reconnaissance and surveillance leader course cache

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course

CACHE


CACHE

As a member of a RS team you may find the need to rely on cache items for survival and continuation of the mission. Without the needed resupply, RS teams effectiveness may be seriously hampered, if not totally crippled.


Terminal Learning ObjectiveAction – Understand and be able to conduct cache operations.

Conditions – Given a block of instruction detailing the needs and operational aspects of caching equipment for RS Leaders

Standards – Be able to conduct caching operation, to include recovery, during the STX/FTX.


•Safety requirements - Classroom- in case of fire or emergency, exit the building using one of the two doors and link up at the student barracks. PE – each student will have four quarts of water and 5 gallon water cans will be available. Do not touch any animals or insects. Inform RI in case of bite or injury

•Risk Assessment Level - Low

•Environmental Considerations - None


While attending this course you will be required to emplace, recover, and report a cache.

Understanding the methods of emplacement, recovery, and reporting of a cache will greatly enhance your combat effectiveness.

Evaluation


Enabling Learning Objective AAction – Understand operational aspects of a cache

Conditions – Given a block of instruction detailing the needs and operational aspects of caching equipment for RS Leaders

Standards – Be able to use and pass on information to subordinates on cache operations


• Caching is the process of hiding equipment or materials in a secure storage place with the view of future recovery for operational use.

DEFINITION


OPERATIONAL USES

• Cached supplies can meet emergency needs where personnel may be barred from their normal supply sources by sudden developments in the friendly or enemy situation.

• For example, ammunition, medical supplies,etc..


OPERATIONAL USES

• Caching can help solve the supply problems of extended operations conducted behind enemy lines or in areas which deny common methods of re-supply.

• LRS operations, SOF, etc..


OPERATIONAL USES

• Use of caching is to provide for anticipated needs of wartime operations in areas likely to be overrun by the enemy

• Roll over positions, Bosnia, Korea, etc..


CACHE

• Caching involves the following steps:

Selection of material

Procurement of material

Selection of the site


Selection of Material

• Requires a precise estimate of what will be needed by particular units and particular operations


Procurement

• Items selected for cache must be obtainable at times of need.


Selection of the Site

• There are many important factors to consider when selecting a primary and alternate cache site.

• Selection of the site entails careful consideration of two factors:

1. Initial considerations2. Relative evaluation of caching methods


Initial Considerations

• Purpose and contents of cache• Anticipated enemy actions• Activities of local population• Intended action by allied forces• Packaging and transportation assets• Personnel assets


Relative Evaluation of Caching Methods

Choice of caching method to be used depends on the particular situation. Therefore, there are no general rules except for one: Always think in terms of suitability


• Using the most advantageous method for each cache considering its specific purpose. The actual situation in the particular locality, and the changes that may occur if the enemy gains control.

SUITABILITY


Tree methods of Cache

• Concealment

• Burial

• Submersion


Concealment

• Requires permanent man-made or natural features of the area to hide or disguise.

• It has several advantages. Both emplacement and recovery usually can be accomplished with minimum time and labor, therefore, a cache that requires less elaborate packaging will follow.


Burial

• In contrast to concealment

• Burial in the ground is a laborious and time consuming

• Once in place, a properly buried cache is generally secure.

• Certain difficulties are related to the burial cache.


Burial Difficulties

• Packaging

• Time To Recover Cache

• Locating Buried Cache


Submersion

• Container must meet such high technical standards for waterproofing and resistance to external pressure that the use of field expedient items is seldom workable.

• Some considerations for submersion are depth of the water, the type of bottom, the currents, and other facts that are difficult to obtain.


Enabling Learning Objective BAction – Conduct packaging for a cache

Conditions – Given a block of instruction on packaging techniques and a practical exercise

Standards – Be able to gather and pack equipment properly for a cache


• Must choose items that are essential to continuing the mission. The area of operation, weight, and bulk of items must be considered, so that the team is not overloaded or lacking in critical supplies.

Designate Cache Items


Supply

• Radios and accessories• Replacement parts for radios• Food• Water and containers• Purification tablets• Ammunition• Weapon parts• Binos• Spotter scopes


• Batteries• First aid/Medical items• Clothing• Survival kit• Maps of the area• 550 cord• 100mph tape• Tools that aid in Hide/Surv construction


Rig Equipment and Supplies for Cache


• Process is tailored to fit the specific requirements of each cache

• Methods of packaging- size, shape, weight

• Adverse storage conditions- moisture, extreme pressure, freezing temperature, bacteria/corrosive chemicals in the soil, water, animals, insects

• How long is the cache is intended to be usable (long as the normal shelf life)

Determining factors


Steps in the Packaging Operation

• Inspection: cleanliness & serviceability• Cleaning: thorough & wear gloves• Drying: cloth, heating, & desiccant• Coating: with a preservative oil or paint• Wrapping: tight, waterproof, & separate• Packing: no moisture or air pockets,

include instructions, check seal, and conduct submersion test


• Must be moisture proof, sealed , pliable enough to fit closely with tight folds, and tough enough to resist tearing and puncturing.

• Aluminum foil• Moisture-resistant papers• Wax

• Zip Block Bag

Wrapping Materials


• Watertight and airtight after sealing• Noiseless when being handled• Resistant to shock and abrasion• Able to withstand crushing pressures• Lightweight construction• Able to withstand rodents, insects, and

bacteria• Sealing device that can be closed and re-

opened easily and repeatedly• Can withstand highly acidic/alkaline soil/ water

Criteria for Container


• Stainless steel containers

• Instrument containers

• Ammunition boxes

• Steel drums

• Glass jars

• Paint cans

Types of Containers


Enabling Learning Objective C

Action – Determine cache sites

Conditions – Given a block of instruction on site selection and a practical exercise

Standards – Be able to properly determine a cache site


Personal Reconnaissance

• A map recon normally yields the location of several promising sites.

• In order to select and pinpoint the best site, it is essential for a well qualified observer to examine each site first hand.


Accessibility

• Selecting a cache site, one should always keep in mind that the site must be accessible not only for emplacement, but also for recovery.

• There are three questions that will be answered before emplacement.


• Can the site be located by simple instructions, clear to someone who has never visited the location?

• Are there at least two secure routes to the site?

• Can the cache be emplaced and recovered at all seasons of the year?


The Alternate Site

• It is advisable to select an alternate site in case sudden difficulties should prevent use of the best site.


• The sites for concealed caches are similar to drop sites.

• A promising site may be equally attractive to a native of an occupied country as the place to hide his valuables.

Concealment


• natural caves • behind walls, loose bricks, plaster• abandoned buildings• infrequently used structures• memorial and public buildings(churches,

museums)• ruins of historical interest• culverts• sewers

Concealment


• The site must be equally accessible to the emplacer and the recovery individual.

• The site must remain accessible as long as the cache may be needed.

Some Criteria for aConcealment Site


• There are special factors that should be considered along with the basic considerations of suitability and accessibility

Burial


• Drainage – elevation, type of soil

• Ground cover – types of vegetation, roots and terrain

• Natural Concealment – seasonal and climate variations

• Type of soil – sand vs. clay

Burial


• Snowfall and freezing – how much, depth, time frame

• Rocks and Subsurface obstructions – probe with rod or stake

Burial


• To be suitable for a submerged cache, a body of water must have certain characteristics that can be determined only by a thorough survey of the site.

• In tropical areas the course of streams or rivers is frequently changed by the seasonal rainfall and can cause many problems.

Submersion


Reference Points For Locating The Site


• General Area

• Immediate Reference Point (IRP)

• Final Reference Point (FRP)

Reference Point


General Area

• Recognizable place- from the country / state / province down to the nearest town / village

• Example- Georgia, Ft. Benning, Camp Rogers


Immediate Reference Point

• Identifiable landmark by title or simple description

• Example- Intersection of Hourglass rd and Jamestown rd, 8 digit will also help to specify. GL 03808089


Final Reference Point

• Definitely identifiable with a least one precise point

• Object must be fixed

• Near enough to the cache to pinpoint using precise measurements

• FRP should be related to the IRP by a simple route description (from IRP to FRP)


Pinpointing Techniques

• It is essential that the recovery instructions identify the exact location.

• Placing directly beside the FRP• Sighting by projection• Placing at the intersection of measured

lines• Sighting by compass azimuth from FRP to

cache


• Sighting by compass azimuth can be combined with placing at the intersection of measured lines when only one FRP is available but a multiple cache is required. Whenever possible, it is preferable to use several FRP’s for pinpointing a multiple cache.


• All measured distances should be expressed in a linear system. Whole numbers (6m, not 6.3m or 6 1/2m) should be used in order to keep recovery instructions as brief as possible.


Marking the Point of Emplacement

• The emplacement operation can be simplified, and critical time can be saved, if the point where the cache is to be buried is marked during the reconnaissance.


• If a night burial is planned it may be necessary to mark the point of emplacement during a daylight recon. This procedure should be used whenever operational conditions permit.


• The marker must be an object that is easily recognized. A small rock or branch with the butt placed at the point selected for the emplacement is a technique.


Enabling Learning Objective DAction – Emplace a cache

Conditions – Given a block of instruction on emplacement techniques, considerations, and a practical exercise

Standards – Be able to establish team SOP for cache emplacement and conduct cache emplacement IAW classroom instruction


Emplacement Operations

• Burial

• Submersion

• Concealment


Burial Procedure

• Horizontal and Vertical Caches

• Dimensions of the hole

• Shoring


Equipment

• Measuring instruments- wire, metal tape, compass, 550 cord, paper and pencil for recording measurements


• A probe rod for locating rocks large roots, or other obstacles in the subsoil.

• Ground sheets to place sod and loose

soil.

• Sacks, Pick axe, Hatchet, Crowbar,

Flashlight.


The Operational Schedule

• First, a careful burial job probably will take longer than most novices will expect. Therefore, if circumstances require a tight schedule, it may be advisable to make a “dry run” or test exercise before taking the

package to the site.


• Second, unless the site is exceptionally well concealed or isolated, night burial probably will be necessary to avoid detection.


• Third, the schedule should permit waiting for advantageous weather conditions. A moonless night or heavy overcast would be most desirable.


• Approaching the Site. Must be undetected.

• Security Measures at the Site.– Minimum of one man on security at all times.– Noise and light discipline– Alert and Evac plans


Digging and Refilling the Site

• Mark the exact spot• Mark the length and width of the hole• Probe the whole area to be dug out• Place poncho next to site• Remove sod, cut in rectangles• Dig, keep topsoil separate from subsoil


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• Check the dimensions of the hole

• Place package in the hole

• Refill the hole

• Replace sod, restore to normal appearance


Camouflage of the Cache Site

• Subsoil and dead vegetation removal• Accountability of equipment• Check with security positions• Check the immediate area• Begin counter tracking measures


• Dispose of any excess soil far enough away from the site to avoid attracting attention to the site. Flushing into a stream is the ideal solution.


Recovery


• Practical exercises• Equipment• Sketch of the Site• Probing• Digging and refilling the hole• Sterilizing the site


The Cache Report


• The final, indispensable step in every emplacement operation is the preparation of a cache report that records the essential data for recovery.

Purpose


• The most important parts of the cache report are the instructions for finding and recovering the cache. It should also include any other information that will facilitate planning the recovery operation.

Content


• Since the recovery data is essentially the same as the information required for planning the emplacement operation, as much data as possible should be gathered during the personal reconnaissance for selecting the site.

Procedure


• First, the final cache report should be completed as soon as possible after emplacement, so that all details will be fresh in mind.


• Second, the instructions for locating the cache should be checked promptly by someone who has not visited the site previously, in order to make sure that they are unmistakably clear.


Twelve-Point Cache Report


Type of Cache

• The component for which the cache is intended and the functional purpose of the cached material (weapons,ammo, demolitions, communications,etc.).


Method of Caching

• Burial

• Concealment

• Submersion


Contents

• An itemized list of all materials in each container, with a description of how each item is packaged.


Description of Containers

• The size, weight, and other descriptive details. If several containers are included in the cache, each container should be assigned a number that appears on the sketch of the cache so that each container is identified by reference to its position in the cache.


General Area

• The generally recognizable place names. Ordinarily they include the country, province, and small political divisions, down to the nearest town or village.


Immediate Area

• The immediate reference point (IRP) and instructions for proceeding from the IRP to the final reference point(FRP). All landmarks that facilitate visual recognition of the route should be described.


Cache Location

• The FRP and the exact sightings, linear measurements, etc., for pinpointing the cache. All measurements must be stated in linear units (meters, feet)


Emplacement Details• All features of the site or natural

conditions that must be considered for physically retrieving the cache. The following represent the essentials,

»Burial

»Concealment

»Submersion


Burial

• Exact depth underground of each container; precise description of shoring (if used); all known seasonal variations (surface vegetation, date and depth of ground freezing and thawing). The type of soil and the time required for emplacement


Concealment

• Exactly how the cache is placed in the site and any physical covering (plaster, bricks) that must be penetrated or removed to recover the cache. Full instructions should be provided if removing or replacing the covering involves any special problems or techniques.


Submersion

• Depth of the water (including high and low water marks); submersion depth (if the container does not rest on the bottom of the lake or river); type of bottom; water motion; clearness of the water; usual freezing and thawing dates.


Operational Data and Remarks

• List of equipment needed for recovery of the cache; description of at least two routes to the site that offer maximum natural concealment and means of escape in case of sudden attack; nearby houses and thoroughfares, description of local security forces, their regular cover when visiting the site, including warning of what cover to avoid. Special consideration should be given to any equipment that may be needed for recovery.


Dates of Emplacement and Duration of the Cache

• Based on an estimate of how long the contents of the cache will remain usable. Pertinent factors include: the normal shelf life of items that deteriorate with time (medicine, batteries); how long the packaging will withstand moisture, penetration, corrosion, etc.


Sketches and Diagrams

• These should include at least an area sketch, showing the route from the IRP to the FRP, and a site diagram, showing precisely how the cache is pinpointed. Photographs of the immediate area, the IRP, FRP, and other landmarks in the vicinity of the site are not essential, but may be quite helpful.


Radio Message for Recovery

• The best time for drafting the message is when the details are fresh in the mind of the emplacer. The radio message should include: type of cache, method of caching, and concise instructions for locating the site.


UNDER REPORT FORMAT


MESSAGE FORMATSUNDER REPORT FORMAT

•AA TYPE OF CACHE (CONCEALMENT, BURIAL,SUBMERSION)•BB CONTENTS (ID TYPE & AMOUNT OF ITEMS IN CACHE)•CC NUMBER OF CONTAINERS•DD REFERENCE POINT•EE LOCATION (AZIMUTH & DISTANCE FROM REFERENCE POINT WITH DETAILED DESCRIPTION IF NECESSARY)•FF DEPTH CACHE IS PLACED•GG ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


MESSAGE FORMATS

UNDER REPORT

10DE11 MSG04 UNDER ***** AA BURIAL BB 6 MRE’S, 2 GAL H2O CC 2 DD BM433 EE 240 DEG FOR 250 METERS UNDER AN ABANDONED TREE STAND W/SQUARE ORANGE MARKER FF 2 FT ACK EOM RKB


• The ultimate success of a cache operation takes detailed planning and quick and timely emplacement and recovery.


OVERVIEW


• Definition• Types of caches• Operational uses• Selection of material• Procurement of material• Selection of the site• Reference points• Emplacement/Recovery• 12 Point Cache Report


ENDSTATE


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• As a member of a RS Team, your ability to master the emplacement and recovery of a cache will greatly increase your teams survivability on the battle field, and ultimately the successful accomplishment of your mission


QUESTIONS???

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reconnaissance and surveillance leader course cache

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