What should you do before clearing an area?

The recommended action to take before clearing an area is to estimate how much can be cleared in the available time. This is crucial because understanding time constraints allows you to prioritize tasks effectively and manage resources accordingly. It ensures that the clearing operation remains efficient and focused, maximizing effectiveness within the time limits imposed by the mission.

Moreover, this estimation helps in setting realistic goals for the team, which can influence decisions on how to allocate manpower, equipment, and effort. It allows for planning on whether to adjust the scope of the operation, which can be vital depending on the conditions encountered in the field. Failing to make this estimation could lead to incomplete tasks or over-exertion without yielding the desired results.

While establishing a secure perimeter, gathering equipment, and creating a detailed map are indeed important steps in the overall clearing process, they follow naturally after understanding what can be realistically cleared within the available timeframe. Having a clear estimate helps guide those additional actions to suit the operational needs effectively.