Individual Field Craft (IFC) Flashcards
How should you read a map?
Eastings - Vertical lines that increases from left to right
Northings - horizontal lines that increases from bottom to top
Read Eastings then Northings
What does GIRLRO stand for?
Group - address your own platoon
Indication - where the enemies are
Range - approximate distance of the enemies
Location -the landmark the enemies standing near
Rate - how fast your platoon should fire their guns
Order - command your platoon to open fire
What does group mean for the GIRLRO signal?
Group - to address your platoon
What does indication mean for the GIRLRO signal?
Indication - direction of enemy
What does range mean for the GIRLRO signal?
Range - distance between you and enemy
What does landmark mean for the GIRLRO signal?
Landmark - an object to pinpoint location of enemy
What are the types of rate of fire mean for the GIRLRO signal? What does each of the rate of fire mean?
Rate of fire - pew pew or ratata (single, burst or rapid)
📏 Distance Guide for Rates of Fire:
Rate of Fire Typical Distance Why?
Single Fire More than 100 meters You need accuracy to hit small or distant targets.
Burst Fire 30 to 100 meters You want some speed but still maintain control to hit enemies effectively at mid-range.
Rapid Fire Less than 30 meters It’s about overwhelming firepower when the enemy is very close. Accuracy matters less; volume matters more.
What does order mean for the GIRLRO signal?
Order - signal to fire
What if the location of the enemy is unknown?
In this case, Field Signals would be necessary to conceal your own location.
Field Signals are to be given with the left arm.
There are 8 different key field signals:
- Friendly ahead
- Enemy ahead
- Halt
- Take cover
- Double up
- Gather
- Advance
- Ambush
How should you measure distances?
First, stretch out your left hand with your thumb facing upwards. (Stretch out your left hand with your thumb pointing upwards.)
Then, using the length of the fingernail on your thumb, estimate how far the enemy is from you.
If the enemy is about the length of the fingernail, you are 100m away.
If the enemy is about half the length, you are 200m away.
If the enemy is about a quarter the length, you are 300m away.
What are the factors affecting measuring distance?
-Visibility - fog, rain, your eyes
-Sun position - the sun is a deadly laser
-Elevation - just use pythagoras theorem
-Target size
-colours and contrast
-effects of terrain
-water bodies
How should we avoid being detected by the enemy?
- Use field signals instead of talking to platoon mates.
- Spend at most 4 seconds moving from cover to cover.
- Give the GIRLRO command quietly but quick
What should we do if the enemy is within a few metres close?
You do not want to immediately shoot without alerting your platoon of the target.
Therefore, we use contact drills.
How should we use contact drills?
You shout out “Contact [Direction]”
Cardinal Directions:
Left, right, front and back
Alternatively,
clock directions:
1 o’clock, 8 o’clock, 5 o’clock etc
Why do we use GIRLRO?
In gives your squad a clear idea and understanding of:
- Who the enemies are
- Where the enemies are
- Distance and range between the enemies and yourselves
- The rate of fire
e.g. platoon, 3 o’clock, 100 metres, next to the clock tower, rapid, FIRE
What are contact drills?
- Quicker orders for close range combat
- fast and precise
What are the clock directions for contact drills?
contact front –> 12 o’clock
contact right –> 3 o’clock
contact 4’o clock
contact rear –> 6 o’clock
contact left –> 9 o’clock
contact 10 o’clock
What is normal alert?
Normal alert: used when you do not know where the enemy is. Movement when adopting the normal alert is faster but cautious.
What is high alert?
High alert: used when the enemy is close and contact will occur anytime soon. The rifle is held in the high alert state with the butt at the shoulder. This is for quick aiming and firing. Movement when adopting the high alert is slow and cautious.
What is the function of low crawl/ leopard crawl? How should you perform it?
Function: used when the route- selected provides cover and concealment that is very low. Visibility provides the enemy good observation. Speed is not required.
How to perform: keep your body as flat as possible to the ground. Hold your rifle with your right hand. Make sure that the nuzzle is off the ground and facing forward. Make sure the right side of the weapon does not touch the ground (why?)
What is the function of high crawl/ baby crawl? How should you perform it?
Function: used when the route selected provides cover and concealment up to waist level height. Poor visibility reduces enemy observation. Speed is required.
How to perform: the rifle is held by right hand with the barrel pointing in front. make sure that the muzzle is off the ground. Movement is by moving the right and left knee and vice versa. Always observe the enemy’s direction when moving. Make sure that the side touching the ground is the left side.
What are field signals?
- they are hand signals that are used on the battlefield to minimise all noise created.
- they allow us to communicate with each other efficiently without alerting the enemies
think: why can’s we speak or use verbal communication devices during urban battle situations?
