SERGEANT COURSE CERTIFICATION
EVALUATION SCRIPT 2026 FULL
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ INDIVIDUAL FIGHTING POSITION. Answer: The fire team leader
designates fighting positions that will enable the fire team to cover the
assigned sector by fire.
Each fighting position must provide—and receive—mutual support from
adjacent positions.
Positions may be prepared as single or double fighting positions. If
double fighting holes are prepared, the automatic rifleman and assistant
automatic rifleman will pair off.
Each position should be continuously improved from hasty position to
deliberate position to overhead covered position.
⩥ SECTOR OF FIRE. Answer: A sector of fire is an area that is required
to be covered by fire by an individual, a fire unit (squad or fire team), or
a crew-served weapon. The sector of fire is used to:
Clearly indicate the area to be covered by fire.
Provide for the best distribution of available firepower and complete
coverage of the area to covered by fire.
Ensure mutual support by the overlapping of adjacent sectors of fire.
,It is a pie-shaped area enclosed by lateral limits to the left and right and
a forward limit defines its depth.
Squad leaders are not normally assigned individual sectors of fire since
their primary duty during the conduct of the defense is directing and
controlling the fires of their units.
⩥ Lateral Limits. Answer: Readily identifiable terrain features are
selected to indicate the line of sight along each side of the sector. These
terrain features should be located near the forward limit of the sector so
that all fire team members assigned to cover this sector use the same
limiting features. Two stakes placed near the position of the weapon are
used to indicate the lateral limits during periods of restricted visibility.
The stakes should be placed before nightfall.
⩥ Forward Limit. Answer: The forward limit is established at the range
where the weapon will open fire. For rifles and automatic rifles, this may
extend up to their maximum effective ranges.
When possible, a terrain feature is selected to locate the forward limit.
As the attacker passes this limit, he is brought under fire.
,This provides the squad leader with a positive means to control the
commencement of small arms fire.
⩥ Principal Direction of Fire (PDF). Answer: A principal direction of
fire (PDF) is a specific direction within the sector of fire given to a flat-
trajectory weapon and is designated as its primary fire mission. A PDF is
assigned to automatic rifles and is indicated by pointing out a readily
identifiable terrain feature. An automatic rifle should not be assigned
more than one PDF.
This terrain feature may be the target itself or it may indicate the line of
sight when no target is assigned. The limits of the target should be
pointed out on the ground when distributed fire is required along the
PDF. A stake near the firing position is used to indicate the PDF during
periods of restricted visibility. The PDF is employed to:
Cover a gap in the final protective line (FPL) of a machine gun
Cover a specific terrain feature endangering the company or platoon
battle position, such as a draw which may serve as an avenue of
approach, or hill top which may serve as a possible enemy vantage point
Protect a crew-served weapon by firing across its front
Augment the band of flanking fires placed immediately in front of the
battle position when targets of opportunity to the front are not visible
, ⩥ Dead Space. Answer: Dead space is an area within the maximum
range of a weapon that cannot be covered by fire or observation from a
particular position because of:
Intervening obstacles
The nature of the ground
The characteristics of the trajectory
The limitations of the pointing capabilities of the weapon
The identification of dead space in the PDF, a mission assigned to squad
automatic weapon in the defense, is particularly critical. Dead space in
the PDF that is not covered by other weapons systems could provide the
enemy the opportunity to penetrate friendly lines.
⩥ FIRE PLAN. Answer: The fire team leader formulates the team's fire
plan to cover the entire sector assigned by the squad leader with the
heaviest possible volume of fire.
The fire plan includes:
Assignment of individual sectors of fire
EVALUATION SCRIPT 2026 FULL
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ INDIVIDUAL FIGHTING POSITION. Answer: The fire team leader
designates fighting positions that will enable the fire team to cover the
assigned sector by fire.
Each fighting position must provide—and receive—mutual support from
adjacent positions.
Positions may be prepared as single or double fighting positions. If
double fighting holes are prepared, the automatic rifleman and assistant
automatic rifleman will pair off.
Each position should be continuously improved from hasty position to
deliberate position to overhead covered position.
⩥ SECTOR OF FIRE. Answer: A sector of fire is an area that is required
to be covered by fire by an individual, a fire unit (squad or fire team), or
a crew-served weapon. The sector of fire is used to:
Clearly indicate the area to be covered by fire.
Provide for the best distribution of available firepower and complete
coverage of the area to covered by fire.
Ensure mutual support by the overlapping of adjacent sectors of fire.
,It is a pie-shaped area enclosed by lateral limits to the left and right and
a forward limit defines its depth.
Squad leaders are not normally assigned individual sectors of fire since
their primary duty during the conduct of the defense is directing and
controlling the fires of their units.
⩥ Lateral Limits. Answer: Readily identifiable terrain features are
selected to indicate the line of sight along each side of the sector. These
terrain features should be located near the forward limit of the sector so
that all fire team members assigned to cover this sector use the same
limiting features. Two stakes placed near the position of the weapon are
used to indicate the lateral limits during periods of restricted visibility.
The stakes should be placed before nightfall.
⩥ Forward Limit. Answer: The forward limit is established at the range
where the weapon will open fire. For rifles and automatic rifles, this may
extend up to their maximum effective ranges.
When possible, a terrain feature is selected to locate the forward limit.
As the attacker passes this limit, he is brought under fire.
,This provides the squad leader with a positive means to control the
commencement of small arms fire.
⩥ Principal Direction of Fire (PDF). Answer: A principal direction of
fire (PDF) is a specific direction within the sector of fire given to a flat-
trajectory weapon and is designated as its primary fire mission. A PDF is
assigned to automatic rifles and is indicated by pointing out a readily
identifiable terrain feature. An automatic rifle should not be assigned
more than one PDF.
This terrain feature may be the target itself or it may indicate the line of
sight when no target is assigned. The limits of the target should be
pointed out on the ground when distributed fire is required along the
PDF. A stake near the firing position is used to indicate the PDF during
periods of restricted visibility. The PDF is employed to:
Cover a gap in the final protective line (FPL) of a machine gun
Cover a specific terrain feature endangering the company or platoon
battle position, such as a draw which may serve as an avenue of
approach, or hill top which may serve as a possible enemy vantage point
Protect a crew-served weapon by firing across its front
Augment the band of flanking fires placed immediately in front of the
battle position when targets of opportunity to the front are not visible
, ⩥ Dead Space. Answer: Dead space is an area within the maximum
range of a weapon that cannot be covered by fire or observation from a
particular position because of:
Intervening obstacles
The nature of the ground
The characteristics of the trajectory
The limitations of the pointing capabilities of the weapon
The identification of dead space in the PDF, a mission assigned to squad
automatic weapon in the defense, is particularly critical. Dead space in
the PDF that is not covered by other weapons systems could provide the
enemy the opportunity to penetrate friendly lines.
⩥ FIRE PLAN. Answer: The fire team leader formulates the team's fire
plan to cover the entire sector assigned by the squad leader with the
heaviest possible volume of fire.
The fire plan includes:
Assignment of individual sectors of fire
