Section I.

9-1. RANGE

You will usually find yourself in a hand-to-hand situation unexpectedly; for example, your weapon jams when entering a room during MOUT. The first thing you must do is determine the appropriate actions to take, which will primarily be based on the range to the enemy. Against an armed enemy, the deciding factor of range is whether or not you can close the gap before the enemy can bring his weapon to bear.

a. Close Range.If you are near enough to the enemy to close before he can bring his weapon to bear, you should immediately close the distance and gain control of him.

b. Long Range.If the range is too great, or the enemy has sufficient time to bring his weapon to bear, the only options are to escape or take cover. Give your buddy a clear shot or get where you can clear your weapon to get yourself back in the fight.

9-2. CONTROL

If you have closed the distance, your primary goal is to control the enemy. This means controlling his ability to influence the rest of the fight, and controlling his ability to damage you. You are essentially stalling until someone can come to your aid.

a. Body Control.You must control the enemy's ability to move, which can done by gaining and maintaining a dominant body position. This can also be accomplished by pinning the enemy in place (for example, against the wall).

b. Weapon Control. You must immobilize the enemy's weapon. For example, use your weight to pin his rifle to his chest while you are mounted, or keep him from drawing a side arm by controlling it in the holster. You must also keep your weapons away from the enemy. It does you no good to immobilize the enemy if he can reach your side arm.

9-3. FINISHING

A very conservative approach should be taken to finishing moves. You must remember that the primary means of winning the fight is with the aid of your buddy. Any move that, if unsuccessful, would compromise your ability to control the situation should not be attempted.