Individual Movement Techniques (IMT) are designed to move soldiers across the battlefield while minimizing exposure to enemy fire using three main methods: the high crawl, low crawl, and the 3-5 second rush. These techniques are chosen based on terrain, visibility, and enemy contact to ensure tactical survivability.
Core Individual Movement Techniques (IMT)
- Low Crawl: Used when cover/concealment is extremely low and enemy fire is high. The soldier stays as flat as possible, keeping the body against the ground. The weapon is held by the sling, letting it rest on the forearm to keep the muzzle off the ground and safe from obstruction.
- High Crawl: Used when cover/concealment is available and speed is needed, but visibility is low. The soldier moves on hands and knees, keeping the silhouette lower than running but higher than the low crawl.
- 3-5 Second Rush: Used when moving between positions with no cover or when enemy fire allows short exposure. The soldier rises, sprints to the next position, and drops (3-5 seconds max) to prevent the enemy from effectively engaging with automatic fire.
Tactical Considerations
- Reaction to Fire: Upon taking fire, the immediate action is to “drop to the ground or into cover,” “crawl,” “observe,” “shoot,” and “move”.
- Weapon Safety: In all movements, the weapon must be kept functional, usually by ensuring the muzzle stays clear of mud or debris.
- Cover and Concealment: Soldiers must constantly identify and move between hard cover (e.g., rocks, walls) or concealment.
Training Focus
Basic training emphasizes making these movements automatic through drills, allowing soldiers to respond appropriately to threats without needing explicit, detailed orders in the heat of combat.