Devil Dogs

a. SOUND. Sound may be made by movement, equipment rattling or talking. The enemy may dismiss small noises as natural but when someone speaks he will know that someone is near. Gear should be silenced using tape before a mission so that it makes no noise while running or walking. Moving quietly is done by using slow, deliberate, smooth movement.

b. MOVEMENT. Movement itself is a target indicator. The human eye is attracted to movement. A stationary target may be impossible to detect, and a slowly moving one might be left unnoticed, but quick jerky movement will most certainly be seen. Again, slow deliberate movement is necessary to remain undetected.

c. IMPROPER CAMOUFLAGE. The largest number of targets will be detected due to improper camouflage. There are three types of improper camouflage:

1) . Shine comes from reflective objects exposed and not toned down, such a belt buckles, watches, or glasses. The lenses of optical gear will also reflect light. Shine can be eliminated by placing a paper shade over the end of the optics and by staying in shadows. Any object that reflects light should be camouflaged.

2) Outline. The outline of objects such as the body, head and shoulders, weapons, and web gear are very recognizable even from a distance. Often times the human eye will pick up a recognizable shape and concentrate on it even if the object can not be identified right away. Therefore, outlines must be broken up into unrecognizable patterns.

3) Contrast With the Background. Contrast means to stand out against a background, such as a man in a dark green uniform standing against a cinder block wall. When using a position for concealment, a background must be chosen that will absorb the appearance of the sniper and his gear. A difference in color or shape from the background will usually be noticed. A sniper must therefore camouflage himself and his gear in accordance with the coloring of his background and stay in the shadows as much as possible.