The Problem

General Situation:

The (a) forms the boundary between hostile states. A Blue brigade is marching towards (b). Small Red forces are reported in the direction of (c).

Special Situation—Blue:

A (d) flank guard, consisting of the (e) battalion (f) infantry, halts for the night at (g).

At (h) (date) Company A, which has been designated to form the advance guard, is assembled at (i).

Based on the orders of the battalion commander, Captain A, commanding, issues the following verbal orders to his assembled officers and non-commissioned officers:

“Small Red forces are reported in the direction of (c). Our brigade marches towards (b) today by the (j)—(k)—(l) road. Our battalion continues its mission as a (d) flank guard. Our main body follows the advance guard at a distance of about 500 yards.

“This company forms the advance guard.

“Lieutenant W, with the first platoon, will form the advance party. March at (m) o’clock by the (n)—(o) road.

“The rest of the company will form the support and follow the advance party at a distance of about 400 yards.

“Corporal White (signalman) watch for signals from the main body.

“The rolling kitchen will join the battalion train.

“I will march with the support.”

(Note.—Company A is organized in accordance with Table of Organization 28-W. See Appendix 1.)

Explanation of Symbols

(a) In designating the boundary line, some natural topographical or geographical feature should be selected, such as a river, creek, canal, crest of ridges, etc. In this problem the boundary may be a number of miles from the point where the problem starts and in the direction in which the march is to be made.

(b) A point a march away in the direction of the enemy.

(d) Indicate whether the battalion is a right or left flank guard. For example: The Blue brigade is marching north on a certain road. The battalion is marching north on a road to the west of that on which the brigade is marching—the battalion would be a left flank guard.

(e) Designate as one of the battalions of the regiment to which the officers participating belong or are attached.

(f) See next above. Example “A left flank guard, consisting of the 1st Battalion, 305th Infantry.”

(g) A point in the vicinity of where the terrain exercise is to start.

(h) Indicate the hour. Make it about 20 minutes before the time designated for the advance guard to start the march.

(j) The point where the terrain exercise is to begin.

(j)—(k)—(l) A road is designated in field orders by naming two or more places located on it. Example: “The FOUR POINT—EMMITSBURG—FAIRPLAY road.” In this case indicate in definite terms the road that the main body of the brigade is to march on.

(m) Designate the hour of marching of the advance guard.

(n)—(o) See remarks pertaining to the symbol (j)—(k)—(l).