BREAK CONTACT

Use this drill to break contact with the enemy. There are several reasons for breaking contact; making contact with a superior force, terrain is not suitable for a successful attack, bypassing enemy elements to reach an objective, etc. Break contact allows the leader to shape the battle to his favor or purpose.

The first type of breaking contact is when you come across the OPFOR (OPposing FORce) position and they have not seen you yet and you realize you are unable to over come their position for any of the previously mentioned reasons. The break contact order is given and you simply slip away unnoticed and bypass their position.

The second type of break contact is when you are ambushed by the OPFOR and you realize you are unable to counterattack and flank, so you need to fall back and regroup. The leader decides to break contact and gives the order. Drill, Team, Direction, Distance. For example: “Break Contact! Team 1! Six O’clock! 50yards!” Break into to two elements, the element identified in the order moves first and is considered the bounding element. The element not identified in the order becomes the Overwatch element and begins to lay down suppressing fire. The Bounding element bounds back 5 to 10 yards, establishes a line, yells “Set!” and begins to lay down suppressing fire and becomes the Overwatch element. The previous Overwatch element then become the Bounding element, bounding back 5 to 10 yards behind the current Overwatch element. The element bounding always needs to ensure that they do not run into the fire lanes of the Overwatch element. The Overwatch element will be forced to cease fire to avoid friendly fire. This will leave both elements vulnerable to enemy fire because no one is suppressing the enemy. Repeat this process of Bounding and Overwatch until contact with the enemy is broken.