Land

The Point Man is the eyes and ears of the squad. He is usually the man with the most finely tuned instincts and senses. He is the early warning device for the Patrol Leader, who must rely on the Point to alert the squad of any impending dangers such as booby traps, an enemy patrol or mine fields. The Point will walk from 20 to 30 yards in front of the patrol in a wooded area, and 10 feet or so in the Jungle, sniffing for danger. Often he will patrol with a small stick to feel for raised tripwires. He will stop and look, listen and feel frequently, using all his senses and equipment to detect anything abnormal. He will not normally use Night Vision Devices, for fear of ruining his night sight. The point will walk with a compass, following a general bearing provided him the PL. He is not responsible for navigation, although many points pride themselves on their navigation skills. He carries either a CAR-15 or Remington 870 or Mossberg Shotgun with buckshot for close in work in the Jungle. The point is a position of great responsibility and is usually given to an experienced SEAL who has developed a keen ability to detect the slightest hint of danger and take the appropriate action.

PATROL LEADER

The Patrol Leader is in charge of the mission, the squad and his fire team in a firefight. He is the Command and Control Center in the field, and all SEALs in the squad take their direction from him. Usually an Officer, he can also be a Senior Enlisted or Warrant Officer. His position is second in the patrol behind the point man. He plans every detail of the mission, including the navigation routes, the rally points, the lay-up points and other rendezvous points. All commands are given by hand signal, or verbally in a low whisper into the squad member's ear. The PL consults frequently with the Point during a foot patrol, ensuring that the squad is moving in the right direction and scouting out the best routes around difficult terrain features. Carrying a CAR-15 with M-203 grenade launcher, he uses the weapon sparingly, even in a firefight - his role being to direct the actions of his shooters, rather than focus his attention on his own rifle. His grenade launcher is handy for launching illumination rounds while the Grenadier/Radioman is tied up on the radio trying to raise the helo or fire support. The PL will always carry Night Vision Devices (NVD), but will use them only to scout ahead or for a recon, and he will give his eyes time to readjust after using them. Binoculars are a must, as well as the PRC 112 emergency radio. He carries a GPS Plugger (handheld) for back-up navigation and to double check positions while in a rally point or Lay-up. He will carry an MX-300 UHF radio for internal squad comms (to communicate with the APL) and a camera for Intel collection at the target or along the way. Depending on the length of the operation, he will have his first, second and third lines of gear on his back and waist, carrying up to 100 pounds for longer missions. Of course, the woodland cammies, jungle boots and bush hat (floppy) are standard for all operators on missions in the woodland and jungle environments.