Scouts in Contact: Tactical Vignettes for Cavalry Leaders

Someone must go forward and make contact with the enemy. This complex task falls to the cavalry squadrons of the brigade combat team. They will do this task when enablers are not in position to support. They will do iton short notice. Invariably, they will do it in the dead of night on the most difficult terrain. At the cutting edge of these squadrons are the scout sections and platoons that do the work of gaining and maintaining contact with the enemy. The Cobra Team has provided this tactical decision exercise TDE handbook as a tool to train cavalry leaders to think through these tactical problems and communicate clear, correct, and executable orders.This handbook is designed to help squadron commanders facilitate repetitive, imaginative, and effective training. If employed as intended, it will enable commanders to train, assess, and certify scout platoon leaders, platoon sergeants, and senior scouts. This handbook can also help commanders teach and assess comprehension of those core fundamentals that must be mastered by all scout leaders and cavalry officers. These core fundamentals are intended to be executed in a classroom environment on a table top. Maps and placards are included in this handbook to facilitate this type of training venue. As platoons gain confidence, these exercises can be easily applied to sand tables or terrain models to increase the size and scope of the training audience.