Infantry Minor Tactics or IMTs are the very basic tactics that are employed at the squad, section or platoon level. They are, generally speaking, reasonably similar across most modern armies. A squad is a small military unit subordinate to an infantry platoon. ... Platoon is a term from military science. ...

In most situations, except static defense, IMTs are based on the principal of "fire and movement". That is firing and moving, often in pairs, one soldier firing to supress or neutralise the enemy whilst the other moves either toward the enemy or to a more favourable position. The movement is often only 5-10 metres per move.

This technique is sometimes referred to as "pepper-potting" (British/Commonwealth) or "fireteam rushes"(US).

IMTs are typically taught to all arms and services both in basic training and often also whilst undergoing non-infantry specialty training.

In some military forces, such as the Australian Army and the United States Marine Corps ("all Marines are riflemen first") all units in the field force regardless of corps, regiment, trade or specialty are supposed to undergo annual refresher training in IMTs, on the basis that all soldiers in a conflict can be expected to be involved in a minimum in providing local security for their unit or formation.

Most IMTs are taught in the form of a drill - ie a series of choreographed steps that occur in reaction to a certain stimuli, such as siting enemy to the front, or being engaged by enemy from a flank etc.

The initial stages of the drill being more choreographed with more scope for the units commanders to influence the course of action as the action progresses and the situation becomes clearer.

This allows the first few moments of the engagement to occur almost automatically and therefore give the soldiers time to take cover and start returning fire and the commander time to make a (quick) assessment and issue orders.

Perhaps the most basic of all IMTs is the "Basic Drill".

The Basic Drill is the drill that all individual soldiers are supposed to perform if they come under "effective fire".

The basic drill is:

• run two or three steps
• drop to the ground or into cover
• crawl a few yards (or move under concealment/cover)
• observe
• shoot (identified targets of opportunity within effective range)
• move
• observe
• shoot
• move
• repeat until issued orders

The basic drill is designed to get a soldier into cover, move him from the last position where they were likely to be seen by the enemy, and get him engaging any targets within range that he can see. For example, to provide a few simple steps for him to follow under stress that will keep him alive and positively engaged until his commander makes an appreciation and issues instructions.