This manual is intended to give the company–level leaders an understanding of camouflage principles.

In order to remain viable forces, all units must be capable of adequately camouflaging themselves and their equipment.

To ignore a threat’s ability to detect our offensive and defensive operations on the battlefield can only result in disaster. In order for units to survive on the battlefield, they must be well versed in camouflage concepts and techniques.

Camouflage is as important as marksmanship, maneuver, and mission. It is an integral part of the soldier’s duty. Camouflage not only encompasses individual efforts, but those efforts conducted by the entire unit, such as movement discipline, light and noise discipline, litter control, dispersal, cover and concealment, deception, and smoke operations.

Everything the soldier or his unit uses on the battlefield must adhere to the principles of camouflage if they are to survive. Survivability is the goal. The unit commander must encourage each soldier to think of survivability and camouflage as synonymous terms.

Training soldiers to recognize this correlation will give them a better understanding of the need to be proficient in camouflage techniques.