8. The platoon sergeant moves forward to the base of fire squad with the second machine gun and assumes control of the squad. 9. The platoon leader leads the breach and assault squads along the covered and concealed route. 10. The platoon FO calls for and adjusts indirect fires as directed by the platoon leader to support the breach and assault. 11. The breach squad executes actions to breach the obstacle (footpath). a. The squad leader directs one fire team to support the movement of the other fire team to the breach point. b. The squad leader designates the breach point. c. The base of fire team continues to provide suppressive fires and to isolate the breach point. d. The breaching fire team, with the squad leader, moves to the breach point using the covered and concealed route. (1) The squad leader and breaching fire team leader employ smoke grenades to obscure the breach point. The platoon base of fire element shifts direct fires away from the breach point and continues to suppress adjacent enemy positions. (2) The breaching fire team leader positions himself and the automatic rifleman on one flank of the breach point to provide close in security. (3) The grenadier and rifleman (or the antiarmor specialist and automatic rifleman) of the breaching fire team probe for mines and cut the wire obstacle, marking their path as they proceed. (Bangalore is preferred, if available.) (4) Once the obstacle is breached, the breaching fire team leader and the automatic rifleman move to the far side of the obstacle using covered and concealed positions. They signal the squad leader when they are in position and ready to support. e. The squad leader signals the base of fire team leader to move his fire team up and through the breach. The squad leader then moves through the obstacle and joins the breaching fire team, leaving the grenadier (or antiarmor specialist) and rifleman of the supporting fire team on the near side of the breach to guide the rest of the platoon through. f. Using the same covered and concealed route as the breaching fire team, the base of fire team moves through the breach and to a covered and concealed position on the far side. 12. The breach squad leader reports the situation to the platoon leader and posts guides at the breach point. 13. The platoon leader leads the assault squad through the breach in the obstacle and positions it on the far side to support the movement of the remainder of the platoon or to assault the enemy position covering the obstacle. 14. The breaching squad continues to widen the breach to allow vehicles to pass through. 15. The platoon leader provides a SITREP to the company commander, and directs his breaching squad to move through the obstacle. The platoon leader appoints guides to guide the company through the breach point (Figure 8-20).