Infantry Scouts ExperiencesA Firsthand Account

Infantry Scouts ExperiencesA Firsthand AccountInfantry Scouts Experiences- A Firsthand AccountWhen theyre on the front lines with the U.S. infantry, its often been said that there are two kinds of people- the quick and the dead. But its a different story for infantry scouts. Theyre the ones the enemy aims for, according to Spc. Serrano Brooks, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force 2-9, scout. If they take us out, then we cant relay their location or tell our headquarters how many soldiers they have, Brooks said. What Do Scouts Do? Infantry scouts have the thrilling and often very dangerous task of getting eyes on the enemy. We leave before the rest of the unit to go out and find the enemy, Brooks said. We should never be seen by the enemy and we dont engage the enemy in direct contact. For Brooks and his team, the mission puts a lot of pressure onthem. Its a big weight on our shoulders, said Pfc. Daniel Warner. An entire team, squad, platoon, company, or battalion cou ld be affected by the decisions you make. The SALUTE Technique The scouts use a technique thats memorized as SALUTE to inform headquarters of what they see. SALUTE stands for Size The number of troops and the approximate size and type of each unitActivity The observed activity of the enemyLocation The position of the enemy using map grid referencesUnit Identity of enemy unit or description of markings, uniforms, equipmentTime The date/time/group of the sightingEquipment The number and description of weapons or equipment According to Brooks, The SALUTE report is a guideline so we can give an exact report on enemy activity. What Equipment Is Involved? For the most part, scouts carry the same equipment as non-scout soldiers. We take the normal stuff that a line soldier would take, Brooks said. The only difference is that when we go out, the only contact well have with headquarters is on the radio. Other than that, were on our own, so its important to ensure that we have all of our equipment. In other words, there wont be any opportunity to collect forgotten items later. It doesnt matter to the scouts what the weather is like. The mission still has to be completed. Rain, sleet, snow, or a clear night, we have to do our job, so the rest of the unit can do theirs, Brooks said. Whats the Best Part? Brooks said the best part of being a scout is the camaraderie that builds with the other members of the team. We spend a lot of time together, so we get to know all about each other, he said. And thats important because you want to know the guy next to you is someone you can trust. And after spending enough time with them, I know they have my back, and they know I have theirs. When he was asked about the most important thing to remember while out on patrol, Brooks had an immediate response. Dont be seen, he said. Reprinted with permission from the Army News Service and the cooperation of Spc. Chris Stephens