INDIVIDUAL PROTECTIVE MEASURES

This chapter presents the principles of constructing, camouflaging, and using individual protective measures. Camouflaging is nothing more than hiding or concealing your position or equipment by blending it in with the natural or local surroundings to avoid detection by the enemy. Intelligent use of the terrain sometimes reduces the labor and time required for the construction of emplacements or positions to provide you protection while firing at the enemy. In many cases the natural configuration of the ground provides emplacements that require little, if any, improvements. The following information gives you guidance on the correct application of these protective measures.

COVER AND CONCEALMENT

COVER is protection from the fire of hostile weapons. It may be natural or artificial. Natural cover (ravines, hollows, and reverse slopes) and artificial cover (fighting holes, trenches, and walls) protect you from flat trajectory fire (projectiles traveling at nearly horizontal angles), and partially protect you from high-angle fire and the effects of nuclear explosions. CONCEALMENT is protection from hostile ground or air observation, but not from hostile fire. It, too, is natural or artificial. Natural concealment is provided by objects in their natural locations, such as bushes, grass, and shadows. Artificial concealment is made from materials, such as burlap, nets, or tents, or from natural material.

The best combat position provides, at one and the same time, maximum cover and maximum concealment.