CARS stands for what?

• A. Contact; Ambush; Raid; Security
• B. Capture; Assault; Recon; Security
• C. Check; Attack; Raid; Security
• D. Contact; Attack; Recon; Suppress

Answer: (D)

CARS is a four-step action sequence used in infantry when reacting to enemy contact. It starts with establishing or recognizing contact, then moving to an attack to seize the initiative, followed by reconnaissance to confirm enemy positions and important details of the situation, and finishing with suppressive fire to keep the enemy heads down while the unit maneuvers or reorganizes. This order mirrors how a rifle squad would quickly respond in a contact situation: identify the threat, apply force to gain the upper hand, gather current information, and maintain pressure to enable safe movement or continued operation. The other options use words that don’t fit this standard sequence, so they wouldn’t represent the recognized CARS acronym.