In a combat situation, who is the first group to go into battle?

Question

In other words, isn't it the Army Combat Engineers who go in first to secure the battlefield, clear mines, cut Landing zones, etc., etc.?

Answer 1

There is an old British saying: "No day without Breakkie, no move without Recce!"

Prior to any movement into combat, the commanders will want as much intelligence as possible. This intelligence may come from multiple sources such as SIGINT, Photo or Sat imagery, or HUMINT. Primary intelligence will come from whatever reconnaissance resources are available.

The Marines will not hit a beach until the beach has been checked out by Combat Swimmers. The Combat Swimmers and the UDT merged to create the Seals.

Engineers cannot do thier job until they know where to do it and what they will encounter.

Scout/Snipers, LRP, SEAL, SAS, Rhodesian Scouts, LRDG, Spetsnaz are all examples of units that put recce as important or even ahead of combat power.

Answer 2

it depends on the situation, the area first must be looked over by some sort of recce to bring back info and brief int so the comanders can draw up battle plans so i would say recce.

Answer 3

depends on what kind of battle or what is needed.

if they need to secure an airfield so troops can land, the Rangers go in first.

if they need to secure a beach, its the Marines.

Answer 4

The SAS would probably be the first troops in even in an anglo american operation because of their ability to dig in and observe and close target recce

Answer 5

as far as i know the motto for you Americans is "marines: first to fight" so i would say the marines are the first in the battle/war. but here in Australia, the first ones from our military to fight are the S.A.S (special army service) which are our elite forces, the best of the best.

although, i heard that Australian S.A.S,Delta force, British S.A.S and S.B.S were the first hand full of soldiers first in Iraq only minutes after the order was given to invade

Answer 6

Special Ops soldiers are there long before any regular units.

Answer 7

Special forces helping the flyboys find and hit their targets.

Answer 8

Usually the Marines...God bless every one of them.