text: Chapter 6
  Situations
  6-33. Common situations that require establishing a patrol base include—
  • A requirement to cease all movement to avoid detection.
  • A requirement to hide the unit during a lengthy, detailed reconnaissance of the objective area.
  • A need to prepare food, maintain weapons and equipment, and rest after extended movement.
  • A need to formulate a final plan and issue orders for actions at the objective.
  • A requirement for reorganization after a patrol has infiltrated the enemy area in small groups.
  • A need for a base where several consecutive or concurrent operations, such as ambush, raid,
  reconnaissance, or surveillance patrols, can be conducted.
  Purposes
  6-34. In counterinsurgency operations, collocating patrol bases in population centers enables
  combined forces—
  • To deny the insurgent access to the local population.
  • To influence and assist the local government.
  • To provide security.
  • To help Host Nation security forces provide their own unaided security.
  Methods of Establishment
  6-35. Patrol bases, in the current fight, can be established using either of two methods. The same
  priorities of work described for combat outposts apply also to patrol bases:
  • Move in with the indigenous population. The advantages of the first method are that Soldiers
  will have more direct contact with the local government, the locals will identify combined
  forces with the emerging Host Nation government, and the construction will be less intensive.
  The disadvantages are that Soldiers may live in unsanitary conditions, the mass base
  or auxiliary may inform insurgents about outgoing patrols with relative ease, attacks on the
  base will have collateral damage considerations, and houses are often not suited for defense.
  • Build a new patrol base. Although more isolated from the population, new patrol bases are
  usually on chosen ground and, therefore, easier to defend. Additionally, they are far more
  resource and personnel intensive during construction. It is generally advisable to set aside
  detailed planning time before sending a combined force to occupy the terrain.
  PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR A BASE DEFENSE
  6-36. Regardless of the ongoing operation, the type of base, or the location of a base, the characteristics
  of the defense do not change. The best technique for base defense is the perimeter defense.
  TERRAIN
  6-37. Proper evaluation and use of the terrain in the area is essential to hold down the number
  of additional forces required for base defense. Key terrain factors to consider include the following:
  • Use of the terrain's natural defensive characteristics.
  • Use of artificial obstacles to enhance the terrain's natural defensive characteristics.
  • Control of all roads and waterways leading into the base.
  • Control of military lines of communications and civilian commerce routes.
  • Control of land areas surrounding the base to a range beyond that of enemy mortars
  and rockets.
  HOST NATION SECURITY FORCES
  6-38. The base commander should consider the integration of Host Nation security forces in the overall
  base defense effort. Particular emphasis is on integration of host country forces in patrol and populace
  control activities. Both host and third country forces provide local security for their own units. However,