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Individual movement techniques

Individual movement techniques (IMTs) are tactical methods employed by infantry soldiers to navigate terrain under potential enemy fire, minimizing exposure to observation and direct threats while maintaining combat effectiveness, and primarily encompass the low crawl, high crawl, and 3-5 second rush.^[1] These techniques are fundamental to U.S. Army doctrine, taught during basic combat training to enable soldiers to advance, reposition, or evade while keeping their weapon ready for engagement.^[2] The low crawl, the most concealed of the IMTs, involves the soldier moving prone on the ground using the elbows and toes (or knees) for propulsion, keeping the body flat to reduce silhouette and maximize use of available cover.^[1] It is employed when enemy fire is heavy and cover is minimal, prioritizing stealth and survival over speed.^[2] In contrast, the high crawl allows for faster movement by supporting the body on the forearms and lower legs (or elbows and knees), raising the torso slightly off the ground while still maintaining a low profile.^[1] This technique is suitable for situations with light to moderate enemy fire and adequate cover or concealment, balancing concealment with greater mobility.^[2] The 3-5 second rush represents the quickest IMT, consisting of a short sprint—lasting no more than three to five seconds—between covered or concealed positions, often executed from a standing or crouching start to rapidly reposition.^[1] It is used under light fire, requiring immediate cover at the endpoint to avoid tracking by the enemy.^[2] These techniques are selected based on mission, enemy, terrain, troops, time, and civilian considerations (METT-TC), with soldiers trained to execute them while sustaining suppressive fire or coordinating with team members.^[1] Originating from early 20th-century infantry tactics, IMTs trace their roots to World War I German stormtrooper methods and were formalized in U.S. Army Field Manual 7-5 in 1940, with the 3-5 second rush specifically taught to entry-level soldiers since World War II.^[3] They form the foundational level of movement in infantry operations, progressing to buddy team, fire team, and squad formations for more complex maneuvers.^[1] In modern contexts, such as urban or contested environments, IMTs remain essential for tasks like patrolling, assaulting objectives, or casualty evacuation, though recent evaluations, including doctrinal publications as of 2023, continue to assess their effectiveness for adaptation to evolving threats.^[3]^[2]

Overview

Definition

Individual movement techniques (IMTs) are fundamental tactical methods employed by individual soldiers to advance, withdraw, or maneuver across the battlefield while minimizing detection by the enemy and reducing exposure to risk. These techniques enable infantry personnel to position themselves effectively for combat, emphasizing stealth, controlled progression, and the ability to transition rapidly to offensive or defensive actions upon contact. Developed through extensive military doctrine, IMTs form the basis of small-unit mobility in diverse operational environments, from urban settings to open terrain. They serve as building blocks for higher-level team and squad movements. At their core, IMTs incorporate controlled speed to balance rapid advancement with security, the strategic use of terrain for protection—such as leveraging cover and concealment to obscure movement—and seamless integration with weapons handling to maintain readiness for engagement. Speed is modulated based on the likelihood of enemy contact, with faster rushes in low-threat scenarios and slower, more deliberate crawls under fire; terrain exploitation involves selecting routes that provide natural barriers or hiding spots; and weapons are kept oriented toward potential threats throughout the movement to ensure immediate suppressive fire if needed. These elements are selected according to METT-TC factors (mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, civil considerations), ensuring adaptability to specific conditions.^[4] Basic IMTs proceed through distinct phases to maintain situational awareness and safety: observation, where the soldier halts to scan for threats and identify the next covered position; decision to move, involving assessment of the route and selection of an appropriate technique; execution of the movement, such as low or high crawls for concealed travel or short rushes for quicker displacement; and halting to reassess, by assuming a prone firing position to observe and secure the new location. This cyclical process ensures continuous evaluation of the environment, preventing ambush and facilitating team progression.^[4] Unlike collective tactics, which involve coordinated maneuvers across larger formations like platoons or companies to achieve broader objectives such as envelopment or terrain control, IMTs emphasize independent or minimally directed actions by individuals or buddy teams that contribute to overall unit cohesion without requiring real-time synchronization during the displacement itself. This focus on personal initiative allows small elements to maintain momentum and security, serving as building blocks for higher-level operations.

Historical development

The roots of individual movement techniques (IMTs) trace back to early modern warfare, where stealthy approaches were essential for reconnaissance and skirmishes. The formalization of IMTs accelerated in the early 20th century amid industrialized warfare. During World War I, trench stalemates on the Western Front influenced the development of crawling techniques to evade machine-gun fire and barbed wire during assaults and patrols. World War II further refined these methods, with U.S. Army doctrine in FM 7-10 (1944) detailing creeping and crawling for stealthy advances to firing positions, successive rushes under covering fire for closing distances, and infiltration tactics involving silent, scout-led columns to penetrate enemy lines undetected, particularly in wooded or night operations.^[5] Post-World War II, U.S. Army doctrines continued to standardize these techniques, with influences from World War I German stormtrooper methods formalized in FM 7-5 in 1940. The Vietnam War prompted adaptations for jungle environments, integrating low-profile, dispersed movements to navigate dense vegetation and counter guerrilla ambushes, prioritizing stealth. In modern contexts, IMTs have been adapted for urban and asymmetric warfare, incorporating movements to counter threats like improvised explosive devices and close-quarters combat.

Core principles

Cover and concealment

In military tactics, cover refers to any natural or artificial feature that provides physical protection from enemy projectiles, such as walls, earth embankments, ditches, or vehicles, which can stop or deflect incoming fire.^[6] Concealment, by contrast, involves elements that hide personnel from enemy observation or surveillance without offering ballistic protection, including foliage, shadows, smoke, or camouflage netting that obscure visibility but do not halt bullets or shrapnel.^[6] These principles are fundamental to individual movement techniques (IMTs), where soldiers prioritize both to minimize detection and vulnerability during displacement.^[7] During IMTs, soldiers scan the terrain ahead to identify suitable cover and concealment before initiating movement, selecting routes that maximize these features to shield against observation and fire.^[7] Movement involves short rushes or crawls between protected positions, ensuring that at least one form of cover or concealment is maintained throughout the transition to avoid exposure in open areas.^[6] This approach integrates with speed control by limiting exposure time in vulnerable spots, allowing for rapid repositioning while preserving protective positioning.^[7] Key risks arise from distinguishing hard cover, which reliably stops projectiles like reinforced concrete or thick earth, from soft cover, such as thin wood or light vegetation that may fail against sustained fire.^[8] Common errors include silhouette exposure against skylines or light backgrounds, which negates concealment and invites targeting, or lingering too long in one position, turning cover into a predictable trap.^[6] Limitations also stem from environmental factors, like sparse terrain offering minimal options or advanced enemy sensors bypassing visual concealment.^[8] To identify cover angles relative to threats, soldiers employ the clocking method, visualizing directions as a clock face where 12 o'clock aligns with the forward line of advance or primary threat axis, directing scans and movements to positions at, for example, 10 or 2 o'clock for flanking protection.^[6] This technique aids in quickly assessing and selecting optimal cover during dynamic situations, enhancing situational awareness without complex tools.^[7]

Speed, dispersion, and control

In individual movement techniques (IMTs), speed is adjusted based on the tactical environment to minimize detection while achieving objectives. For stealth-oriented movements, such as prone crawls in areas of potential enemy observation, soldiers employ slow paces typically ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 meters per second to maintain a low silhouette and reduce noise.^[9] In contrast, when crossing exposed areas under suppressive fire or during rapid assaults, faster rushes are used, covering 20 to 33.5 meters in 3 to 5 seconds, equating to an average of approximately 6.7 meters per second.^[10] These variations ensure that movement aligns with the level of threat, prioritizing deliberate caution in reconnaissance or infiltration over hasty advances in combat.^[11] Dispersion refers to the spacing maintained between individuals to mitigate risks from enemy fire, particularly enfilade or area effects. Standard intervals are 5 to 10 meters in fire team formations like the wedge, adjustable based on terrain visibility and mission requirements to prevent bunching while preserving mutual support.^[11] This separation enhances survivability by distributing the unit across a wider frontage, reducing the impact of single engagements, and allowing for 360-degree security without compromising cohesion.^[11] Control mechanisms enable coordinated execution of IMTs through non-verbal and disciplinary methods. Hand signals, standardized in unit standing operating procedures (SOPs), direct starts, stops, direction changes, and fire control, facilitating silent communication in noisy or stealthy conditions.^[11] Additionally, personal discipline is emphasized, with soldiers trained to freeze immediately upon detection or effective enemy fire, assessing the situation before resuming movement to avoid unnecessary exposure.^[11] Balancing speed, dispersion, and control involves inherent trade-offs to optimize effectiveness. Increasing speed heightens risks of noise and detection but allows quicker repositioning, while greater dispersion improves stealth and resilience to fire at the cost of tighter control and potential communication challenges.^[11] These factors are weighed against mission constraints, such as time available for observation, using cover to mitigate vulnerabilities during transitions between slow stealth and rapid exposure.^[11]

Primary techniques

Upright movement

Upright movement techniques encompass methods for advancing while standing or in a semi-standing posture, primarily employed in areas with moderate cover or low immediate threat levels, allowing for greater speed and observation compared to low-profile approaches. These techniques prioritize maintaining weapon readiness and situational awareness to enable rapid engagement if needed. The standard walk, for instance, involves a natural stride at a moderate pace, with the soldier keeping the head up to scan the surroundings and the rifle carried diagonally across the chest in a ready position, muzzle pointed downward. This method facilitates quiet progression over longer distances, typically with steps approximately 30 inches in length, while ensuring solid footing by placing the toe down first and shifting weight gradually.^[12]^[1] A variation of the standard walk incorporates the fighter's ready stance, where the knees are slightly bent, the firing-side foot is positioned back for stability, and the rifle is held firmly against the shoulder or at port arms for immediate reaction. This posture enhances balance and quick maneuverability, particularly in transitional phases of movement. Soldiers maintain a steady, alert demeanor, with eyes forward and peripheral vision monitoring flanks, adhering to dispersion principles such as 10 meters between individuals to reduce vulnerability to enemy fire.^[12]^[1] The rush technique represents a more dynamic upright method, consisting of short, explosive sprints covering 5 to 15 meters in 3 to 5 seconds, transitioning from one covered position to another. To execute, the soldier selects the next cover point while in position, rises to a semi-standing crouch with the rifle in a high ready position (muzzle forward), sprints forward in a low posture to minimize silhouette, and immediately halts by dropping to one knee or prone behind cover for observation and firing. This approach is ideal for crossing open gaps quickly but exposes the individual to greater visibility, necessitating immediate cover upon arrival.^[1]^[12] Half-stepping, often used in urban environments for corner peeking or diagonal advancement, involves short, controlled side-steps or angled forward steps to present a minimal profile while maintaining forward progress. The soldier advances laterally or diagonally, rifle extended and aimed around the corner as a pivot point, pieing the angle incrementally to expose only necessary portions of the body. Head remains up and turned toward the direction of movement, with steps kept deliberate and short to control exposure. This technique balances caution with mobility, allowing observation without full commitment to open areas, though it sacrifices speed for precision. Advantages of upright movement overall include faster ground coverage and enhanced visibility for threat detection, but it demands immediate halts via knee drops to mitigate risks upon contact.^[12]^[1]

Prone movement

Prone movement encompasses ground-based crawling techniques that prioritize maximum concealment and a minimal silhouette in high-threat environments, enabling soldiers to advance undetected under enemy observation or fire. These methods are essential for closing distances to objectives while reducing exposure, often employed in open terrain or when upright movement risks detection.^[1] The low crawl, also known as the belly crawl, involves lying flat on the stomach with the body as close to the ground as possible to achieve the lowest profile. The soldier propels forward by pulling with the arms and pushing with the legs, using elbows and toes for traction while keeping the head slightly raised for observation. The rifle is dragged alongside the body with the muzzle pointed forward and clear of the ground, or slung across the back to prevent snagging. This technique progresses slowly over short distances, typically 50-100 meters under heavy fire or close enemy proximity, emphasizing stealth over speed.^[1]^[13] In contrast, the high crawl provides greater speed while maintaining a low silhouette, performed on hands and knees with the hips slightly elevated and the torso parallel to the ground. The soldier alternates advancing the elbows and knees, cradling the rifle in the arms or holding it in a firing position across the chest for immediate use, with the muzzle off the ground. This method is used when moderate cover and concealment are available but standing remains too exposed, allowing faster traversal than the low crawl across similar short to moderate distances.^[1]^[13] Effective transitions into prone movement from upright positions require rapid execution to minimize exposure, such as dropping directly to the ground from standing or rolling from a kneeling stance while retaining control of the weapon. During brief halts, soldiers enhance concealment by incorporating grass, debris, or other natural materials to disrupt their outline and blend with the terrain.^[1] Despite their concealment advantages, prone movement techniques have notable limitations, including high physical fatigue from sustained effort over distances beyond 100 meters and reduced ability to evade close-range threats due to limited mobility and visibility. These methods align with broader principles of cover and concealment to mitigate detection risks in tactical scenarios.^[1]

Lateral and evasive movement

Lateral and evasive movement techniques enable infantry soldiers to reposition sideways, backward, or unpredictably while minimizing exposure to enemy fire, often while maintaining weapon orientation toward the threat. These maneuvers are essential for flanking, retreating, or avoiding direct observation without fully turning the body, which could disrupt aim or increase vulnerability. According to U.S. Army doctrine, such techniques are performed under direct or indirect fire to reach a new position within approximately 100 meters, adapting to terrain, cover availability, and enemy proximity.^[14] Side-stepping involves short, controlled lateral shifts, such as the crab walk or shuffle, executed in either prone or upright positions to achieve 90-degree directional changes without pivoting the entire body. In the crab walk, a soldier crawls sideways on hands and knees while facing the enemy, keeping the head low and weapon in a firing position to sustain readiness. The shuffle, a quicker variant, uses bent knees and rapid foot slides while crouched, ideal for short adjustments in low-cover environments. These are employed when under observation or light fire, allowing repositioning to better cover or a flanking angle while preserving speed control as outlined in core tactical principles. Performance requires maintaining a low silhouette and weapon aim, with evaluation focusing on effective evasion without full-body exposure.^[14]^[14] Bounding retreat techniques facilitate backward movement while continuously facing the threat, using rushes or crawls to disengage without losing visual contact or fire superiority. Soldiers alternate short backward bounds—typically 3-5 seconds—with a teammate providing suppressive fire, switching roles to bound rearward in sequence until contact is broken. This method is used during retreats under heavy fire when forward momentum cannot be gained, such as in defensive withdrawals or after failed assaults, ensuring coordinated cover to prevent bunching. Tactical cues include assessing enemy fire intensity and nearby rally points, with integration of suppressive fire from the static element to mask the movement. Doctrine emphasizes keeping the weapon oriented toward the enemy throughout, scoring proficiency based on controlled retreat and sustained suppression.^[14]^[1] Evasive dodges incorporate zigzag patterns during rushes to counter aimed enemy fire, particularly in open terrain where straight-line movement invites targeting. The soldier advances or retreats in erratic, alternating directions—shifting left and right unpredictably—while staying low and using short bursts of speed between covered intervals. This is triggered when under direct observation or sniper fire, with suppressive fire from supporting elements enhancing survival by distracting the enemy. Key cues involve terrain analysis for intermittent cover and timing dodges to coincide with suppressive volleys, prioritizing minimal exposure over straight-line efficiency. Training standards require demonstrating unpredictable motion that reaches the objective without predictable patterns, as detailed in individual movement evaluations.^[14]

Applications and variations

Terrain-specific adaptations

In urban environments, individual movement techniques are adapted to navigate compartmentalized structures, short sightlines, and three-dimensional threats, emphasizing rapid, low-profile advances. Soldiers employ shorter rushes around corners using formations like the serpentine or rolling-T to minimize exposure, often bounding in pairs while maintaining suppressive fire and scanning for threats in adjacent spaces.^[15] Vehicles such as Bradley Fighting Vehicles or MRAPs serve as mobile cover during street movements, with infantry dismounting strategically to exploit their ballistic protection, while doors and walls are assessed for booby traps before use as entry points or firing positions.^[15] Vertical movement gains prominence, with techniques for clearing stairs in four-man teams—securing corners and landings from top to bottom—and entering via windows using ladders or rappels, allowing access to upper floors for flanking or observation.^[15] Woodland and jungle settings demand slower, stealthier adaptations due to dense vegetation that restricts visibility and amplifies noise. Prone crawling and short rushes are executed deliberately, parting foliage gently to avoid snapping branches or rustling leaves, with soldiers using hands and knees for minimal sound while advancing under cover of underbrush.^[16] Noise discipline is paramount, enforced through whispers, hand signals, and avoidance of machete cuts during daylight; movements parallel to trails leverage natural concealment from thick canopy and ground cover, enabling unseen advances over ridgelines or streambeds.^[16]^[17] Infiltration routes and phase lines guide pacing in these environments, where travel times can double due to the terrain's demands, prioritizing camouflage by blending with undisturbed vegetation.^[16]^[17] For desert and open terrains, techniques shift toward greater dispersion and speed to counter long-range observation and fire. Soldiers maintain intervals of 10 to 20 meters—or up to 300 meters in overwatch formations—to reduce casualties from area weapons, employing upright postures in wedge or line formations when contact is unlikely.^[11] Frequent halts, including 5-meter security checks after short moves and extended 20-meter assessments, allow scanning for threats across vast sightlines, with bounding overwatch used to cross danger areas rapidly.^[11] Dust raised by foot or vehicle movement acts as a natural obscurant, screening positions and advances while complicating enemy targeting, though it necessitates adjustments for reduced visibility.^[11] Mountainous terrain requires hybrid techniques integrating standard movement with mountaineering elements to address steep slopes, limited routes, and hazards like rockfall and avalanches. Dismounted advances use fixed ropes, crampons, and ice axes for Class 4+ terrain, with soldiers maintaining three points of contact and rhythmic steps on rock or snow while lead climbers place protection like chocks or pitons.^[18] Formations narrow to files or columns along trails, increasing spacing four to six times that of flat ground to mitigate avalanche risks on 30- to 45-degree slopes, avoiding midday travel and using self-arrest techniques with ice axes if slipping occurs.^[19]^[18] Rockfall is countered by testing holds, shouting warnings, and seeking cover under overhangs, with route planning favoring unlikely paths for surprise despite the added time per elevation change—approximately one hour per 300 meters ascent.^[19]^[18]

Integration with team formations

Individual movement techniques (IMTs) are essential for enabling small-unit maneuvers in fireteams and squads, allowing soldiers to advance while maintaining mutual support and security against potential enemy contact. In team contexts, IMTs such as the high crawl, low crawl, and short rushes are coordinated to support collective actions, ensuring that individual actions align with the unit's overall tactical objectives. This integration emphasizes the transition from individual stealth to group synchronization, where dispersion rules help prevent bunching while preserving fields of fire.^[7] Bounding overwatch exemplifies this integration, where one element of the team or squad—such as a fireteam—advances using IMTs while the stationary element provides suppressive fire and overwatch. In successive bounds, elements move online in sequence, with each covering the next's advance via short rushes or crawls to covered positions, typically 20 meters apart for optimal security. Alternating bounds allow the overwatch to leapfrog ahead after the bounding element halts, facilitating controlled progression across open or contested terrain without exposing the entire unit. This technique is doctrinally prescribed for situations where enemy contact is anticipated, enhancing maneuverability in offensive operations.^[7]^[1] In file and wedge formations, individuals employ IMTs to sustain the team's shape during advances, adapting to terrain while upholding dispersion and control. The wedge formation, a V-shaped arrangement with 10-meter intervals, relies on soldiers using lateral rushes or crawls to adjust positions, providing all-around security and firepower distribution for fireteams in open areas. Conversely, the file formation arranges personnel in a single column for restricted terrain, where trailing members mirror the lead's IMTs—such as low crawls through obstacles—to maintain linear integrity and ease of command. These formations enable squads to transition fluidly between traveling and combat modes, with IMTs ensuring the unit's cohesion under fire.^[7]^[1] Flanking maneuvers leverage solo lateral IMTs to support team envelopment, where an individual or fireteam executes evasive side movements to position for enfilading fire against the enemy's flank. During squad assaults, a bounding element might use short rushes parallel to the enemy line, covered by the team's base of fire, to isolate and expose vulnerabilities without direct frontal engagement. Non-verbal signals synchronize these actions, with hand-and-arm gestures like extending the arm sideways for "flank or move out" or cupping hands over ears for "enemy in sight" ensuring silent coordination. Such signals, standardized for visual clarity, allow leaders to direct IMT execution across the formation, maintaining stealth and tempo in small-unit operations.^[7]^[1]^[20]

Training and doctrine

Basic instruction methods

Basic instruction methods for individual movement techniques (IMTs) in military training programs follow a structured progression to build foundational skills for safe and effective tactical movement. Training typically begins with classroom theory, where soldiers learn the principles of IMTs, including the use of cover and concealment to minimize exposure to enemy fire, and the selection of techniques based on terrain and threat levels. This theoretical phase emphasizes understanding low crawl, high crawl, and rush movements, as outlined in standard soldier training publications. Following classroom instruction, dry runs are conducted without live ammunition or full combat loads to focus on technique mastery, allowing instructors to correct form in a low-risk environment. Progression advances to live-fire integration, where soldiers apply IMTs in simulated combat scenarios with blank rounds or controlled fire to incorporate stress and realism.^[14]^[11] Specific drills reinforce these techniques through repetitive practice tailored to build speed, endurance, and precision. Common exercises include 100-meter crawls using the low crawl position, where soldiers move belly-down to the ground to traverse open areas while keeping weapons ready, and timed rushes limited to 3-5 seconds between covered positions to simulate rapid advances under potential fire. Obstacle courses simulating cover, such as navigating walls, wire entanglements, and ditches, integrate multiple IMTs and require soldiers to maintain weapon readiness and avoid overexposure. These drills are performed in controlled training areas, progressing from individual practice to buddy-team coordination, ensuring soldiers can execute movements like the prone low crawl efficiently across varied distances.^[14]^[11] Evaluation of IMT proficiency occurs through standardized tests that assess speed, accuracy, and decision-making under stress. Soldiers must demonstrate the ability to select appropriate cover, complete movements without unnecessary exposure, and maintain tactical readiness, often scored on a GO/NO-GO basis during field exercises simulating enemy contact. Common corrections address errors such as prolonged exposure during rushes or improper body positioning in crawls, with instructors providing immediate feedback via after-action reviews to refine techniques. Proficiency is verified annually or during unit training cycles to ensure sustained competence.^[14]^[11] Training incorporates essential equipment to replicate combat conditions while prioritizing safety in group sessions. Soldiers use training rifles, such as the M4 carbine or M16, along with individual protective equipment including vests and helmets, to practice weapon handling during movement. Safety protocols mandate risk assessments per established guidelines, enforcement of weapon safety rules (e.g., muzzles pointed in safe directions), and monitoring for environmental hazards like heat injury during prolonged drills. Group sessions require clear communication, designated safe zones, and avoidance of live fire until basic proficiency is achieved, ensuring no injuries occur during instruction.^[14]^[11]

Modern military applications

In contemporary U.S. Army doctrine, as outlined in FM 3-21.8 and its successor ATP 3-21.8, individual movement techniques (IMTs) form the foundational level of tactical movement, emphasizing stealth, speed, and security during counterinsurgency operations to minimize detection and enable rapid transitions to fire and maneuver. These techniques, including the high crawl, low crawl, and 3-5 second rush, are adapted for urban and irregular warfare environments, where soldiers use dispersed formations to reduce vulnerability while closing with threats. Night vision devices, such as helmet-mounted goggles and weapon-mounted infrared illuminators, enhance IMT execution in low-visibility conditions, allowing units to maintain surprise and accurate fire support during patrols or assaults. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including small drones, integrate with IMTs by providing real-time surveillance to guide movement routes and identify enemy positions, thereby supporting counterinsurgency efforts against elusive insurgents.^[11]^[21] Among other militaries, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) employ specialized IMT variants for urban close-quarters battle, focusing on rapid rushing techniques to clear structures and minimize exposure in dense environments like those encountered in Gaza operations. These methods prioritize dynamic entry, cover exploitation, and immediate suppressive fire, often executed in small teams to counter threats in confined spaces. In recent IDF tactical adaptations, such rushing integrates with breaching tools and real-time intelligence to facilitate assaults on fortified positions, reducing casualties in high-threat urban settings.^[22]^[23] During the 2010s Afghanistan patrols, U.S. forces applied IMTs, particularly dispersed low crawls and short rushes, to avoid improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by maintaining low profiles and irregular spacing along routes, which contributed to counter-IED tactics that reduced roadside bomb casualties through enhanced route reconnaissance and movement variability. In the ongoing Ukraine war since 2022, both Ukrainian and Russian forces have refined evasive IMTs, such as erratic bounding and low-profile crawls, to counter precision artillery and drone-guided strikes, with special operators training to disperse rapidly under indirect fire for survival in open terrain.^[24]^[25] Emerging trends in military IMT integration include powered exoskeletons, which augment soldier speed and endurance during crawls and rushes by reducing physical strain in prolonged operations, as demonstrated in prototypes that enhance load-bearing while preserving natural movement kinematics. Virtual reality (VR) simulations further advance training by replicating battlefield scenarios for IMT rehearsal, allowing soldiers to practice techniques like evasive maneuvers against simulated artillery without real-world risks, thereby improving proficiency and decision-making under stress.^[26]^[27]

References

[1]
None
Below is a merged summary of the Individual Movement Techniques (IMTs) from TC 3-21.76 Ranger Handbook, consolidating all information from the provided segments into a dense and comprehensive response. To maximize detail and clarity, I’ve organized the key information into a table format, followed by a narrative summary that integrates additional context and purposes. Useful URLs are listed at the end.
[2]
None
Below is a merged summary of Individual Movement Techniques (IMTs) from STP 21-1-SMCT, consolidating all provided segments into a single, comprehensive response. To maximize detail and clarity, I’ve organized the information into sections and used a table in CSV format where appropriate to present detailed data efficiently. The response retains all information from the summaries while ensuring a dense and structured representation.
[3]
[PDF] To Rush or Not to Rush - Fort Benning
The 3-5 second rush has been one of the three individual movement techniques (IMTs) taught to initial entry. Soldiers since World War II.
[4]
FM 21-75 Chptr 3 Movement - GlobalSecurity.org
MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES · Camouflage yourself and your equipment. · Slowly raise your head and pick your next position and the route to it. · Plant both of your feet.Missing: individual phases
[5]
Speculatores - Intelligence Operatives of Ancient Rome - UNRV.com
In addition to their roles as scouts and intelligence gatherers, speculatores also served as bodyguards, couriers, law-enforcers, and sometimes executioners.
[6]
Tactics - Military History, Strategy, Warfare | Britannica
The ambush and the trial of strength. The oldest, most primitive field tactics are those that rely on concealment and surprise—i.e., the ambush and the raid.
[7]
Collections: No Man's Land, Part I: The Trench Stalemate
Sep 17, 2021 · The defensive solution here, of course, are those machine guns which can deploy enough fire to prohibit enemies moving over no man's land: put a ...
[8]
None
Below is a merged summary of individual movement techniques from FM 7-10 (Infantry Rifle Company, Infantry Regiment) based on the provided segments. To retain all information in a dense and organized format, I will use a table in CSV format, followed by a concise narrative summary. The table captures the details (page, description, purpose, and context) for each technique across the segments, while the narrative provides an overarching explanation.
[9]
NATO Review - NATO – ready for anything?
Jan 24, 2019 · One of NATO's greatest strengths during the Cold War era was interoperability: “the ability to act together coherently, effectively and ...
[10]
Jungle warfare - Wikipedia
The jungle has a variety of effects on military operations. Dense vegetation can limit lines of sight and arcs of fire, but can also provide ample opportunity ...World War II · Cold War · Post-Cold War · Jungle units and training schoolsMissing: adaptations | Show results with:adaptations
[11]
https://www.atu.edu/rotc/docs/6_fm3_21x8.pdf
[12]
The City Is Neutral: On Urban Warfare in the 21st Century
Oct 10, 2019 · Urban warfare is not more difficult than other types of warfare. The combat environment is neutral, just like every other environment.
[13]
None
Summary of each segment:
[14]
None
Summary of each segment:
[15]
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/attp/attp3-06-11.pdf
[16]
Experimental Study of Military Crawl as a Special Type of Human ...
Aug 20, 2021 · The results of this study can be useful for further research into features related to the development of military crawl locomotion in groups ...
[17]
[PDF] THE RUSH:
Apr 3, 2016 · movement techniques (IMTs) in the U.S. Army: the high crawl, the low crawl, and the rush.1 These individual movement techniques can be ...
[18]
[PDF] The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad
Mar 28, 2007 · This is Field Manual 3-21.8, titled 'The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad', published on March 28, 2007.
[19]
[PDF] The Warrior Ethos and Soldier Combat Skills - Wikimedia Commons
Jan 28, 2008 · Keep your head up and both eyes open. When engaging targets, hold the weapon with the butt of the weapon firmly against your shoulder and ...
[20]
https://www.elon.edu/assets/docs/rotc/FM%2021-60%20Visual%20Signals.pdf
[21]
[PDF] Warrior Skills Level 1
Aug 10, 2015 · Subject Area 3: Move/ Perform Individual Movement Techniques: 071 ... Select an individual movement route that adheres to the instructions.
[22]
[PDF] Combined Arms Operations in Urban Terrain - GlobalSecurity.org
Jun 10, 2011 · (See FM 3-21.75 for details on individual movement techniques in urban area.) Individual movement techniques include—. ○ Crossing streets ...
[23]
[PDF] FM 90-5 JUNGLE OPERATIONS
MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES. Units moving in the jungle should normally use the jungle movement technique, but may use traveling overwatch and bounding overwatch ...
[24]
[PDF] JUNGLE -' OPERATIONS
Jungle operations involve special combat, including dense woods, night fighting, and river crossings, with limited visibility and restricted movement.
[25]
[PDF] Military Mountaineering - Sports Network International
Aug 26, 2002 · This field manual details techniques soldiers and leaders must know to cope with mountainous terrain. These techniques are the foundation upon ...
[26]
FM 3-97.6 Chptr 4 Maneuver - GlobalSecurity.org
The mountain environment requires the modification of tactics, techniques, and procedures. Mountains limit mobility and the use of large forces.
[27]
None
### Summary of Hand and Arm Signals from FM 21-60 (September 1987)
[28]
[PDF] infantry rifle platoon and squad - Central Army Registry
Jan 11, 2024
[29]
[PDF] Tactical Lessons from Israel Defense Forces Operations in Gaza, 2023
Jul 3, 2024 · The IDF has concluded that specific training is necessary for what it is terming 'devastated terrain warfare'.
[30]
Close-Quarter Combat, IDF Style
The training sessions take soldiers to the extreme. In one session, soldiers have to decide how to respond when rioters block traffic and fire at them from busy ...
[31]
Counter-IED Analysis Case Study - Iraq and Afghanistan - CNA.org.
CNA analysis showed a U.S. military counter-IED (improvised explosive device) tactic was saving soldiers from roadside bombs in Iraq and led to its ...
[32]
Ukraine's special operators used to dodge artillery shells. Now they ...
Jul 30, 2025 · Ukraine's special operators used to focus their training on surviving intense Russian artillery fire. Now, their attention has shifted to drones ...
[33]
Exoskeletons in the context of soldiers: Current status and future ...
These systems have demonstrated their effectiveness at assisting movement, enhancing protection, promoting rehabilitation, and providing comprehensive support ...
[34]
Virtual reality used to train Soldiers in new training simulator - Army.mil
Aug 1, 2012 · This virtual system allows leaders at the squad level to maintain their squad's proficiency of their assigned tasks in a timely and safe manner, ...Missing: techniques | Show results with:techniques