It's a familiar term to most folks here, even those that don't have any military training, but lets discuss it.
For a small unit breaking contact is always an option. The degree to which it's the best option will depend on alot of factors.
Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops available, Time available, Civilian considerations.
For civilians things are obviously different, but the basic tenets are similar enough that those factors can and should come into consideration when your making a choice to stand and fight, break contact, or attack.
I would suggest that in all but a few circumstances, advancing toward a threat is pretty inadvisable. Unless a loved one is directly threatened or help is not available in the foreseeable future, attacking is pretty much not an option I'd choose.
So the real choice comes down between defend or retreat. Of course there are a hundred different scenarios that could be discussed, but I wanted to hear some thoughts on methods of breaking contact to get away from a threat. Obviously laying down suppresive fire from a covered position while another team retreats to their new covered position to lay down suppressive fire for your team isn't a real option.
What are the considerations that you personally keep in mind when formulating a plan of action?
For a small unit breaking contact is always an option. The degree to which it's the best option will depend on alot of factors.
Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops available, Time available, Civilian considerations.
For civilians things are obviously different, but the basic tenets are similar enough that those factors can and should come into consideration when your making a choice to stand and fight, break contact, or attack.
I would suggest that in all but a few circumstances, advancing toward a threat is pretty inadvisable. Unless a loved one is directly threatened or help is not available in the foreseeable future, attacking is pretty much not an option I'd choose.
So the real choice comes down between defend or retreat. Of course there are a hundred different scenarios that could be discussed, but I wanted to hear some thoughts on methods of breaking contact to get away from a threat. Obviously laying down suppresive fire from a covered position while another team retreats to their new covered position to lay down suppressive fire for your team isn't a real option.
What are the considerations that you personally keep in mind when formulating a plan of action?