Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course Tracking/ Counter-tracking

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course

Tracking/Counter-tracking


Tracking has been an art form since the time of the caveman. He tracked animals for survival, which evolved into mantracking. It has been used successfully in numerous conflicts such as Vietnam and Rhodesia.The ability to track or to avoid being tracked is no dark magic. It is simply something that must be practiced on a continuous basis.


Terminal Learning Objective

Action: Implement tracking and counter-tracking techniques

Conditions: Given a classroom period of instruction and a practical exercise

Standards: Successfully implement tracking and counter-tracking techniques during the STX and FTX portions of the RSLC course


Safety Requirements: Field portion: All students will carry a minimumof 2 qts of water. Additional 5 gallon cans will be on site. Any injuries will be reported to the RI for immediate treatment.Classroom: In case of fire go out either door and meet at the student barracks.Risk Assessment Level: Classroom (Low) PE (Medium based on

the heat)


Environmental Considerations: Don’t handle snakes or insects. Remain aware of the heat and drink water regularly. Avoid poison ivy and poison oak in the area.


Evaluation

Your evaluation for this class as well as all operational technique classes will come during the FTX portion of the RSLC. Your practical application of tracking and counter-tracking techniques will determine if your patrol is a GO or a NO GO.


Reference Materials

• Tactical Tracking Operations(David Scott-Donelan)

• Tracking: A Blueprint for Learning How(Jack Kearny)

• FM 7-42 Combat Tracker and Tracker Dog Employment


Training Centers

• Charles Worsham (Nature and Vision Tracking School)

(434) 846-1987

• David Scott-Donelan (Tactical Tracking Operations School, Inc.)

(208) 823-4715

• Universal Tracking Services (360) 966-7707


Enabling Learning Objective A

Action: Identify the basic principles of tracking

Conditions: Given a classroom environment and a practical exercise

Standards: Identify the basic principles of tracking to successfully counter-track during the STX and FTX portions of RSLC


Types of Tracking

• Animal tracking

• Man tracking

Methods of Tracking

• Visual – man

• Scent - dog


Terminology

• Tracking - the art of following sign to locate a person or animal

• Sign - any disturbance in the environment that will show that someone/something has been there

• Displacement - any movement of objects by someone/something that has moved through the area


Terminology (cont.)

• Staining - the discoloration of a surface by an item being rubbed or crushed against it. I.E. mud, blood, or foliage

• Track trap - an area that it would be almost impossible to not leave sign. I.E. mud, stream

banks, sand

• Cutting for sign - looking for sign


Terminology (cont.)

• Aging- determining how time and weather have effected a track since it was made to determine the age of the track

• Stride- the length between steps


Tools of the Combat Tracker:

• TA 50 and normal equipment• Tracking stick/weapon• Compass/map• Notebook/pencil• Measuring device• Flashlight• Binoculars• Mirror


Characteristics of a Track

• Length

• Width

• Stride

• Sole pattern- heel or no heel/ 3 most common types of sole pattern in the US Army

• Space between toe and heel (dead space)


Dimensions of a Track

Length

Wid

th

Dead Space

Heel Toe


Stride

(Heel to Heel)

Use of Tracking Stick


Track Trap


Displacement

Anything out of it’s natural environment

• Grass- walked down/early morning dew• Leaves- broken/moved• Rocks- overturned or scuffed• Sticks- broken• Pine needles- moved

Ground Sign (below the knee)


Tracks in Morning Dew


Freshly Broken Stick


Track in Pine Straw


Track up Embankment


Rock Undisturbed


Rock Disturbed


Trail


Top Sign (Above the knee)

• Branches - broken

• Vines - moved

• Bark - scuffed

• Leaves - torn or overturned


Fresh Scuff on Pine Tree


Broken Branches


Other Types of Disturbances

• Rest/trail Impression - rucksacks/weapons

• Flushed birds/animals - crows/monkeys

• Disturbed insects - ants/spiders

• Uniform displacement

• Littering


MRE Trash


Anthill (undisturbed)


Anthill (disturbed)


Staining

• Blood - venous or arterial/wound placement

• Mud - on rocks or coming out of streams

• Foliage - berries/plants


Aging Factors

• Sun

• Wind

• Rain

• Time

• Soil characteristics


Fresh Track

Sharp Edges

Moist Soil


Track Aged 24hrs


Track Aged 48hrs


Track Aged 72hrs


Track Aged 96hrs


NewTrack/4 Day Old Track


Effect of Wind on Track

Wind Filled in Area


Effect of Rain on Track


Fresh Break


Aged Break


Information gained from Tracks

• Direction• Number of personnel• Load (tracks and rest halts)• Age of track - Worm casts

- Disturbed insects/spider webs - Condition of tracks - Mud-dry or wet - Sap - Leaves superimposed - Game print superimposed


Information gained from Tracks(cont.)

• Condition of evaders• Weapons - bipods/tripods• Sex - shoe size/pigeon toed• Training of the evaders

- Deception tactics used- Methods of crossing obstacles- Security employed- Condition of the trail (discipline)


Deception Tactics

• Knowledge of tracking• Frequent direction changes - never cross a road on azimuth - no more than 1000 meters on the same azimuth• Outdistance the tracker• Walking in streams• Fade out• Scatter


Deception Tactics(cont.)

• Splitting up• Dead end/false trail• Fan method• Walking backwards• Brushing tracks• Tip toeing• Rock hopping• Use of cleared areas


Deception Tactics (Cont.)

• Stepping on log/near the bases of trees• Use of shadow/Low light areas• False aging of tracks• Burlap/socks over boots• Use of trails (game or human)• Booby traps• Ambush• Camouflage• Combination of tactics


Splitting Up


Fade Out


False Trail

Open Area


Fan Method


Stepping Backwards

Shallow Toe

Deep Heel & Soil in the Rear


Normal Backwards


Brushed Out Track


Effect of Shadows on Tracks


Tiptoeing

Minimize Sign


Boot Covered with TowelPrint looks aged


Fresh Track


Same Track Falsely Aged


Enabling Learning Objective B

Action: Identify the assets used for man tracking


Standards: Identify the assets used for man tracking to successfully counter-track during the STX and FTX portions of RSLC


Tracker Teams


Tracker Team

Composition: • Lead tracker/ frontal security/ Team Leader/

RTO/rear security (dog handler)

Responsibilities of the tracker team:• Pick up initial sign for a tracker dog• Track personnel to within 300m - 500m of actual location • Keep higher HQ informed of the situation• Take over for a tracker dog if necessary


Methods of Searching

• Personnel

• Retrace

• Extended personnel

• Cross grain


Results of a Successful Track (QRF)


Tracker Dogs


Types of Dogs

• Ground scent (bloodhounds) • Air scent (German shepherds)

• Combination


Dog Characteristics

• Skill - only as good as their handler• Endurance - based on the physical condition

of the dog & handler-If tracks are less than 12 hrs old the dog can usually track for up to

5,000 meters • Vision - poor, B&W, moving vs. static• Hearing - many times better than humans• Aggressiveness - based on breed and training


Scent Picture

• Individual - sweat

• Reinforcing - fabric / bug spray / shoe polish

• Ecological - crushed insects / broken ground


Favorable Tracking Conditions

• Verified starting point• Age of Scent- Less than 12 hrs = 75-90%

12-24 hrs = 51-74% 24-36 hrs = 40-50% 36+ hrs = 00-39%

• Unclean quarry• Fast moving quarry• Night/early morning• Cool/cloudy weather• No wind• Thick vegetation


Unfavorable Tracking Conditions

• Unverified starting point• Heat/sun/wind• Dry• Concrete/tarmac• Water• Snow & ice• Distracting scent

- Blood- Meat- Farmlands- Populated areas


Evading Dogs

• Confuse/tire the handler - tree weaving• Distance/time• Steep/difficult terrain - steep embankments• CS powder• Booby traps• Ambush - kill the handler before the dog• Cover personal scent with pine tar or smoke


Tree Weaving


Stream

Multiple Stream Crossings


Enabling Learning Objective C

Action: Identify the elements of camouflage


Standards: Successfully identify the elements of camouflage to successfully move and construct sites during the STX and FTX portions of the RSLC


Elements of Camouflage

• Color - no bright contrasting colors - soft colors are best (deer, rabbits, etc.)

• Texture - material should have “depth” or a 3D effect

- woven materials are good - an excellent example is the ghillie

suit


Elements of Camouflage(cont.)

• Shape - vertical patterns are better than horizontal ones

- shapes should have soft edges versus sharp edges

- passive or moving will effect the type of camouflage

- avoid “leafy/tree bark” patterns - best patterns are small non concentric patterns (cats) - distinct outline must be broken up


Shading Patterns

Texture


ColorShape

Shape & Color


Horizontal Line

Vertical Line

Effect of Lines


Materials for Camouflaging Clothing

• Burlap - soft colors / depth of material / soft edges• Any woven material - soft edges / depth• Parachute material - dye to remove shine• Any plain soft color that is spray painted

-always start with light colors - you can always go darker

• Don’t wash clothes used for camouflage in detergent - it creates a shiny effect- use something like Sport Wash


Materials for Camouflaging Sites

• Yetti nets - with material woven in to break up outline (burlap)

• Natural vegetation - watch for wilting in the sun - ensure leaves are facing the correct

direction

• Ponchos - must be covered because of the shine when wet


US BDU 15m


US BDU 40m


Swiss Alpenflage 15m






German Fleck 15m


German Fleck 40m


German Fleck 80m


Russian Smock 15m


Russian Smock 40m


Russian Sniper Suit 15m






Swedish Smock 15m


Swedish Smock 40m


Swedish Smock 100m


No foliage added Foliage added


In front of Yetti net


Standing behind Yetti net


Kneeling behind Yetti net


Use of NVGs

• Never use the IR on NVGs- it works both ways - I.E. Other NVGs and PSO scopes

• At least part of a moving element should be wearing NVGs throughout movement

• Always assume the enemy has capabilities equivalent or better than yours


Summary

Documents

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course Tracking/ Counter-tracking