Quote Originally Posted by Fuchs View Post
Not sure about British English, but that's not possible in American English (or only DOD speak).
The supposed "cover" would in American English only qualify as "concealment".

It's noteworthy that Germans don't properly differentiate between the two either. "Deckung" and "Sichtschutz" are different things tactically, and this should be better appraised. We talk too often about "Deckung" instead.


http://www.scribd.com/doc/2472256/Ar...ent-and-Decoys
(I would have sworn that the "D" in "CCD" was about "deception", maybe in an earlier FM version?)
Yes obviously then the British use of the word covers a wider definition.

"Cover" in general terms is in relation to observation and enemy fire.

In the instance of a contact it would follow that if you seek cover from enemy fire you will not be able to take part in the fire fight or play only a limited part in it.

(As an aside here the fieldcraft lesson "Selecting lines of advance" would, if the lesson was adhered to, make sure that a stick/fire team/squad/section were not totally caught out in the open or in a disadvantageous tactical position. Accepting that operations in jungle and thick bush limit your options for tactical movement somewhat.)

The training in response to receiving the order "Take Cover" is to "Dash, down, crawl, observe, sights, fire." Remembering to change your firing position often.

So unless your intention is to "hide", cover would generally relate to cover from enemy observation. Folds in the ground may afford partial cover from enemy fire but your head, arms and weapon would need to exposed... preferably behind something providing cover from direct enemy observation.

The aim of the Transitional (Drake) Shoot is to improve the effectiveness of selecting and firing into likely cover (behind which the enemy may be lurking) during a contact while winning the fire fight. Or as the document on the shoot stated:

The aim of this range practice is to teach soldiers to relate field craft and ground appreciation to good shooting under realistic conditions.
Don't let semantics distract you.