The Tactical Advantage: A Definitive Study Of Personal Small-Arms Tactics

THREE BUILDING SEARCHES: CORNERS AND HALLWAY

One of the fundamental rules of tactics is to stay away from corners. Corners are second only to doors as a potential hazard for the searcher. If you are a homeowner, part of your homework tonight is to examine your castle for blind corners. List them all. Don't ignore items of furniture that create a "corner effect." If you can place reflective items (such as mirrors or polished lamps) in strategic locations that will allow you to look into those corners surreptitiously, then do it. This will allow you to clear these corners on the approach. If such redecorating is not likely, then you must resort to the angular search.

In years past, trainers advocated what they called a "quick peek" to clear corners. This involved sticking your head into the area beyond the corner and then just as quickly pulling it back to safety. By doing this, the operator hoped to get a brief visual "picture" of the area beyond.

There are many things wrong with this technique, and it has lost favor among the cognoscenti. Primarily, the searcher who executes this "peek" will not be in any position from which to fight and shoot. Remember, you want to be able to clear danger areas in front of your gun muzzle. The quick peek doesn't allow you to do this. Additionally, the amount beyond the corner that will be seen is quite minimal. Try it yourself. Unless CroMagnon man is standing right there in your face, you might miss him completely. And what if he is right there? You are in no position to do anything about it. By peeking, you have programmed yourself to withdraw as part of the technique. Now you arc in retreat mode, and he knows exactly where you are. What would you do if you were him? You'd attack the unprepared fool and mash his head into a Pleistocene mess with your club as he withdrew back behind the corner, that's what! Repeat after me: thou shalt not peek!

^{The angular search, as it is used on corners, allows you to clear the unknown space beyond the apex of the corner, incrementally, a sliver at a time.}

To conduct the angular search on a corner, position yourself as far away from the corner as geography will allow. Move laterally, keeping your weapon trained on the space beyond the apex of the corner. Move toward the plane created by the far wall of the corner. Move slowly enough to be able to pick out anything that is out of place and that might be a target indicator.

When scanning for the adversary, use the vertical method of changing visual focus. Move the focus of your eyes along a central longitudinal axis, or in and out. Shift the axis slightly to vary ing directions as you search. This will allow visual detection of target indicators that may have initially been out of the direct line of sight. The eyes focus naturally in and out, not side to side, so it is better to search that way.

^{The five photos on these two facing pages illustrate the angular search as used on corners. This search requires that you begin as far away from the corner as the terrain will allow. Moving laterally in a slow and controlled manner, you search the area beyond the apex of the corner.}

^{Keep your weapon in a ready position that is low enough to allow you to see someone hiding in a low position.}

^{If you face a corner at close quarters with a shoulder-fired weapon, you are better off to use the close-quarter/underarm assault position than the low ready.}

You are looking specifically for a clue that there is someone there. You might see a hat brim, the toe of a shoe, or even a gun muzzle. If there is someone there, you will likely see him long before he sees you. When this happens you can dictate the dynamics of the confrontation and either withdraw and challenge… or simply overrun him.

When you do decide to take the ground, do so quickly and forcefully. When conducting an angular search, you will reach a point where your angular movement will eventually allow your adversary to also see you. If it is your intent to move aggressively, you must do so before you reach the point where you have exposed yourself to the adversary's view. Conduct the angular search until you've seen what you need to see (i.e., target indicators) and then move briskly, ready to shoot, and take the ground.

^{The photos on these two facing pages show the author nearing the corner, conducting an angular search, and locating a hostile on the other side.}

Hallways are also a potential hazard because, like any other channelized area, there is only one way through them: one way in and one way out. There may also be rooms or corners along the hallway and corners at the intersections with other hallways that may contain potential threats. They must all be cleared before going on. The end of the hallway where it intersects or bisects another hallway is also of special concern. You must keep partial attention on it as you deal with the other situations.

When moving down the hallway (or any other channelized area) keep your eye and muzzle oriented toward the potential danger area that you intend to clear next. If there is a second danger area that has not been cleared, you simply cannot ignore it.

One method that has worked well for me is to keep my eye and muzzle oriented toward the primary danger area that I've determined is to be searched next. As I close in on the danger area, I keep partial attention on the secondary danger area that concerns me through peripheral vision, as well as taking an occasional glance toward it with both eye and gun muzzle. Before committing to finally clear the initial danger area, I glance quickly toward the secondary danger area without shifting muzzle orientation and then commit to the first danger area. At such close quarters, moving the entire gun turret (upper body, gun, and eyes) takes too long because you are at the threshold of the next danger area. You're already committed to moving in one direction; now you simply double-check the other danger area before continuing. This will help minimize the possibility of the situation's having changed behind your back. This is called "dividing attention." Is it perfect? No, not at all. But when you are alone, you have no choice.

When you are operating alone and facing two different danger areas, you must eventually divide your attention between the two as you commit yourself to one or the other.

^{Do not walk down the middle of the hallway; stay to one side. Avoid scraping your back against the wall, but, nevertheless, stay close to one wall or the other. Move briskly but carefully from one obstacle to the next.}

What about that intersection at the end of the hallway? Quite a problem, isn't it? This is where team members and partners become very desirable. A single operator can still handle such a problem, but the risk grows substantially greater. A single oper ator must divide his attention between the various danger areas along the hallway and the hallway intersection. Hallway intersections come in two basic types: three-way (or T-intersections) and four-way.

^{Try to see as much of the area beyond the T-intersection as possible without actually getting committed to entering that space.}

On a three-way intersection, you must divide your attention between the two corners and maybe what is behind you as well. When dealing with a four-way intersection, you will be presented with an additional danger area directly in front of you.

Hallway intersections are handled by conducting an angular search from one corner to the next, searching incrementally until you reach the other corner. Think of a T-intersection (or threeway intersection) as basically two separate corners opposite each other. Deal with one corner individually without breaking the plane formed by the far wall. When you are satisfied that you cannot see any farther without breaking the plane, move in a half-circle back toward the second corner, clearing it as far as possible without breaking the plane.

The main concern here is the extreme angles on either side of the hallway intersection as well as what lies farther down the hallway. The close danger area (extreme angle) is much more of a concern than the potential danger area down the hall.

^{Once you are committed to entering, move diagonally along the opening briskly. Notice the quick glance to make sure your "six o'clock" is clear.}

When you are committed to entry, always try to move toward your strong side if possible. You will be much faster that way. Move diagonally toward your strong side, crossing the opening from one side to the other. Break the plane with your support-side foot so that your next step will be with your strongside foot. Move as if you intend to assault a threat hiding in the extreme angle to your strong side. As you commit yourself and actually break the plane, glance quickly toward the opposite side to make sure your back is clear.

"Holy *?!@," you say. "That's too dangerous, and it violates the three-eye principle." Yes, you are correct on both counts, but it is the best balance of risk for a single operator. Tactics must be flexible. The only alternatives to this either take much too long or ignore one of the extreme angles until entry is completed. Both of these other options are too dangerous to consider.

The immediate action drill for hostile contact is simple. If there is a hostile on the right and not on the left, the glance will only cost you one-tenth of a second because you execute it on the move. You will still be able to neutralize the adversary before he can react to you. If there is a threat to the left and not to the right, your glance will let you know about his presence there. Your continued diagonal movement toward the strong side will "clear" the right side of the doorway as you break the plane. Now, pivot 180 degrees toward the hostile on the left, drop into an unsupported kneeling position, and shoot him on an upward angle.

^{You cannot look at two places at once, so a quick glance over your shoulder is mandatory if you are operating alone}.

If Murphy is working overtime and there are two hostiles on opposite sides, the same technique will work. As you move to the right, your glance will alert you to the presence of the hostile on the left, and your existing diagonal rush will take you to the point of contact with the hostile on the right. Shoot the hostile on the right, at contact distance-one time. Immediately, drop and pivot 180 degrees into an unsupported kneeling position and shoot the second man. What are the odds that you might also get shot? Well, there is always that possibility, but remember also that this is a proactive technique. This means that you are forcing the issue and making them/him react to you. This also means that your adversaries will already be behind the power curve in terms of their reactions. They may know you are there, but not specifically when you will penetrate their space. It will take them approximately two seconds to react to your assault. If you move quickly and decisively, you actually do have the advantage.

If you do not encounter a threat to the other side, continue your forward momentum and take control of the space beyond. If there is a threat to the front, you are in a good position to neutralize it.

If you encounter a threat when you execute your rearward safety check, your response is to continue your forward momentum, but convert it into a "drop and pivot" This will allow you to operate within your adversary's reaction time and shoot him before he shoots you.

If you are starting to realize that searching alone is very, very dangerous business, then I've gotten my point across. Remember, tactics are not a guarantee, only an insurance policy to minimize the risks. But when you search alone, it doesn't get minimized very much.

Operating with a long gun does not change the concept at all. You still clear as much of the space beyond as possible without committing to enter. Be careful that your muzzle does not protrude into the unsecured area!

Commit yourself to entering and execute the quick glance.

If your six o'clock position is clear, go on.

If you locate a threat at the execution of your quick glance, convert your forward momentum into a drop and pivot. Take the long gun from your shoulder and fire from the close-quarters (underarm assault) position.

The following diagrams illustrate the proper way to search corners and hallway intersections.

^{The angular search allows you to clear the unsecured area incrementally without overexposing yourself to danger.}

^{If you locate a hostile, you will be able to see him before you are seen. This allows more options than a surprise encounter would.}

^{Stay as far from the corner as the terrain will allow. Realize that the farther away from the apex of the corner the adversary is, the more room he will have available in which to hide. Look deep into the extreme corner as you clear the apex.}

^{Avoid moving into the unsecured space beyond the apex of the corner.This space may be described as an imaginary extension of the far wall of the corner.}

^{Don't crowd the corner! Not only will this give rounds greater penetration and ability to ricochet into you at the apex, but it will let your adversary know your whereabouts.}

^{T-intersections are simply two opposing corners.}

^{Clear one corner and then work into a position where you can clear the other corner as well.}

^{Clear as much as you can of the extreme corner without committing yourself.}

^{When you do commit yourself into the threshold, do it dynamically.The action begins at step 5; you clear the portal in step 6 (and take a quick glance to the other side in midstride). You then clear the extreme corner in step 7.}

^{Four-way intersections are a bit more complicated because there are three danger areas instead of two.}

^{This situation is handled the same as the T-intersection, except that you must divide your attention and keep an eye on the far hallway.}