What should be done after making visual contact with the enemy?

After making visual contact with the enemy, engaging in a hasty ambush or continuing observation is the recommended course of action. This approach allows for a tactical response tailored to the situation at hand. If a hasty ambush is executed, it can catch the enemy off guard and utilize advantageous positioning for maximum effectiveness. On the other hand, continuing observation can provide critical intelligence on enemy movements, strengths, and weaknesses, informing future actions and decisions.

Engaging in a hasty ambush places immediate focus on the enemy threat and enables your unit to maintain the initiative, which is vital in combat scenarios. The decision to engage rather than retreat or wait aligns with principles of tactical warfare where taking decisive action can significantly influence the outcome of an encounter.

The other courses of action may lead to missed opportunities or heightened risk. For example, retreating to higher headquarters would typically be inappropriate unless the unit is critically outmatched or in danger. Ignoring the enemy and continuing with the original mission can lead to exposing your unit to unanticipated threats, while waiting for orders from central command may leave the unit vulnerable and unresponsive to rapidly changing battlefield dynamics.