mout actd program handbook #1 experimental tactics ... - SpecOps

OMEGA TRAINING GROUP, INC.
MOUT ACTD HANDBOOK #1
EXPERIMENTAL TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES
FOR THE INFANTRY RIFLE PLATOON AND SQUAD IN URBAN COMBAT
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(3) Train to standard. Soldiers that are trained to the Army standards are
prepared to adapt to any situation. Soldiers trained in live fire exercises, target detection
and discrimination, and reflexive firing techniques are more capable of distinguishing
friend from foe and combatant from noncombatant.
(4) Training techniques. Some tips and techniques for training for MOUT can
be found in TC 90-1, Training for Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain.
1-9. RESTRICTIONS AND RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (ROE)
The law of land warfare prohibits unnecessary injury to noncombatants and needless
damage to property. US forces don’t have the option to destroy all or parts of an urban
area and kill large numbers of noncombatants. Units will always be faced with adhering
to Rules of Engagement of some kind. This may restrict the use of certain weapons and
tactics. Although a disadvantage at the time, this restriction may be necessary to
preserve a nation's cultural institutions and to gain the support of its people. This
demonstrates a real need for host nation cultural orientation on the part of US forces.
Units must be highly disciplined so that the law of land warfare and ROE are obeyed.
Leaders must strictly enforce orders against looting and expeditiously dispose of
violations against the UCMJ.
a. Rules of Engagement. ROE have a significant impact on how operations are
conducted during MOUT. Under high intensity conditions of urban combat, the ROE
may be as simple as limiting collateral damage as much as possible as required by the
Law of Land Warfare. Under precision conditions, the ROE given to the unit will be
much more restrictive than under high-intensity conditions. For example, conditions of
urban combat might require ROE that include not being able to fire unless fired upon.
Clearing a building may include clearing rooms that are occupied by noncombatants.
This severely restricts what munitions may be used, what breaching techniques may be
used, and what clearing techniques may be used, as well as reaction to snipers. ROE
may also require maximum use of nonlethal means as much as possible prior to use of
lethal means. Unless the troops are well trained and disciplined and the leaders are in
control, ROE can be forgotten very quickly.
b. Collateral Damage. One of the most significant issues raised is that of
collateral damage. Collateral damage is the unintended and undesirable civilian
personnel injuries or materiel damage adjacent to a target produced by the effects of
friendly weapons. ROE may specify what collateral damage is acceptable or
unacceptable. For example, ROE may identify a specific building that may not be
damaged due to its historical, cultural, or religious significance. Leaders and soldiers at
every level need to be able to define the limitations of collateral damage in regard to the
mission/task.
c. Changes to Rules of Engagement. Although general Rules of Engagement
are specified at very high levels, the specific rules given to a platoon and squad for their
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VERSION 7, 1 APRIL 1999