SUPPORT
Following the advance cavalry is the support, varying in strength from
one fourth to one half of the advance guard. In mixed commands it
consists of infantry, to which engineers may be attached. If there is no
advance cavalry, some cavalry should be attached to the support for
reconnoitering duty.
As the support moves out it sends forward an advance party several
hundred yards, the distance varying with the terrain and the size of the
command.
The advance party supplements the work of the advance cavalry,
reconnoitering to the front and flanks to guard the support against
surprise by effective rifle fire. The patrol preceding the advance party
on the line of march is called the point, and is commanded by an officer
or an experienced noncommissioned officer.
With the advance cavalry in front but little reconnoitering by infantry
is necessary, and the advance party is relatively small--one eighth to
one third of the support. If there is no advance cavalry, the advance
party is made stronger (about one half of the support) and the flanks
are guarded, if necessary, by additional patrols sent out from the
support and even from the reserve.
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