Reaction to Contact (Individual)

Purpose

Reaction to Contact (Individual) covers the immediate actions a player must take when suddenly coming under enemy fire.
Reacting quickly and correctly increases survival chances, helps regain the initiative, and sets the foundation for the team’s counterattack or withdrawal.

Definition

• Reaction to Contact (Individual): The immediate sequence of actions taken by a player to survive, communicate, and counter threats when unexpectedly engaged by the enemy.

The primary goals are captured in the acronym RCR:

• Return Fire: Immediately fire toward the threat to disrupt enemy aim.
• Cover: Move quickly to the nearest cover to protect yourself.
• Return Accurate Fire: From a covered position, deliver controlled and effective fire at the enemy.

Key Principles

• Speed and decisiveness save lives: hesitation under fire kills.
• Returning immediate fire breaks enemy momentum.
• Finding cover protects you from sustained or accurate enemy fire.
• Accuracy and controlled fire under cover disrupt and defeat threats.
• Communication allows the rest of the team to react correctly.

Application

Basic Reaction Sequence (RCR)

1. Return Fire

• Immediately fire toward the source of enemy contact.
• If exact location is unknown, fire toward the likely threat area to disrupt enemy actions.
• Volume of fire matters in the first moments; precision can follow once stabilized.

2. Cover

• Move quickly and instinctively to the nearest available cover.
• Use unpredictable movements (changes in speed or direction) if moving under observation.
• If no hard cover is available, move to concealment to break line of sight.

3. Return Accurate Fire

• Once behind cover, shift to deliberate, aimed fire.
• Suppress the enemy and target visible threats effectively.
• Maintain a low profile and expose only minimally while engaging.

4. Communicate (aDDD)

• Use the abbreviated aDDD method to report the contact:
  • a - Alert: Notify teammates that contact has been made (e.g., “Contact!”).
  • D - Direction: Call out the direction of the threat (e.g., “East!”).
  • D - Distance: Estimate the distance to the threat (e.g., “40 meters!”).
  • D - Description: Briefly describe the threat (e.g., “Two-man patrol!”).
• Example communication: “Contact, East, 40 meters, two-man patrol!”

5. Prepare for Follow-Up Action

• Be ready to move, flank, suppress, or assist the fireteam based on team leader commands.
• Maintain situational awareness; threat locations and battlefield dynamics can change rapidly.

Special Considerations

• When Exposed: If caught in the open, prioritize aggressive movement toward cover without freezing.
• Suppression Priority: Even inaccurate immediate fire can disrupt the enemy’s aim and coordination.
• Observation: After reaching cover, carefully observe to locate the threat before exposing yourself.

Common Mistakes

• Failing to return immediate fire, giving the enemy uncontested initiative.
• Moving to cover without suppressing the enemy first.
• Returning inaccurate fire without moving to solid protection.
• Shouting overly long or unclear reports under stress.
• Overexposing while trying to spot the enemy.
• Moving predictably under fire (straight-line sprinting).

Practice and Drills

• RCR Drill: Practice immediate return fire, sprint to cover, then deliver aimed shots.
• Cover Prioritization Drill: Navigate terrain while identifying and moving to cover after simulated contact.
• Stress Communication Drill: Under simulated stress, practice quick and clear aDDD contact reports.

Quick Reference Table

Summary

An immediate, decisive reaction to enemy contact following the RCR principle — Return Fire, Cover, Return Accurate Fire — prevents casualties, regains control of the engagement, and enables the team to counterattack or break contact.
Using the aDDD communication method ensures teammates are informed quickly and accurately, improving the team’s overall effectiveness under fire.