TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01 - TRADOC - U.S. Army

TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01Topping’s crew scanned their helmet displays and looked down occasionally to get the fullerpicture on the glass panels. They could see the rest of RSTA and, so far, not even a hint of a redicon to indicate threat.“I wonder how long it’ll take Ibn Ander’s goons to react to that flare back there, sergeant?”Specialist Booth, the driver, asked as he took up the new heading.“Not long at all if they’re half as good as OPFOR at Irwin, Ted,” Topping replied. “We allneed to stay on our toes. The Hummingbirds and Wasp unmanned aerial system’s we launchedought to give us plenty of warning. 194 Besides TF Green is getting Predator and Global Hawkfeeds. If anything heavy enough to light up their sensors moves it’ll be some pretty spectacularfireworks.”“Yeah, assuming it’s bad guys. What happens if some farmer’s tractor pops up?”“Well, that’s why us blood and guts RSTA guys are here, Ted,” Sergeant Topping repliedthinking this marshy field and the looming jungle were a far cry from the Amphitheater at Irwin.“Damn!” Booth yelled. “Did you see that?” he screamed jerking the FSV-R to the right toavoid a massive carcass that could have been a cow or an elephant.It was barely warm enough to register with their thermals. Whatever had killed that animalwas not very friendly. It looks like it had been shredded or butchered inexpertly. Toppingtensed, remembering how the insurgents had mounted IEDs in animal carcasses in Baqouba.“Scans explosive free, sergeant,” Specialist Mike Wright announced. He had the directionalsniffer control as well as their 20 millimeter cannon to operate.“Water buffalo,” Booth announced. “Looks like a mine got it. Sure there’s no explosiveresidue Wright?”They rolled by the dead animal, senses heightened to the hidden dangers. Everything lookedabout right to Topping, but that made him especially wary. The mine threat made himcontemplate dismounting some scouts. Before he could tap in that order RSTA 1-4 went red onthe screen and then blank!“Incoming!” Screamed a voice on the previously silent radio. No identification on thecaller, Topping noted.“Driver hit it!” Topping shouted. Casualty signals now lit up the screen near where 1-4disappeared. They surged forward, the mine detector set on highest sensitivity. Toppingcouldn’t assume it was a mine that got his buddy’s FSV-R. Could be indirect fire, which meantsomeone, or something, was watching them. Best to keep moving recording the track whichwould automatically arrive on all RSTA screens as a cleared route.Outside the FSV-R the air was thick with moisture and buzzing with insects. Booth, thedriver, responding to digital commands from Topping zigged and zagged around obstacles he198