Reaction to Contact (Section Level)

Purpose

When a section comes under unexpected enemy fire or encounters an enemy force, a fast and coordinated reaction is critical to avoid being overrun, disorganized, or pinned.
This article outlines the immediate steps a team must take to react cohesively, gain fire superiority, and either maneuver or break contact as needed.

Definition

• Reaction to Contact (Section Level): The coordinated actions a fireteam or full section takes immediately after encountering enemy forces, including returning fire, moving to cover, communicating threat information, and preparing for further action (maneuver or withdrawal).

What is a Contact?

A contact is the confirmed presence of enemy forces.

Types of Contact

• Soft Contact:
  Enemy forces have been observed but are unaware of your presence.

• Hard Contact:
  Enemy forces are actively engaging you, or have detected and are hunting your team.

Key Principles

• Quickly determine if the contact is soft or hard.
• Always prioritize gaining and maintaining fire superiority during hard contact.
• Move immediately to cover and concealment.
• Communicate clearly and concisely using the aDDD format.
• Maintain control through decisive action and leadership.

Application

Reaction to Soft Contact

• Find and move into cover if available.
  If no cover exists, immediately lower your profile by going prone or crouching.
• Observe and monitor the enemy discreetly.
• Report contact to the Team Leader using aDDD (Alert, Direction, Distance, Description).
• Await orders; do not open fire unless specifically instructed.

📸 Suggested Image: A player prone behind foliage observing enemy patrol without engaging.

Reaction to Hard Contact

If fired upon or detected, the team immediately follows the RCR procedure:

• R – Return Fire:
  All available members immediately return fire toward the enemy’s direction to suppress.

• C – Cover:
  Move quickly to the nearest cover.
  If none is available, go prone or crouch to reduce profile while returning fire.

• R – Return Accurate Fire:
  From cover, transition to controlled, deliberate shots to fix or pin the enemy down.

📸 Suggested Image: Flow diagram showing RCR steps with icons (Fire → Cover → Accurate Fire)

Full Section Reaction Sequence

1. Return Fire (Suppress)
   Immediate, aggressive fire to break enemy momentum.

   📸 Suggested Image: Section returning fire with fields of fire arcs shown.

2. Seek Cover
   Move individually or in small groups to nearby cover points.

   📸 Suggested Image: Diagram showing team sprinting from open ground to cover.

3. Communicate and Identify
   Use aDDD format to report enemy direction, distance, and type.
   Example: “Contact! North! 100 meters! Squad near buildings!”

   📸 Suggested Image: Over-the-shoulder view with a speech bubble showing a short contact report.

4. Establish Base of Fire
   One fireteam provides continuous suppression while the other prepares to maneuver.

   📸 Suggested Image: Split-panel — Left team suppressing, Right team moving.

5. Maneuver or Break Contact

   • If the situation permits: Execute a flanking movement.
   • If maneuver is not feasible: Break contact using Peeling techniques.

   📸 Suggested Image: Diagram showing flanking arrow and fallback arrow options.

Variations Based on Situation

• Close-Range Ambush:

  • Immediate aggressive fire and movement out of the kill zone.

• Long-Range Contact:

  • Set a base of fire, establish dominance at range, maneuver methodically.

Common Mistakes

• Hesitating when distinguishing between soft and hard contact.
• Freezing under fire or failing to return fire aggressively.
• Bunching up during movement to cover.
• Poor communication, causing confusion in the section.
• Maneuvering without establishing a base of fire.

Summary

Reaction to Contact at the section level relies on quickly identifying the type of contact and responding decisively.
Whether encountering soft or hard contact, disciplined action — through suppression, movement to cover, communication, and coordinated maneuvering — ensures the team maintains the initiative and minimizes casualties.