The basic skills all soldiers must know to prevail on the battlefield, including battle drills for offense and defense operations, patrols, construction and emplacement of fighting positions, use of weapons and artillery, mines and explosives, land navigation and map reading, communications, individual security and camouflage, and combat medicine (first aid).

The book is a guide to small unit dismounted combat operations. It has been extensively updated to include both the latest doctrine and lessons learned from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It covers the equipment, operations, and individual combat skills essential for soldiers, marines, and airmen who must act as infantry, that is, the basic skills all soldiers must know to prevail on the battlefield, including: battle drills for offense and defense operations patrols construction and emplacement of fighting positions -- use of weapons and artillery mines and explosives land navigation and map reading communications individual security and camouflage and combat medicine (first aid). A good refresher to those reservists and National Guardsmen deploying to combat zones or engaged in security operations.