Dedo pulgar

1. INTRODUCTION: You are part of the troop at a staging area in country X. A Warning Order tasks you with providing security to include perimeter blocking positions, in support of the Assault Element. It is critical that this is done to ensure the success of the mission. This is a basic 360 degree security of the Crisis Site. Fanning out into two man teams to seal the Crisis Site and deny any hostile access to the Cri-sis Site.

2. OVERVIEW. This section is designed to introduce you to techniques used for perimeter security and blocking positions in support of a SOF CQB operation.

BODY

1. INNER PERIMETER SECURITY. The mission of Inner Perimeter Security is to prevent individu-als from escaping the Crisis Site, as well as to protect the assault element while it is maneuvering to the Breach Point from small arms fire coming from within the Crisis Site.

a. Inner Perimeter Security can be provided by the following three elements:

(1) Sniper/Designated Marksman from within the R&S team that are on the ground surrounding the objective. The advantage of these teams is that they have powerful optics and precision weapons that can take extremely surgical shots. The disadvantage is that if an individual escapes the Crisis Site as the as-sault element is clearing, the R&S Team would probably have a difficult time apprehending the escaped individual, simply because of the distance that R&S normally stands off of the target.

(2) Sniper/Designated Marksman airborne in a sniper platform, ie, UH-1. This element is limited.

The shooter does have powerful optics and precision weapons; however, it takes considerable training for the shooter to become proficient at taking shots. Additionally, the airborne platform can observe individu-als escaping, but can not apprehend. The airborne platform does have other outstanding applications.

(3) Security Element personnel on the ground. These Operators can immediately deploy, after the snipers/designated marksmen have taken their shots, and establish a tight inner security ring around the Crisis Site. The advantage is that these operators are right up on top of the target, so if anyone did try to escape, they will immediately be apprehended. Of the three elements, the Security Element will probably provide the best inner perimeter security. If the Security Element does provide inner perimeter security, the individual operator must do so from covered and concealed positions.

2. OUTER PERIMETER SECURITY: The mission of Outer Perimeter Security is isolate the Crisis Site, preventing anyone from coming into the Crisis Site. The requirements can range from keeping on-lookers away in the permissive scenario, to preventing the enemy reinforcements from gaining access in the non-permissive scenario. The Outer Perimeter is maintained by Security Element Operators and is nothing more than a 360 degree perimeter formed around the Crisis Site. The ground situation will dictate tactics. Techniques that you choose in a rural area, may not work in a city. If you have a built up area to your West, and a swamp to your East, then your probably will focus more of your force on the side of the built up area. However, you still must position someone to secure the swamp side also.

a. Within Outer Perimeter Security is what is known as Blocking Positions. A Blocking Position is normally made up of a team of Operators that will include a Machine-gun and possibly a AT-4, as well as explosives. Normally this position is located on a avenue of approach. The mission of a Blocking Posi-tion is primarily to prevent any vehicle mounted reinforcements from entering the Crisis Site. There are three basic levels of Blocking Positions. They are:

(1) Level 1. A visual or physical deterrent to block access to the Crisis Site that will not cause injury to foreign national or damage to property. Examples are road blocks, barricades, local law enforcement, etc.

(2) A physical deterrent to block access to the Crisis Site that will cause damage to property and pos-sibly inflict injury to foreign nationals. Examples are nail boards, limited demolitions.

(3) Level 3. Involves the use of Deadly Force to prevent access to the Crisis Site. Examples are em-ploying Machine-guns, AT-4's, claymores, etc.

3. CROWD CONTROL:

a. Use of local law enforcement in the permissive scenario would be ideal. However, do not depend on local law enforcement for your own security. Even with their support, you must still provide your own outer perimeter security.

b. Physical presence of an armed operator may sometimes be enough of a deterrent.

c. Flashbang thrown in front of a crowd to push them back so you may maintain your position.

d. CS Gas/Riot Control Agents is a good deterrent, but difficult to obtain authorization for its use.

SUMMARY: During this period of instruction, we have discussed how to establish both Inner and Outer Perimeter Security, the three levels of a Blocking Position, and Crowd Control. Properly providing exteri-or security is essential fexteri-or mission success. It depends on every mans initiative and tactical knowledge.

INTEGRATION

1. INTRODUCTION: Imagine that just the Direct Action Troop is going to conduct an assault on a 40 room objective. Can the troop handle this large of an objective? Sure they can. How long will it take them to get to the last room, though? Maybe so long that the terrorist in that last room gets the presence of mind to kill the hostage. There is nothing that you can really do to stop this from happening, except may-be by increasing your dynamics, you can get to that room may-before the terrorist gains the presence of mind and eliminate his thought process for him.

2. OVERVIEW. This section is designed to introduce you to integration between the Assault and Securi-ty Elements.

BODY

1. GENERAL: In any fight, you always want to have an advantage over our opponent, to have the upper hand. This is one of the main reasons that we introduce trailers on to an objective. Because of our num-bers, we want to be able to overwhelm our adversary. The purpose for the use of trailers is to increase and continue the dynamics of the fight when you are confronted with a Crisis Site, because of its size, may in-terfere with the speed at which the clear is conducted. In other words, our intention in the assault is to rap-idly gain complete control of the objective. To be able to overwhelm the enemy and prevent him from fighting us or killing the precious cargo. If we can accomplish this by only entering with the Direct action team, then that is what should be done. However, if you cannot rapidly get to every room in the Crisis Site and fight, then you should introduce Trailers.

2. INTEGRATION: The following scenario has been developed to introduce integration. Upon the breach, the Direct Action Team enters the objective and is immediately confronted with a long hallway with doors on both the left and right side. The point is established with equal stacks on both sides of the hallway:

a. The Trailers will enter behind the Direct Action Team. Trailers should be organized similar to the DAP. Instead of a point man, the Trailers will have what is called a "Traffic Cop". The Traffic Cop con-trols the flow of the Trailers. He will position himself in the center of the hallway and have his Trailers stack just as the Direct Action Team has.

b. The Traffic Cop will ensure that there is a slight buffer between the Direct Action Team stack and his stack, any observer should be able to see two distinct formations.

c. As two shooters make entry into a room, the shooter stack continues with the flow.

d. The two shooters that enter the room will only conduct the first four fundamentals of CQB;

DOMINATE, ELIMINATE, CONTROL THROUGH VERBIAGE, AND DEAD CHECK. Once these fundamentals have been done, both shooters will position themselves by the door. One shooter will con-tain the room while the other shooter breaks a green chemlight and waves it outside the door with his sup-port hand, using the verbiage of "TRAILERS UP".

NOTE: The verbiage "TRAILERS UP" should be the SOP to mean that you need two trailers. If you re-quire more or less then instead give the verbiage of "I NEED TRAILERS".

e. The Traffic Cop in the hallway sees the shooter waving the chemlight in the doorway and hears the verbiage of Trailers Up". He immediately turns to the stack of trailers that is on that side of the hallway and physically directs two trailers to move to that shooter.

f. The two Trailers approach the door, announce "COMING THROUGH", and enter the room, step-ping just to the sides of the door.

g. The shooter waving the chemlight briefs the trailers on what has and has not been done in the room, while the other shooter maintains security. For example: "I have done the dead check on those two Tan-gos. We have not searched the room or that closet in the corner. Any questions"? This procedure is known as a turnover.

h. Once the turnover has been completed, the shooters will announce "COMING OUT", but not 'LAST MAN OUT", since there trailers occupying the space. The shooters will continue with the flow of the as-sault. Additionally, the shooters will not mark the door.

i. Once the shooters have left the room, the two trailers complete whatever fundamentals have not been done. Most likely these fundamentals will be to detail search the room and handle any living individuals.

The shooters should do the Dead Checks

and they should brief the trailers as to that fact. If at anytime, as a trailer, you are not sure if the Dead Check has been conducted, do one. However, only do if you are not sure; by doing a dead check, we may end up having a redundant count in the HHA.

j. Once the trailers have completed all remaining fundamentals, the depart the room, announcing

"COMING OUT" and "LAST MAN OUT", as they mark the doorway with a green chemlight. The trailers then rejoin their trailer stack.

k. As the shooter stack moves, so should the trailer stack, to an extent. The Traffic Cop should avoid pulling his stack past rooms where the shooters are still inside fighting, hence the buffer.

l. As the flow progresses, shooters will be exiting rooms, after the turnover, and the trailer stack will be forward of their position. For this reason it is important for the trailer to stay on the bulkheads and out of the center of the hallway. If the hallway is blocked by trailers and the shooter is trying to get though in or-der to rejoin the flow of the assault, then he should sound off with "SHOOTER COMING THROUGH".

Upon hearing this verbiage, all trailers should make a hole.

m. As I said earlier, the Traffic Cop maintains control of his stacks and directs trailers to move to rooms. However, if the Traffic Cops attention is diverted, a shooter is waving a chemlight forward and on the left, and he doesn't see this, then the two trailers on the left side should take initiative and move on their own to that shooter.

n. If, because of the size, configuration, and set-up of the room, and the shooter feels that he a trailer is not needed in the room, then he will not call for the trailer, but will conduct all six fundamentals and then mark the room. For example: The room has no adjoining doors, minimal search problems, and no living individuals.

o. As the shooters assault the last couple of rooms, they probably shouldn't call for any trailers if the fight is over with, but should complete all six fundamentals and then mark the room.

p. As the fight is over with and it has been announce "LAST ROOM", all shooters and trailers turn about and move to the HHA, looking for the Danger Area, and Lone Shooter. If there are none, assume chokepoints. If a shooter is manning a chokepoint, the first trailer to reach his position should step beside the shooter, face in the same direction and state "SHOOTER, TURN AND GO".

q. Any time a shooter has been injured and requires buddy aid, a trailer will perform this aid, not a shooter. The shooter must continue with the dynamic of the clear.

r. The first four out should be Trailers simply because of their weapons system.

s. Recommend shooters handling living individuals during evacuation and placing trailers on the corri-dor with security, simply because of their weapons system.

t. The verbiage "SUPPORT" and "NEED SHOOTERS" means that a shooter needs the immediate assistance of another shooter. The verbiage "TRAILERS UP" means that specifically trailers are needed.

u. What we are trying to work towards is for the Trailer to have a larger role in the assault. What we mean by this is that if a shooter is in a emergency situation in a room, and starts to sound off with

"SUPPORT" repeatedly. A Trailer is stacked outside the room and hears this, and is watching for that support to come down the hallway. "SUPPORT" keeps being given, and the trailer sees no support com-ing, he may then announce "COMING THROUGH, make entry and assist the shooter in a shooter capaci-ty. This technique should only be used as a last resort and only with the Assault Element Commanders au-thorization.

SUMMARY: As you can see, quite a lot goes into integration. The more that you integrate, the more co-hesive your force will become. To be successful in any assault, a lot depends on the individual operators initiative, to be able to take the ball and run with it.