Outdoor & Woodland Tactics Basics
By: Jason Winkle, Ph.D.

A danger foreseen is half avoided.
        --Thomas Fuller

Outdoor and woodland tactics are a necessary skill set that all law enforcement officers must have.  It is not uncommon during vehicle pursuits or warrant serving that the subject attempts to escape via a foot race.  Regardless of where this foot pursuit takes place, a neighborhood or into the woods, it should not be a LEO’s first experience with outdoor tactics.  In these situations the LEO often is in close enough proximity to the subject to not have to worry about being the hunted.  The goal of the subject in such cases is to disappear, take a secure hiding position, and move again when the immediate threat is gone.  They are not looking for a secure area from which to launch an ambush.

This is not the case, however, for many SWAT teams.  Oftentimes they must plan for situations where the hostile is lying in wait, ready to ambush the team as it approaches. Outdoor and woodland tactics are a staple part of any team that operates in an area where methamphetamine use is present.  In an effort to remain in business and undetected, many cookers have moved their meth labs into the woods.  Here it is more difficult to locate based on smell, as less human travel is present in its vicinity.   These outdoor labs present SWAT teams with some unique tactical challenges.  The very nature of tactical operations surrounding hazardous environments changes many of the operational concepts that are applied in a majority of tactical situations.  As I highlighted in my article, Clandestine Laboratory Operations: Training for Close Quarters Combat, speed, surprise, and violence of action are counterproductive, and possibly deadly for operators in these environments.  Very rarely will the subjects not know we are approaching and the
structure and placement of the labs allow for the subject to quickly disappear into their surroundings.  Now the operators must begin a tactical search for a subject who had time to escape and set up a position of superior fire and who knows their surroundings.  I can guarantee that these subjects know where they can hide and oftentimes have elaborate makeshift concealment areas and weapon cashes.  The danger involved for the operator in this environment has just been elevated exponentionally.   I have written numerous tactical SOPs for a variety of operational units, all with divergent needs and an assortment of limiting constraints.  Each unit required specific training in its operational environment as well as basic tracking skills, land navigation fundamentals, and jurisdictional rules of engagement.  Fortunately, for teams unfamiliar with outdoor tactics or teams without the resources for specific outdoor training, there are several elements that
occur so frequently in these situations that they can provide us with a starting point for such training.  This article will examine some of the basic skills and concepts that serve as the backbone of outdoor and woodland tactics.

For the sake of brevity in this article I will break outdoor tactics into two main types; hasty and deliberate.  Furthermore, I will add a descriptor to our two divisions to set the tone for the purpose and mindset that must accompany this tactical operation.  The two divisions will be termed: 1)Hasty Search; and 2) Deliberate Search.  The term search implies a disciplined and systematic approach as opposed to the terms pursuit or attack.  While our outdoor tactics might at certain points resemble both a pursuit and an attack, the theoretical driving theme should be more focused on awareness of our environment to foresee possible danger zones
and target clues.

Hasty and deliberate searches are distinguished primarily by the time available for planning and preparation.  A hasty search often occurs as an outgrowth of the normal ebb and flow of any dynamic policing situation.  Anytime a subject decides to run we must engage in a hasty search.  These situations require the officer to respond immediately with whatever resources are at hand.  The key to success in this situation is being in excellent physical condition.  If the subject can be kept in visual range, the officer is in much less need of using tactics such as concealment or cover than when the subject escapes out of sight.  While the situation just described is known to LEOs as a foot pursuit, I have purposefully interjected the term hasty search to remind us that even a foot race with a subject must be tactical in nature.  The officer must constantly scan the surroundings.  Where is the subject heading? Where are potential areas that the subject could hide in the distance?  Where are the subject’s hands located?  Is the subject trying to get rid of any evidence or bring a weapon into the scenario?  Are there any other officers or subjects entering this tactical situation?  What could be used as cover if the subject begins to fire on me?   All of these questions should be going through the officer’s mind as they follow the subject’s attempt to flee.

Nothing can replace excellent physical conditioning in hasty searches.  When a subject is in view we have a reactionary cushion at our disposal.  It is when we lose sight of the subject that the tactics must change to meet the new demands of the situation.  The same tactics that we use indoors can be applied with small modifications for the outdoors, particularly in urban areas.  Techniques such as cutting the pie should be used when turning corners as well as staying away from light colored walls and areas that are backlit to prevent silhouetting.   A deliberate search is one in which the officers have had time to prepare for the operation.   While preparation time is a variable in each unique situation, the goal remains the same for all
tactical preparation; to utilize any intelligence and equipment in the field that will increase our rate of success.  This might include a briefing of the area using topography maps; reviewing hand and verbal signals; establishing containment and support teams; and utilizing camouflaging and air support.  A second difference between hasty and deliberate outdoor operations typically revolves around the number of operators involved in the scenario.  Hasty operations are often conducted by one officer or a buddy team as these situations are extensions of routine policing scenarios.  Deliberate operations typically involve many officers
or SWAT units working in a coordinated manner.  Both types of outdoor operations can be dangerous for the LEO and must be approached in a tactical manner.

Now that we have briefly discussed the differences in hasty and deliberate outdoor operations, I will turn to the similarities they share with other tactical scenarios.  All tactical operations, at a fundamental level, consist of planning and training.  When the planning phase is not possible, as in hasty operations for example, the officer only has their training upon which to resort.  Their outdoor operations training, therefore, should have several basic concepts that drive the officer’s actions.  These fundamental tactical skills must be
continuously drilled and discussed if we expect them to surface during a high stress scenario.  

MOVEMENT FUNDAMENTALS
Operators should be training on the fundamentals of movement.  There are three elements to outdoor movement (and indoor movement) that must be understood.  The first component is that movement must maintain cohesion.  A team’s strength in numbers is lost when the cohesion is broken.  Interlocking fields of fire are dependent on maintaining the integrity of your team’s formation.

The second component is that movement must maintain momentum.  This is a slightly more difficult concept to fully understand as it can only be evaluated on the relationship between the predator (LEOs) and the prey (the subject).  Momentum is not only the rate of movement it also entails the affective domain.  Officers must maintain the psychological momentum of being the ones to be feared and not vice versa.  

The third and final component is that movement must provide maximum protection.  Protection in outdoor situations may include man made structures, nature based elements (trees, rocks, etc.), glare from the sun, shadows, fast movement, or numerous other things.  Protection can come in the form of concealment or cover.  The basic idea, however, is to intelligently use whatever advantages we have at our disposal.

BASIC TACTICS
Many of our tried and true tactical fundamentals can be applied in the outdoor or woodland environment.  The primary difference, one that does take some getting used to, is the vast increase of distance and space with which the operator must contend.  Fortunately, however, the basics of tactical operations still apply to these environments.  The following are a few of the tactical fundamentals that must be employed in outdoor scenarios: LIMIT VULNERABILITY.   Half the tactical battle during a search is not presenting the hostile
with target clues.  The other half of the equation is our attempt to discover their target clues.   The use of cover or concealment is critical in outdoor tactical operations.  Cover and concealment are at a premium in open spaces.  Furthermore, it is critical to move from an area of cover or concealment to another area of protection.  Know where you are going to move before you begin to move.

IDENTIFY TARGET CLUES.  This portion of the tactical operation is an art in and of itself.  It entails paying attention to your senses and systematically identifying probable areas where the hostile could be located.  While vision is the primary sense used in these searches it is only one of the tools we have at our disposal.  Pausing your movement and listening can often orient you to where the hostile might be hiding or moving.  The sound of footsteps, the scraping of material on tree limbs or any structure, and the sudden stir of wildlife are all clues in this tactical chess match.  Finally, the sense of smell can often aid us in our search.  
Approach the target area from downwind when possible.  In many outdoor environments a smoker can easily be located when the wind is cooperating.

SCAN THE AREA BEFORE YOU MOVE.  It pays to briefly scan the operational area before you and your team move to the next point of domination.  There are numerous approaches to scanning your field of vision in such situations.  I teach a particular method that when practiced can be executed very quickly with excellent results.  Immediately scan the areas that are likely hiding places for the hostile.  Follow this initial scan with a smooth and fluid zigzag pattern that moves from near to far.  Pause slightly when your scan passes the likely hiding areas and view them for a moment using your peripheral vision.  Small movements can be recognized easier with peripheral vision than by a direct gaze.  Complete your visual scan by using a rainbow type arch over the scanned area to ensure you have not missed anything on an elevated level.

SMOOTH IS FAST.  Anyone who has ever been trained in a tactical maneuver has heard the mantra, “Smooth is fast”.  There is a reason this saying has stuck.  Any movement that is executed in a tactical situation should be done with the understanding that is must accommodate accurate target location and firing.  Shooting on the move is a difficult task.  Try to hit anything with accuracy when you are moving too fast to be smooth and you will quickly find out that you have little to no accuracy.  That is a high price to pay when your life is on the
line.  This is another situation in which team training is critical.  Each officer must have an understanding of their personal speed limits as well as that of their team members.  When one or two officers move distinctly faster than the rest of the team you lose cohesion.  Cohesion, as I stated previously, is a critical component of tactical movement.  A team that trains together stays together.

STAY LOW & AVOID SILHOUETTING.  Outdoor movement, like all tactical movement, should be done from a balanced, athletic stance.  It is more critical in the outdoors, however, to stay low when moving.  Use the terrain and any objects available to help conceal your movement.   Movement that is contrasted against the open sky or a distant backdrop is easily seen.  Avoid silhouetting yourself against rear lighted areas by staying in the shadows and out of the light wash.  Stay away from reflective surfaces as they can give away your position.  Furthermore, avoid silhouetting your position by peering over an area of observation from a rooftop.   USE A VARIETY OF SHOOTING POSTURES.  Officers routinely involved in outdoor tactical missions should train a variety of shooting postures that commonly occur in these situations.   Prone, kneeling, squatting, and leaning postures are a frequent necessity in outdoor operations.  Officers need to be well versed and accurate in these modified postures to provide the necessary coverage for fellow officers during the movement phase of the operation.  

MOVEMENT FORMATIONS
Keeping all of the movement components and tactical fundamentals in mind, a team should be able to successfully execute several basic movement formations dependent on the terrain and situation.  Any movement formation should try to achieve stealth, security and dispersion.   While there are numerous types of movement formations, I typically teach three basic approaches that work in a variety of operational areas. The most common formation is the wedge.  I have also found the echelon and the vee to have great utility in a variety of terrains.   I will briefly describe each of these formations.

WEDGE.    This is the most widely used formation for outdoor operations through open or wide areas.  The wedge can be executed in woodland environments provided that the vegetation is not so dense to prevent team movement cohesion.  The formation resembles the tip of an arrow.  Team members move forward in this formation with approximately 10 to 15 meters of dispersion between operators.  Outward sectors of fire can be maintained during movement and the width of the wedge can be adjusted based on terrain and obstacles encountered.  

ECHELON.  The echelon is very similar to the wedge in appearance.  This formation looks like the wedge except for one leg of the formation is shorter than the other.  This asymmetric formation is often used when there are not enough operators to form a complete wedge.  Small units are able to maintain sectors of fire from this formation.  The dispersion should be approximately 10 to 15 meters between operators.  

VEE.  I prefer this formation when moving a team through dense outdoor areas.  This formation resembles the letter “V” with a tail or more commonly thought of as the letter “Y”.  As with all of the formations, dispersion without losing cohesion is critical.  Sectors of fire in this formation should be staggered.  

MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES
A movement technique is the method a team uses to transverse terrain.  I will cover three basic movement techniques in this article but understand that there are numerous techniques that can be utilized based on terrain and situations.  All three of the movement techniques might be used during one operation.  Teams should be confident in their ability to switch between each technique.  

PROGRESSIVE WALK.  This movement technique is what is commonly used when in areas of low to moderate threat.  Operators must remain on high alert when using this approach, however, because it is not designed to provide high volumes of cover fire in ambush situations.  It is a great approach technique when done properly as it provides a large search area with intersecting sectors of fire.  All of the formations can utilize this movement technique.  

TRAVELING OVERWATCH.  This movement technique is very similar in concept to basic room clearing principles.  Officers move to static positions as they cover opposing areas of domination.  Their sectors of fire, however, must be near enough to provide mutual fire support if needed.  Dispersion in this movement technique is needed to provide better observation to the flanks.  The lead watch should be far enough ahead of the team to warn them of danger but never so far that they are out of visual contact.

BOUNDING OVERWATCH.  This is the most secure method of movement that we have discussed.  In a bounding overwatch one team member will move to a position of cover while a teammate leapfrogs to a more forward position of cover.  Team members will continue to move forward of their partner while the partner provides cover for their approach.  The distance between team members is dependent upon the terrain and situation, however, it is important to remember that the longer you are up and exposed the more likely you are to become a target.   Use short movements from an area of cover to a new area of cover.

Outdoor and woodland tactical operations offer LEOs a unique set of challenges.   Fortunately, there are many similarities to other tactical situations that can be readily applied to these situations.  Like any skill that must be executed under great stress, outdoor tactics should be trained at length.  Remember, we typically don’t rise to our expectations in stressful situations; rather, we fall to our level of training.

Dr. Winkle is the Director of Combatives at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY.  He is a martial artist of twenty-two years experience.  Jason holds instructor rank in numerous martial arts systems and is the founder of Martial Concepts, a nexus of approaches to the martial arts, combatives training and certification.  Dr. Winkle has trained members of the United States elite Special Forces as well as numerous law enforcement agencies.  He has published in the areas of Combatives, Martial Arts, Fitness, and Leadership.  You can contact Dr. Winkle through his website www.martialconcepts.com.