Combat Tracking Guide Kindle Edition

The Human Advantage"Combat Tracking Guide" by John Hurth a retired Special Forces operator and renowned tracking instructor, is the latest addition to the growing study of man-tracking/visual tracking books available. This book is predominantly for military trackers, if you did not already realize this from the books title. And with that will not make all trackers happy. But fortunately this book made me extremely happy.The intent of this book is to provide a definitive manual of operational employment concepts, methods and tracking techniques interwoven into a cohesive operational methodology (find, fix, finish, exploit, analyze, and disseminate) to enable the end-user to wield the military tracker and tracker teams in the most effective manner in combat.The first chapter covers the salient points of understanding the fundamentals and concepts of visual tracking covering; use of lighting, visual indicators, factors affecting sign, aging theory and other basic topics. The seconded chapter covers human gait and track interpretation covering some of the following topics; elements of gait, phases of a footstep, recording track information, estimating quarry (size, direction), and the track pursuit drill. These two chapters provide the critical knowledge and skill-set of a successful visual tracker but the core of this book is the remaining chapters covering the tactics and techniques associated with combat tracking.Chapter three provides the building block information on the combat tracking concept covering organization and tactics. The chapter goes into detail on the duties and structure of the tracking team followed by details on partolcraft. The patrolcraft covers movement techniques and formations, hand signals, halts/patrol base. Immediate action drills and the most important tactics associated with tactical/combat tracking, the individual and team Lost Track Drills.Chapter four details the operational employment with a focus on the find, fix, finish, exploit, analyze, and disseminate methodology. As well, track/mission reporting, command and control (C2) are coved in excellent detail. One of the things that I liked in this chapter was the identification matrix which had various examples of weapon "butt" stocks for identifying the butt imprints (I mentioned this same topic in my tracking book, but unfortunately I did not add the pictures to support the topic).Chapter five provided a basic synopsis of counter-tracking, mines and boobytraps coving all the common deception techniques (walking backwards, stone hooping, bombshelling, etc.) and offensive techniques predominantly derived from the Special Forces Vietnam era B-52 "tips" detailing techniques like the box and figure eight methods. The information on mines and booby-traps covers some the most current information gleamed from operations and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan. The author details the employment, visual indicators, and detection of these devices with excellent detail. Also he has an excellent adaptation of the AWG 5- and 25-meter drills, which are quite effective.The remaining sections of this book are not listed as chapters but are standalone section which is a strange format selection for the book by not following the chapter format. However, this does not distract from the presented material. The sections cover; Tracking with limited visibility, which covers the selection of various light sources and their effectiveness in viewing track/sign. Urban tracking is covered next with a good discussion of track traps. K9 tracker teams section details the incorporation and integration of K9 into tracking operations, detailing team structure, advantages and disadvantages. Then the book has two sections on eliciting information from witnesses/informants and combatants to develop the track picture. The final section briefly covers pursuit and encirclement tactics.The back matter of the book consists of seven appendices (A-G); glossary, about the author page and index. The first listed appendix (A) covers tire and tread tracked vehicle impressions which the author does an excellent job on. I am a little jealous of this section, as I also covered this in my tracking book, but I did not add a "profile" picture of the vehicle/equipment, which really rounds out the information of the section. In my book I just showed the tread patterns. This is a technique (vehicle tread patterns) I picked up in Germany when I went to the International Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol School (ILRRPS). I think this is a skill-set overlooked by most visual trackers and is detailed well in this book. The following five appendices (B-F) cover; order formats, mission debrief format, fire support, air operations, and support request reference guide. The last appendix (G) covers the combat tracker's load which is excellent and details the complete individual load-out of a combat tracker keeping the equipment down to the essentials in the authors "back-to-basics" mentality with survivability and mobility at the top of the list of requirements when developing these lists.I only touched on some of the topics covered in this book and can only say, you will not be disappointed with this book. Overall, this is an excellent book and gives a holistic view of the combat tracking spectrum of operations. This book is ideal, obviously for military trackers, scouts, snipers and special forces, as well as commanders who employ such units. I also think law enforcement trackers will find relevant information in this book. However, if you are not a man-tracker or you want a dedicated text to just "vanilla" tracking then this book is not for you.

If you are a tracker, you likely collect books about tracking. If so, this book, Combat Tracking Guide, by John D. Hurth, certainly belongs on your bookshelf. This guide fills a niche that few tracking books fill. It won't replace Scott-Donelan's Tactical Tracking Operations, or Kearney's classic book on the subject, but it certainly is a great companion book to add to your collection. These books offer information and strategies that complement each other and should be studied.This book is primarily written for a military audience, but tracking is a skill that is used in so many applications that other trackers will find good information here as well. Trackers are curious by nature and most of the trackers I know enthusiastically try to learn as much about this skill as possible. As a tracker, I found that the first two chapters offered a thorough overview of the tracking skills that soldiers need to have. Covered subjects are basic tracking, gaits and interpretation of the tracks.The third chapter covers organization and tactics. The techniques taught here are designed to keep the tracker team safe while staying on the trail and moving quickly enough to close the time-distance gap between the team and their quarry. I found this to be an interesting section as animal trackers and SAR trackers generally do not track armed quarry. It is good information to know for SAR trackers though. Who knows what you will run into out in the wilderness when tracking someone who is lost? It would be best to be prepared and to know how to keep your team safe. I must put a disclaimer here and state that I have no military training or experience whatsoever, so I cannot attest to the accuracy or completeness of that portion of the book. That being said, from the perspective of a non-military tracker, it certainly seemed to be a complete look at the many aspects of tracking in a combat environment.The operational employment chapter includes photos of common footwear patterns, as well as rifle butts. These are items that leave sign in the field and that trackers need to be aware of. (There is also a complete appendix in the back of the book that shows the tread pattern of a large variety of tanks and other battlefield equipment.)The last chapter deals with counter-tracking, mines, and booby traps. I hope that these techniques are taught to all our soldiers who have to operate in a combat environment, especially the section on booby traps. A list of signs to look for is provided so trackers can learn how to avoid areas that might contain mines or booby traps. The counter-tracking techniques that could be used by the quarry were described and diagrammed so that trackers can learn how to defeat these attempts to hide the sign.The last part of the book has details on tracking in low light or nighttime conditions, urban tracking, and how to work with K-9 teams - all very useful information for a tracker team. The appendices provide a look at things that I was not familiar with due to not having military training. They include: order formats and checklists, mission debrief format, fire support, air operations, support requests, and a photographic section detailing a combat tracker's load. I found that section interesting, and it would be of interest to SAR trackers as well. There are many items that combat trackers carry that SAR trackers could use in the field too.Overall, I enjoyed this book. It gave me a glimpse at tracking in a totally different environment than I will ever be in. It gave me a lot more appreciation for the military use of tracking skills and a firm belief that all soldiers should be trained in this skill. If nothing else, they can use tracking skills to be aware of possible mines so that they stay safe. If I had to find a negative with this book it would be that the acronyms used throughout the book were not all listed in the glossary. Of course, these acronyms could be commonly-used in the military world and not something a civilian like me would have a clue about. For that reason, I can't say this is really a negative. This book was packed full of good information and would be a great addition to any tracker's bookshelf. Whether you are a combat tracker, or just a civilian tracker looking to learn more about the skill, you will find this book very useful. It will certainly make you a more well-rounded tracker.

I literally have over 40 books on the subject of tracking, and about three of them are torn, worn down, and have formerly rain soaked pages and mud splatters in them. This book is one of those three and the only one on the subject of combat tracking. It is in such poor shape because I have read it at home and read/used it in the field on several occasions. The best way to get good at tracking is to track, and to train with those who track. This book affords beginning and advanced trackers alike, the opportunity to metaphorically track alongside Mr. John Hurth. I do not know Mr. Hurth personally and have only briefly chatted with him. He comes off in conversation and in this book as a professional who loves his craft and wants others to enjoy it and see the benefits of it as well. You can tell by how he writes, that he really wants you to "get" the subject matter, not just read another book.This book has allowed me the opportunity to utilize more and varied information that I did not previously possess. I occasionally get to lead small groups of LEO and corrections officers in fugitive apprehension after both armed and unarmed individuals. The information I got from this book helped fill in some gaps in my own training, which then allowed me to fill in the gaps with others.So if you are an experienced tracker....get this book and add some more tools to your tactical toolbox. If you are new to tracking, this is THE book to get on the subject matter in it's title.

Tracking Man is tracking the deadliest animal on the planet and its clear that Hurth knows his stuff because only those who can and have, are able to articulate this formidable skill in print.

very informative guide.

There are plenty of books on tracking a bear through the snow, and how to distinguish skunk spoor from opossum, but to date there is no book on tracking in combat situations that covers the subject as fully and effectively as John D. Hurth's Combat Tracking Guide. If you are going to hunt armed men, you need this book.

Good tracking reference book

Well worth owning .