That is a very, very difficult small-unit tactic.

"The idea would be to keep this limited in scope and time, focusing on small-unit tactics," a Pentagon official said.

Third Phase concentrates on teaching land navigation, small-unit tactics, patrolling techniques, abseiling, marksmanship, and military explosives.

On active duty, he studied small-unit tactics for ten years and served for eight months as a rifle company commander in Vietnam (1968-69).

Since retirement, Poole has researched the small-unit tactics of other nations, traveled behind enemy lines, and written 11 tactics-and-intelligence-manual supplements.

Colonel Nix dispersed his troops, he said, to give captains, lieutenants and sergeants the training in small-unit tactics that would be used against guerrillas.

But he also said that it should be "no surprise" that "they're also experts in small-unit tactics and direct-actions warfare."

The American officers said the battalion at Juticalpa would begin training shortly on the flat terrain there in small-unit tactics such as raids and ambushes.

"We have to think in terms of a covert operation, small-unit tactics."

Three ear-shattering rifle shots from the point man's M-16 abruptly interrupted my philosophical wanderings concerning small-unit tactics in a jungle environment.