dated 23 Jul 2015

Army Training Circular (TC) 3-20.31-4 is intended for all Army personnel, commanders, and their staffs for use at Soldier through brigade combat team level.

This TC provides the standardized direct fire engagement process for crews, teams, squads, and small units. It provides principles coordinating the actions of these entities for establishing cohesion through a common, standardized engagement process. The concepts described in this TC are applicable to all direct fire weapons, weapon systems, and small units in the Armored brigade combat team, Stryker brigade combat team, and Infantry brigade combat team.

 Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also use this publication.

This manual applies to the active Army, Army National Guard (ARNG), Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS), United States Army Reserve (USAR), and the United States Marine Corp, unless otherwise stated.

Introduction

The goal of the direct fire engagement process is to provide a standardized method of engagement for weapons and platforms on the battlefield. This method allows Soldiers and leaders to maximize the effects of lethal fires against the enemy while at the same time reducing or eliminating the effects of fires on friendly or neutral personnel, equipment, or facilities.

PURPOSE

This TC describes the engagement process for direct fire weapons. It includes the fundamentals of the engagement process that has five distinct steps executed by the firing element; detect, identify, decide, engage, and assess (DIDEA). These steps are part of a constant cycle where firers execute decisive action tasks with direct fire to defeat threats, eliminate the potential for fratricide, and reduce collateral damage.

The DIDEA process described within this manual represents the standardized process used to engage threats with direct fire weapons.

This book is a "mini" (7 1/4 inches high by 5 1/2 inches wide) size.

- A popular size to carry anywhere (briefcase, large pocket, purse) but the print is large enough for easy reading.  The binding uses a coil, allowing for easy page flipping without jamming.

This website also has this book in "BIG" size (the size of a regular sheet of paper)

The color covers are laminated for weather protection with black and white inside printing.