Battleground Archives

In Close Quarter Combat (CQC), the Support Team plays a vital role in enhancing the effectiveness and safety of the assault teams engaged in direct action. Their primary responsibilities include securing the perimeter, providing covering fire, and ensuring the overall success of the mission through indirect support roles.

The Support Team is securing the perimeter by preventing enemy reinforcements from entering the area and ensuring that the assault teams are not attacked from behind or flanked. The team establish secure positions around the target area, monitoring potential entry points and routes that the enemy might use. This could involve setting up at strategic locations that offer a wide field of view and cover.

The team provides covering fire to suppress enemy threats, to allow assault teams to maneuver safely and effectively. Engage known or suspected enemy positions with sustained fire, using weapons suited for medium to long-range engagements. This suppressive fire is designed to pin the enemy down, reduce their ability to return fire, and create opportunities for the assault teams to advance or withdraw.

The Support Team is also breaching support, assisting in the breaching process by preparing and executing breaching charges or supporting mechanical breaching efforts. Depending on the operation, support team members trained in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) or breaching might set up and detonate charges to open entry points or use specialized equipment to aid in silent entry methods.

EOD stands for Explosive Ordnance Disposal. It is a crucial field within the military, law enforcement, and other security services that involves the detection, disarmament, disposal, and handling of explosive devices. The term "ordnance" encompasses a wide range of explosive munitions, including bombs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), landmines, and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) from past conflicts.

Communications and coordination is done by maintaining robust lines of communication between the assault teams, command elements, and external support units. Use of radio communication to relay information, coordinate movements, call for reinforcements, or request indirect fire support (e.g., mortars, artillery) if available and necessary.

Sniper/Overwatch support is a way to provide precision fire on specific threats, gather intelligence, and offer real-time updates on the situation. Deployed snipers or designated marksmen at high vantage points enables abilities to oversee the operation, target key enemy combatants, and report on enemy movements.

Illumination and obscuration may be applied by the Support Team, the use of light or smoke to disorient the enemy, conceal the movements of friendly forces, or mark locations for air support. Deploying smoke grenades, flashbangs, or illumination rounds to reduce the enemy’s visibility, signal to other elements, or light up target areas during low-light conditions.

Emergency extraction and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) is also a task for the Support Team. It can be necessary to extract assault teams and wounded personnel from hostile environments. Support Team prepares and executes extraction plans using designated routes. This may involve coordinating with vehicles, aircraft, or additional personnel to safely retrieve teams and evacuate casualties.

CASEVAC stands for Casualty Evacuation. It is the process of transporting a casualty from the point of injury to a location where he or she can receive medical care. This is done using non-medical vehicles. MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation), is the transportation of casualties to receiving medical facilities using medically equipped vehicles, often with medical personnel aboard. The primary goal of CASEVAC is to quickly remove the injured from the immediate danger zone, prioritizing speed over the availability of in-transit medical care.

Resupply and logistics is provided by the team to ensure that Assault Teams have sufficient ammunition, medical supplies, and equipment. Manage and distribute supplies from a secured location, sometimes under fire, ensuring continuous operational capability.

Support Teams in CQC must be adaptable, capable of switching between roles as the mission evolves. Their success relies not only on their individual skills but also on their ability to work cohesively with the Assault Teams and command elements, ensuring a unified effort towards the mission objectives.