MARCHES, BIVOUACS

AND LAND NAVIGATION

INSTRUCTORS PROFILE

NAME: Sgt Richard E Maigue 866761 (Cav) PA

ASSIGNMENT: 501CDC, 5RCDG, ARESCOM, Brgy Bagasbas, Daet, Cam Norte
MILITARY SCHOOLING:
- Basic ROTC - CNSC
- Candidate Soldier Course ctw Jungle Warfare and Mountain
Operation Course - 9DTU, 9ID, PA
- Instructor Development Training – ATC, ARESCOM
- Drill Master Training - ATC, ARESCOM
- ROTC Administration Training - ATC, ARESCOM
- Armor NCO Basic Course – TAS, MID, TRADOC, PA
REFERENCES
*Supplemental Publications 8 – 031
(Combat skills of Individual Soldier)
OBJECTIVE

At the end of the lesson, the students will

able to execute and demonstrate Marches
and Bivouacs and Land Navigation
 Marches, Bivouacs and Land Navigation
 Classification of Ground Troop Movement
 Foot Marches
 March Hygiene
 The Advance Group
 The Initial Point
 The Regulating Point
 Inspection Before March
 March Formation and Distance
 Security Measures
 Marches
 March Distance/Factors
 March Formula/Computation
 Bivouacs
 Organization for the March
MARCHES, BIVOUACS AND LAND
NAVIGATION
As far as the Armed Forces of the Philippines, especially the
Army is concerned, this subject is a must in order to guide
the commanders and staff in the conduct of marches,
particularly the procedure and techniques of foot marches,
and maintenance of bivouac.
MARCHES, BIVOUACS AND LAND
NAVIGATION
This subject describes the march mission, wherein the troops
arrive at their destination on time and in proper condition for
carrying out their mission this portion emphasize troop mobility,
an important element of combat power which provides for the
efficient movement of troops from one location to another for
tactical advantages. With the advent of mechanization, troop
movements in our Armed Forces may be done by land, water and
air transport or by combination of these means. However, these
mechanical means of movement may not always be available,
particularly in the field where the troops must have the capability
to march reasonable results in combat.
MARCHES, BIVOUACS AND LAND
NAVIGATION
Moving troops, however, is not enough. The men must arrive at
the appointed place at the appointed time with the unit well
organized likewise, the individual soldier with this weapons and
equipment should have remained in good condition. In brief, troop
should reach their march destination ready to fight to perform
their assigned mission immediately.
CLASSIFICATION OF GROUND
TROOP MOVEMENT
All movements of ground forces may be classified into two (2)
types: the administrative movement and tactical movement.
1. The Administrative Movement
 It is the troop movement wherein no enemy activity or
interference is anticipated. The primary consideration in the
conduct of this type of movement and in the arrangement of
troops is the comfort and convenience of the personnel and
their transit.
2. The Tactical Movement
 A movement is a tactical movement when the unit will be
employed against to enemy, when making contact or when
interference with the enemy is a possibility the mission of the
unit, the proximity of hostile ground forces, the terrain over
which the unit will travel, the type of enemy resistance
expected must all be considered in determining the
organization and composition if the unit for tactical movement.
FOOT MARCHES
Foot marches as a method of moving ground troops is
resorted when sufficient transportation is not available and
when the distance to be covered is relatively short troops
may also move by foot when tactical situation on the terrain
prohibited the use of motor transport or when it is desired to
march by foot for training or physical conditioning.
1. Preparatory Training for Foot Marches
 Proper training in the conduct of foot marches involve the
indoctrination of marine officers and NCOs of their roles and
responsibilities before and during march.
2. Physical Condition
 The conditioning provinces for foot marches must be systematic
and progressive. Initially, troops must be made to march on
short distances without equipment followed by frequent
practice marches increasing in length and in the amount of
equipment carried until troops are able to march 25 miles in 8
hours with full field equipment and personal weapons
calisthenics, organized athletics and periods of lectures on the
subject may also be included in the conditioning process to
provide physical and mental relaxation.
MARCH HYGIENE
In the conduct of practice marches attention must be given
to the case of the feet, proper fitting and wearing of shoes
and socks, proper fitting and cleanliness of clothing and
adjustment of equipment must be taught to drink water
before the start of the march and to take in only sparingly
during the duration of the hike. Likewise, they must also be
taught to get water only from approved sources.
1. Conduct of Marches
 Following are the control measures used to ensure proper
conduct of foot marches.
2. The Warning Order
 When possible, a warning order is issued to give participating
units advance information regarding the march. A warning
order is issued to the companies and attached units as soon as
the decision to move the troops is made. This 30 yds be
platoons, 50 yds between alert gives the troops the maximum
time to prepare. The warning order is usually brief, but
contains the essential information who, what, when, where,
how and why.
THE ADVANCE GROUP
An advance group is usually dispatched ahead of the
body troop to perform specific task. This group is
usually composed of the route reconnaissance party
and the quartering party.
1. The Route Reconnaissance Party
 This group is tasked to make a detailed reconnaissance of the route
of march. It may include the reconnaissance elements, a traffic
control representatives. The reconnaissance party obtained detailed
information of route, determines the number of guards required and
determines the amount of engineering work necessary.

2. The Quartering Party

 This group is sent forward the exact bivouac area and to make
administrative arrangements. The quartering party is usually
composed of headquarters commandant or unit adjutant, an officer
from each attached units and a medical officer its primary task is to
select the bivouac site, divide the area among the subordinate
units, make sanitary inspections and preparations and guide each
unit to its area upon arrival.
THE INITIAL POINT
It is the starting point of the march. The initial
point is designated to be along the route of march
so that no elements of the marching will have the
countermarch from its unit area to reach it.
THE REGULATING POINT (RP)
It is the point at the end of the march where the
element of the marching unit are broken up and led
to their respective are within the bivouac by the
members of the quartering party.
INSPECTION BEFORE MARCH
As part for the preparation for the march, an
inspection of the troops must be conducted to check
their physical condition and to adjust improperly
harness equipment.
MARCH FORMATION AND
DISTANCE
1. The usual march formation is a column of twos with one file on
each side of the road.
2. The daytime distance is about companies and 100 yds between
battalions.
3. Company commanders usually march at the held of their units
with platoon commanders and non-commissioned officers
situated where they can best enforce march discipline to their
men.
4. At night, distance between men and units are decreased for
better control.
SECURITY MEASURES
It embraces all measures taken a unit to protect itself
against surprise and observation by the enemy and to obtain
freedom of action where there is a need for maneuver. Thus,
security wins to prevent attempts by the enemy to harass,
surprise, ambush, or reconnoiter, the positions of elements
of the marching units. Security as a continuous requirement
of a successful foot march and in the conduct of bivouacs.
Individual security consists mostly of common sense. Its
principles include the proper use of cover, concealment and
individual camouflage.
1. Advance Guard
 These are the troops who move in advance of the marching unit
and provide security along the axis of movement of columns.
Their main mission is to prevent unnecessary delay of the main
body, to protect of against surprise and enemy observation and
to ensure for it the time and space necessary for its
deployment for actions. The advance guards should be not
stronger than necessary for the purpose of security. Its
formation is such as to assure its non-security and provide
sufficient distribution in depth and width for its maneuvers
from front to rear, the advance guard is divided into a highly
mobile reconnaissance detachment, the point the advance
party, the support and the reserve may be omitted there must
always be an efficient communication net between the advance
guards (as when as the flank and mean guards) the main body.
2. Flank Guards
 If the flanks of a unit are not protected by friendly
adjacent units, security on the flanks is provided by
detailing flank guard. The primary mission of the flank
guard is to protect the main body from enemy observation
and surprise attacks on its flanks. In the advent of attack,
to provide the necessary time and space for the
deployment of the main body. The strength and
composition of the flank guards will vary with the
strength, mobility and mission of the marching unit. It
must not be stronger than necessary. The formation it
adopts depends on the terrain, the routes available, the
expected enemy action and the method of movements.
3. Rear Guard
In addition to the advance and flank guards, a rear guard
follows the main body. Its mission is to protect the rear of
the columns from surprise harassment, attacks and
observation of the enemy.
Strength and composition if your guards have the same
characteristics with that of the advance guards.
MARCHES
Foot March
 a method of moving troops from one place to another. It is
resorted to when transportation is not available, and when
the distance to be covered is relatively short.

Classification of Foot March

1. Tactical March
2. Admin March
Types of Foot Marches
1. Day march
2. Night march
3. Forced march
4. Shuttle march

Day March is characterized by:

1. Dispersed formation
2. Ease of control and recon
3. Increase vulnerability to enemy observation and air attack
Night March is characterized by:
1. Closed formation
2. More difficult to control and recon
3. Slower rate of march
4. Better concealment from enemy observation and air attack

Forced March is characterized by:

1. Increase rate of march
2. Increase fatigue to personnel
3. Decreases the efficiency of unit

Shuttle March is characterized by:

Transporting of troops, equipment and supplies.
Arrival Time -the time the head of a column or elements
reaches a designated point, lines or object.
Clearance Time the time at which the tail of a column or
-
elements thereof, passes a designated point line or object.
Column - formation in which elements are place one directly
behind the other.
Length of Column - the length of roadway occupied by a column
in movement including the gaps inside the column from the front
to rear.
Completion Time - the time the tail of column passes the
release point.
Critical Point - any point along a route of march where
interference with a troop movement may occur.
Distance - the space between adjacent individuals measured in any
direction.
Column Gap - the space between two consecutive elements
proceeding in the same direction on the same route. It can be
calculated in units of lengths or in units of time measured from the
rear on one element to the front of the following element.
March Collecting Post location on the route of march in
-
casualties who cannot continue to march are given medical treatment
and then moved to medical stations in the rear.
March Outpost observation posts and patrol established for the
-
protection of a command or troops during halt in the march.
March Unit - units which moves and halts at the orders of a single
commander. The march unit normally correspond to one smaller
troops, unit such as squad section, platoon, company or battery.
Pace Setter -an individual selected by the column commander
who travels in the lead element to regulate the column speed and
established the pace necessary to meet the required movement
order.
Rate of March - the average number of miles or kilometers to
be traveled in a given period of time, including all ordered halts.
It is expressed in miles or kilometers traveled each hour.
Release Point a well defines point on a route at which the
-
element composing a column return under the authority of their
respective commanders each of these elements continuing its
movement towards its own appropriate destination
Road Movement Graph a time space diagram used in
-
planning and controlling both foot and motor marches and in
preparing or checking road movement, tables.
Road Movement Table a composite list showing the
-
organization and time and space scheduled for march movement.
It is generally published as an annex to an operation order for road
movement.
Road Space - the length of roadway allocated to and or
actually occupied by a column on route. Road space is expressed
in meters or in kilometers.
Route Reconnaissance a careful survey of route for
-
military purposes. The recon may be accomplished by ground or
serial elements.
Serial - an element or a group of elements within a series.
Speed -the actual rate of the forward movement of a vehicle at
a given movement as shown in the speedometer (in km/hr (KMPH)
or miles per hour (MPH).
Start Point a well defines point on a route at which the
-
elements composing a column begin to be under the control of
the commander of this movement. It is at this point, at an
appointed time of each element composing the column. In
addition to the principal start points for its different elements.
Strip Map -sketch a route of march which may or not be
drawn to scale but which should include identifying landmarks
such as town, bridges, outstanding building or cross roads.
Time Distance - the time it takes the head of a column or
any single element thereof to move from one point to another
at a given rate of march.
MARCH DISTANCE/FACTORS
MARCH FORMULA/COMPUTATION
BIVOUACS
are established at the end of the march to allow the
elements of the marching units to rest. It is
established along the route of long march.
Guidelines in the Selection or
Occupation of the Bivouac Area
1. Nearness to the route of march.
2. Good road nets.
3. Large enough to permit dispersion of entire unit.
4. Adequate cover and concealment.
5. Elevated of well drained silts.
6. Sandy loam or gravel soil, favorable to waste disposal.
7. Defensible in case of enemy attack.
Occupation of Bivouac Area
1. Members of the quartering party will meet the element of
the marching unit at the regulating point and lead to their
respective assigned areas. This prevents confusion and
congestion at the entrance of the Bivouac area.
2. Troops when they reach their assigned areas will select a
site for fixing tent. They will link-up their defensive position
to that of the adjacent position.
Factors in Selecting Tent Sites
1. Adequate cover and concealment
2. Wide dispersion
3. Drainage
Undesirable Sites for Bivouac
1. Dry river or stream bed
2. Ravines
3. Adjacent to swampy ground
4. Steep slopes
5. Clay or dusty soil
6. Does not allow for adequate dispersion of units
ORGANIZATION FOR THE MARCH
A command executing a march is basically organized into
march serial or on march column:
1. March Unit
 is a unit of command which moves and halts at the
command of a single commander. The march unit normally
corresponds to one of the smaller troop units such as
squad, section, platoon or company
2. March Serial
 consist of one or more march units organized under
the senior officer and given specific alphabetical
designation to facilitate control. The march unit of
the serial normally passes the same march
characteristics. A serial is usually a Battalion or is
mar
3. Marching alone.
4. March Column
 is composed of a command moving over the same
route. It may be composed of one or more serials.
SUMMARY
 Marches, Bivouacs and Land Navigation
 Classification of Ground Troop Movement
 Foot Marches
 March Hygiene
 The Advance Group
 The Initial Point
 The Regulating Point
 Inspection Before March
 March Formation and Distance
 Security Measures
 Marches
 March Distance/Factors
 March Formula/Computation
 Bivouacs
 Organization for the March
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU
AND
GOOD DAY