MCDP 1-3 Gaining Advantage
characteristics of any environment where we may have to op-
erate: jungle, desert, mountain, arctic, riverine, or urban.
More importantly, we must understand how the effects of ter-
rain, weather, and periods of darkness or reduced visibility
impact on our own and our adversary's ability to fight.
Terrain
Our
objective
is to employ tactics that makes terrain an ad-
vantage to us and a disadvantage to our opponent. Terrain
impacts on our maneuver and influences our tactical disposi-
tions. We must understand terrain and comprehend its effects,
as it may limit our movement, reduce our visibility, or restrict
our fires. We must understand what effects it has on the en-
emy and on his abilities to detect or engage us. We must be
aware that the enemy also seeks advantage from terrain. We
must understand that terrain shapes the enemy's maneuver
and dispositions as well as our own.
Lieutenant Harrol Kiser of the 1St Battalion, 7th Marine
Regiment, knew how to use terrain to gain an advantage. In
November 1950, his company was ordered to seize a key
piece of terrain at Toktong Pass during the march out of the
Chosin Reservoir area. Lieutenant Kiser had only 20 Marines
left in his platoon, and the pass was heavily defended by the
Chinese. Using a flanking ridgeline to conceal his approach,
Lieutenant Kiser skillfully enveloped the enemy from the rear
and quickly routed the Chinese out of their well-entrenched
position.5 Today, as in Korea, the intelligent use of terrain has
become a standard practice for Marines.
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