survive the Initial Contact: Avoid casualties by seeking cover and concealment.
2. Return Fire: Engage the enemy to disrupt their actions and gain fire superiority.
3. Assess the Situation: Determine the enemy’s location, size, and intent while reporting to higher command.
4. Set Conditions: Enable the unit to transition to subsequent actions (e.g., suppress, maneuver, or withdraw).

Key Actions

• Take Cover: Soldiers immediately seek cover (e.g., behind terrain, rocks, trees, or vehicles) to avoid enemy fire.
• Return Fire: Engage the enemy with aimed or suppressive fire to disrupt their attack and gain the initiative.
• Communicate: Alert team members with shouts (e.g., “Contact front!”) and report to higher command via radio (e.g., size, activity, location, unit, time, equipment—SALUTE report).
• Assess and Report: The leader identifies the enemy’s position, strength, and type of fire, then decides the next course of action.

The speed and discipline of these actions are critical, as the first moments of contact often determine the outcome of the engagement.

React to Contact: Fire Team Context (4-5 Soldiers)

A fire team, typically consisting of a Team Leader (TL), Automatic Rifleman (AR), Grenadier (GR), Rifleman (R), and sometimes a Designated Marksman (DM), is the smallest maneuver element in the U.S. Army. Its limited size restricts its firepower and flexibility compared to a squad or platoon.

Execution

Scenario

The fire team is patrolling and takes small arms fire from three enemy riflemen 100 meters ahead.

Actions

1. Take Cover: Upon hearing “Contact!” or enemy fire, all soldiers immediately drop to cover (e.g., behind trees, rocks, or a ditch). For example, the AR might dive behind a fallen log, while the TL uses a boulder.
2. Return Fire: All soldiers engage the enemy with controlled fire. The AR lays down suppressive bursts (5-10 rounds) with the M249 SAW to disrupt the enemy. The GR uses the M203/M320 grenade launcher if within range (150-350 meters) or rifle fire. The TL and R fire aimed shots at visible targets.
3. Communicate: Soldiers shout “Contact front!” or specify the direction (e.g., “Contact, 12 o’clock, 100 meters!”). The TL radios the squad leader: “Alpha Team, contact, three enemy, 100 meters north, small arms, over.”
4. Assess: The TL observes the enemy (e.g., muzzle flashes, movement) to determine their position and strength. The TL decides whether to suppress, assault, or break contact based on the enemy’s size and the team’s mission.

Key Considerations

• Limited Firepower: The fire team relies heavily on the AR’s M249 for suppression, as it has only one automatic weapon compared to a squad’s two. Ammunition discipline is critical (e.g., the AR carries 200-600 rounds).
• No Internal Maneuver: Unlike a squad, the fire team cannot split into base-of-fire and maneuver elements during the initial reaction. All members act as a single unit, focusing on returning fire and gaining cover.
• Dependence on Higher Echelons: The TL immediately reports to the squad leader, as the fire team rarely operates independently. Support from the squad (e.g., additional fire teams or machine guns) is often necessary.
• Vulnerability: A single casualty (e.g., the AR) significantly reduces the team’s combat power, making rapid cover and communication critical.

Example

The fire team is moving through a wooded area when an enemy rifleman opens fire from behind a berm 150 meters away. The TL shouts, “Contact front!” All soldiers hit the ground or move behind trees, returning fire. The AR fires short bursts, the GR lobs a 40mm smoke round to obscure the enemy’s view, and the TL reports to the squad leader while assessing whether to suppress or withdraw.

React to Contact: Squad Context (8-12 Soldiers)

A squad typically consists of two fire teams, led by a Squad Leader (SL), with additional assets like a radio telephone operator (RTO) or a medic in some cases. The squad’s larger size allows for greater firepower and the ability to split into base-of-fire and maneuver elements.

Execution

Scenario

The squad encounters an enemy machine gun nest and two riflemen 200 meters to the front.

Actions

1. Take Cover: Both fire teams seek cover immediately. For example, Alpha Team uses a ditch, and Bravo Team takes cover behind a low hill.
2. Return Fire: Both fire teams engage, with each AR (two M249s) laying down suppressive fire, grenadiers firing 40mm rounds, and riflemen targeting visible enemies. The squad’s combined firepower (two SAWs, two grenade launchers) is significantly greater than a fire team’s.
3. Communicate: Team leaders shout contact directions to their teams, and the SL radios the platoon leader with a SALUTE report: “First Squad, contact, enemy machine gun and two riflemen, 200 meters east, over.”
4. Assess: The SL directs one fire team (e.g., Alpha) to maintain suppressive fire while the other (Bravo) prepares to maneuver. The SL assesses the enemy’s position and decides whether to assault, break contact, or call for platoon support (e.g., mortars).

Key Considerations

• Fire Superiority: The squad’s two SAWs and grenade launchers allow for more effective suppression, pinning the enemy while one fire team maneuvers.
• Internal Maneuver: The squad can split into a base-of-fire element (one fire team) and a maneuver element (the other fire team), enabling more dynamic responses.
• Leadership: The SL coordinates both fire teams, while TLs focus on their teams’ actions. This allows for faster decision-making and task delegation.
• Resilience: The squad can absorb a casualty or two without losing its ability to suppress or maneuver, unlike a fire team.

Example

The squad is moving in a wedge formation when an enemy machine gun opens fire from a treeline. Both fire teams dive into a gully, returning fire with SAWs and rifles. The SL designates Alpha Team to suppress the machine gun with bursts and 40mm HE rounds, while Bravo Team shifts to a flank for a potential assault. The SL reports to the platoon leader, requesting a machine gun team for additional support.