TACTICS: Control Measures – Big Points!

Control Measures are all about adding structure, precision and coordination to the chaos of battle. Some of the most critical such measures are points – places on the ground (and on graphic control measures) that allow units to connect with one another or report their positions and activities with common references. Normally we leave images to the details section, but these control measures are important and distinct enough that we added them to the major takeaways today

As always, italics added for our emphasis, and […] indicates we cut out stuff we thought was fluff. And, as always: you’re smarter reading the doctrine yourself to be exactly sure

The major takeaways:

Check Points

• A predetermined point on the ground used to control movement, tactical maneuver, and orientation. Can supplement or substitute for phase lines.

• Can be used as fire control measures (but TRPs are preferred).

Contact Point

• A point on the terrain, easily identifiable, where two or more units are required to make contact

• Established where a PL crosses a lateral boundary or another identifiable terrain feature

• The commander provides a date-time group to indicate when to make that physical contact

Coordination Point

• A point that indicates a specific location for the coordination of tactical actions between adjacent units. It is used when a PL crosses a lateral boundary between two units or whenever a boundary crosses the forward edge of the battle area (FEBA).

• The difference between a contact point and a coordination point is that the establishing headquarters does not dictate the exact time when contact is required.

Linkup Point

• An easily identifiable point on the ground is where two forces meet or consolidate before proceeding on with their mission.

• Must also be rather inconspicuous

• Should also be relatively isolated from direct fire and observation of possible enemy elements located on the surrounding terrain.

• Normally positioned behind or along one flank of the enemy’s positions on defensible terrain

• Located away from normal enemy troop movement routes.

• Should be large enough for all infiltrating elements to assemble, and it should offer cover and concealment for these elements.

Release Point

• Place on a route where elements are released from centralized control and back and to the authority of their respective commanders.

• Marching units do not stop at the RP; instead, as they move through the RP and continue toward their own appropriate destination.

• A release point is what leaders mean when they provide “RP” info at the end of a movement (e.g. “RP at this time, 6 pax 2 vix). They’re saying they’re reached the release point of the move and are no longer under control of a higher headquarters.

Start Point

• A designated place on a route where elements fall under the control of a designated march commander.

• All routes have a designated SP and RP that are easily recognizable on the map and on the ground, such as a road junction.

• Far enough from the assembly area to allow units to organize and move at the prescribed speed and interval when they reach the SP.

• Like RP reports, an SP report means the unit is at the Start Point of their move to a designated RP, under the control of a higher headquarters.

Target Reference Point

• A predetermined point of reference, normally a permanent structure or terrain feature that can be used when describing a target location.

• A target reference point (TRP) is an easily recognizable point on the ground, either natural or manmade used to initiate, distribute, and control fires.

• Leaders designate TRPs using the standard target symbol and numbers.

• Once approved by the echelon fire support officer, TRPs can be designated as indirect fire targets.

Diving deep in the doctrinal details:

Here are the details about what FM 3-90 has to say about the finer points of these key control measures.

Checkpoint

A-18. A checkpoint is a predetermined point on the ground used to control movement, tactical maneuver, and orientation. Checkpoints are used by all units in all types of operations. Units may use checkpoints to supplement or as substitutes for phase lines. Units can also use a checkpoint as a fire control measure in lieu of the preferred control measure, a TRP. Figure A-7 depicts CHECKPOINT

13.

Contact Point

A-19. In land warfare, a contact point is a point on the terrain, easily identifiable, where two or more units are required to make contact (JP 3- 50). A commander establishes a contact point where a PL crosses a lateral boundary or another identifiable terrain feature as a technique to ensure coordination between two units. The commander provides a date-time group to indicate when to make that physical contact. Figure A-8 depicts CONTACT POINT 8.

A-20. If both units are moving or are stationary, the mutual higher echelon commander normally designates the location of contact points and times of contact. When one unit is stationary, its commander normally designates the location of the contact point and the meeting time and transmits this information to the commander of the moving unit.

Coordination Point

A-21. A coordination point is a point that indicates a specific location for the coordination of tactical actions between adjacent units. It is used when a PL crosses a lateral boundary between two units or whenever a boundary crosses the forward edge of the battle area (FEBA). The difference between a contact point and a coordination point is that the establishing headquarters does not dictate the exact time when contact is required. Figure A-9 depicts a coordination point

Linkup Point

A-27. A linkup point is a designated place where two forces are scheduled to meet. This easily identifiable point on the ground is where two forces meet or consolidate before proceeding on with their mission. Besides being easily identifiable, the linkup point must also be rather inconspicuous, or the enemy will be able to predict the location of the coordination and quickly target it. It should also be relatively isolated from direct fire and observation of possible enemy elements located on the surrounding terrain. Alternate linkup points must meet the same criteria and should be reconnoitered to the same degree as primary linkup points. Linkup points are normally positioned behind or along one flank of the enemy’s positions on defensible terrain and located away from normal enemy troop movement routes. The linkup point should be large enough for all infiltrating elements to assemble, and it should offer cover and concealment for these elements. Figure A-14 depicts LINKUP POINT 8

Release Point

A-38. A release point is a designated place on a route where elements are released from centralized control. Once released from centralized control they are released back to the authority of their respective commanders. Each start point (SP) must have a corresponding release point (RP), which must also be easy to recognize on the ground. Marching units do not stop at the RP; instead, as they move through the RP and continue toward their own appropriate destination. Figure A-23 shows RP 3 on ROUTE IRON

Start Point

A-41. The start point is a designated place on a route where elements fall under the control of a designated march commander. All routes have a designated SP and RP that are easily recognizable on the map and on the ground, such as a road junction. It is far enough from the assembly area to allow units to organize and move at the prescribed speed and interval when they reach the SP. Figure A-23 depicts SP 7 on ROUTE IRON.

Target Reference Point

A-84. A target reference point is a predetermined point of reference, normally a permanent structure or terrain feature that can be used when describing a target location (JP 3-09.3). A target reference point (TRP) is an easily recognizable point on the ground, either natural or manmade used to initiate, distribute, and control fires. Maneuver leaders at battalion and lower echelons designate TRPs to define unit or individual sectors of fire and observation, usually within an engagement area. A TRP can also designate the center of an area where a commander plans to rapidly distribute or converge fires. Leaders designate TRPs using the standard target symbol and numbers. Once approved by the echelon fire support officer, TRPs can be designated as indirect fire targets by using the standard target symbol and target numbering identification (using two letters and four numbers). If a TRP is not also used as an indirect fire target, it is designated using numeric marking only. Figure A-41 depicts the symbol for TRP 032, a direct fire only TRP. The rest of the TRPs in the figures in this publication are both direct and indirect fire targets and are thus designated using indirect fire procedures

Want to expand the boundaries of your knowledge of tactical control measures? Take A Doctrine Deep Dive with a read of FM 3-90 by clicking here.