Umkhondo wesihlangu sisixhobo esisetyenziswa ngokuqhelekileyo kwimimandla yezakhiwo okanye koomatshini. Ngokuqhelekileyo itshisa ubukhulu kunye namandla athile kwaye yenziwe ngezinto ezithile. Igama lepleyiti eneembambo ezintathu linokuthi lithathwe kuyilo lwalo olukhethekileyo. Isenokuba neimbambo ezintathu zokuqinisa okanye ibe neempawu ezithile zokuthungwa. Ingasetyenziselwa ukuqinisa izakhiwo, ukuthwala imithwalo, okanye ukukhonza njengezahlulo. Kwiimeko ezahlukeneyo zokusetyenziswa, ukucaciswa kunye nokusebenza kweplate ye-ribbed-tribbed iya kuhluka.
