“The second joints of the fingers and thumb will mark the positions occupied by the ‘supports.’ These are the fighting troops and they occupy the fighting line of the outpost. From these supports, small detachments, which we call ‘outguards,’ are sent to the front. “The first joints of the fingers and thumb will mark the positions of the outguards. These are classified as pickets, sentry squads and cossack posts. A picket consists of two or more squads and is posted so as to cover the most important route by which the enemy may come. The sentry squad consists of one rifle squad. The cossack post is composed of a non-commissioned officer and three men. “The tips of the fingers and thumb will mark the line of the sentinels. These are the ears and eyes of the outpost system. “The sentinels are sent out to the front from the outguards. A picket posts one double sentinel post for each of its squads. Each sentry squad is charged with maintaining one double sentinel post. The cossack post maintains a single sentinel who is posted nearby. “Are there any questions?” Procedure The Director will endeavor to answer any questions that may be asked by the members of the class. After all questions have been cleared up, the Director will hand a copy of the problem to each member of the class. A few minutes are allowed for them to read it and get oriented. _The Director_: “Please give me your attention while we go over the problem.” The Director reads the problem aloud, each member of the class following from the copy in his possession. The direction of places mentioned are pointed out. _The Director_: “Lieutenant Hunt, give a brief statement of the tactical situation as you understand it.” Lieutenant Hunt states his understanding of the tactical situation. As he proceeds, the Director makes such explanations as may be desirable. One or more additional members of the class may be called upon to state their version of the situation. All of this is for the purpose of fixing the elements of the problem in the minds of the members of the class and prevent any subsequent misunderstanding of them. Solution _The Director_: “Lieutenant Barry, what do you estimate the mission of our battalion to be?” _Lieutenant Barry_: “We are an element of the force sent out to cover the concentration of the Blue forces and prevent the enemy from interfering with it.” _The Director_: “We have not yet gained contact with the enemy. Why do we halt at this time?” _Lieutenant Barry_: “There may be one or more reasons for it. In the first place, we are a detachment of a larger force (our regiment), and it is probable that before we started out, instructions were given our battalion commander to halt in this locality, so as to be on the general line of all the covering troops.” _The Director_: “That is correct. Our battalion must conform to the general plan of the operation.