Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT)

FM/G107 - Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT)

Guide

FM/BG-535 - Sectors in MOUT

Guide

As always when in an infantry role covering your sector is key in MOUT, if anything it is more important. When watching your sectors there are particular MOUT specific considerations:

MOUT environments have a vertical element, ensure that you are watching windows as well as ground level
Think carefully about your stance, communicating with your team to provide maximum security

Above: Two infantry cover a sector high/low with appropriate stances

Skill

FM/BS-587 - Watch your sector in MOUT street maneuvers

Skill

When moving in a fireteam column during MOUT, maintain continuous coverage by assigning sectors based on position:

Front: Covers the direction of movement while remaining aware of threats to the sides
Rear: Covers behind the team while remaining aware of threats to the sides
All others: Cover both the near side and far side of the road, watching doorways, windows, alleys, and higher floors where possible. Communication is key to ensuring all sectors are covered.

As the team moves:

Check openings as they are passed
Observe multiple building levels where possible
Engage any threats when identified

Maintain observation of the assigned sector at all times while moving.

Above: A 4-man and 5-man examples of formation when moving down a street

Skill

FM/BS-539 - Cross a danger area as a team

Skill

Cross the danger area using controlled movement and mutual cover:

When approaching a danger area, the leader alerts the team by saying ‘Danger Area’
The first two members hold on the near side, covering left and right across the danger area
The next two cross, move quickly to the far side, and take up left and right coverage
If more personnel remain, they cross next and cover the direction of travel
Once the main body is across, the original two members cross last
After crossing, they resume the direction of travel, restoring the original formation
The rest of the team re-joins the formation and continues movement

Above: A team leader rushes across a danger area as his team provides cover

Guide

FM/BG-588 - High and low stacking

Guide

When covering corners, if one player kneels while another stands behind them, two pairs of eyes and two rifles can cover the same area, increasing effectiveness. This is commonly known as a "high/low stack" and can be employed naturally whenever the situation allows. Note that the kneeling player must not stand unless he has cleared it with the standing player - else he's likely to stand up into a bullet.

Above: 2 players using High/Low stacking to maximize fire around a corner

Guide

FM/BG-681 - MOUT as a Squad

Guide

A Fireteam is never alone during MOUT, a common situation will be a squad of two teams working in the same area towards a set goal.

Contrary to a Squad Staggered Column, the teams would each have a designated flank, and they are to advance together through the obstacles. It is important to have the same pacing between the two teams. This may come in the form of short halts to let the other team catch up safely, or coordinating the crossing of danger areas to sync sector coverage. Maintaining pacing also allows for street side sector to cover and alert the other element of danger on their side (contact on higher floors or behind corners)