ATP 2-33.4, page 129

Indicators in Decisive Action 18 August 2014 ATP 2-33.4 B-5 Table B-4. Withdrawal indicators Activity Explanation Systematic destruction of bridges, communication facilities, and other assets. Denies advancing force the use of infrastructure and installations in withdrawal areas. Establishment of a covering force or rear guard. Covers withdrawal of main body; usually consists of a sub- element of the main force; usually only the rear guard element engages attacking forces. Increased rearward movement at night, particularly during inclement weather. Attempt to avoid contact with the attacking unit in order to preserve the force and its combat power. Minimal presence of sustainment and medical units. Withdrawal of nonessential sustainment and medical assets. It may also indicate the inability to move depots and dumps. Establishing and marking withdrawal routes and traffic control points. Facilitates rapid movement of forces to the rear. Indicates attempt to preserve force by conducting an organized and rapid withdrawal. Preparation of new defensive positions beyond supporting range of present positions. Indicates an attempt to establish new positions along suitable terrain before the arrival of deliberately withdrawn forces. Increased engineer activity and stockpiling of explosives in threat rear area near bridges, tunnels, or built-up areas. Mobility operations facilitate a withdrawal by maintaining lines of communications for own forces. Demolition preparation indicates likely destruction of infrastructure in front of attacking force. Rearward movement of long-range artillery. Positions long-range artillery in subsequent defensive positions in order to support withdrawal with indirect fire. Activation of command posts well removed (beyond usual norms) from the present battle area. Positioning of command posts along route of withdrawal. Establishes command nodes in the new position and along route of march in order to control movement and arrival of forces. Table B-5. Population indicators Indicators of Aggressive Behavior Within the Population Identification of agitators, insurgents, and militias or criminal organizations, as well as their supporters and sympathizers, who suddenly appear in, or move from, an area. New faces or unknown people in a rural community. Unusual gatherings among the population. Disruption of normal social patterns. Mass migration from urban to rural locations or from rural to urban locations. Massing of combatants of competing power groups. Increase in the size of embassy or consulate staffs from a country or countries that support indigenous disaffected groups, particularly those hostile to the United States or the current intervention. Increase in neighboring countries of staff and activities at embassies or consulates of countries associated with supporting indigenous disaffected groups. Lack of children playing outside in neighborhoods. Increased travel by suspected subversives or leaders of competing power bases to countries hostile to the United States or opposed to the current intervention. Influx of opposition, resident, and expatriate leaders into the area of operations. Reports of opposition or disaffected indigenous population receiving military training in foreign countries. Increase of visitors—such as tourists, technicians, business persons, religious leaders, officials—from groups or countries hostile to the United States or opposed to the current intervention.