Cross-Cover and Sectors of Fire

1. Define Your Sector

Before movement, know exactly what area you are responsible for. A sector is not the whole room; it’s the slice of space assigned to you. If you cross the wrong patch either you take a shot or you have someone taking instead of you.

Why it matters: When everyone owns a sector, the whole environment is secure.

2. Cross-Cover Protects the Team

Two operators should overlap their sectors at the edges. This “cross-cover” creates redundancy — if one is distracted, the other still watches the gap.

Why it matters: Overlap builds trust and prevents gaps from becoming ambush points.

3. Avoid Overlap Chaos

Cross-cover does not mean crowding or duplicating fire. Communicate, adjust, and avoid two operators fighting for the same lane.

Why it matters: Efficient coverage means no sector is neglected, but none is over-committed.

4. Communicate Sector Changes

If you must shift your sector (movement, reload, obstruction, under deadly circumstances), announce it. A simple call like “Dropping left, need cover”ensures no gap appears.

Why it matters: Silence creates holes. Communication fills them.

Final Word

Cross-cover and sectors of fire are about discipline, not aggression. A professional operator protects the team first, eliminates threats second. Trust comes from knowing your angles are covered. Every run ends with an After Action Review (AAR) to check if coverage worked — more on this in the next post.