FMI 3-34.119 - Soldier Support Institute - U.S. Army

Military SearchPRINCIPLES• Ambushes. Ambushes should be used―• In locations of potential “high risk” IED emplacement areas.• By scout and sniper teams.• Raids. Raids should―• Focus on specific targets when reliable, actionable intelligence is available.• Prepare to exploit the raid site with the appropriate intelligence collection assets, such asCEXC, EOD, search dogs, CID, and so forth.• Demonstrate to the enemy the certainty that you will act, but uncertainty as to when andwhere.• Proven TTP. (TTP developed and used successfully by units.) When using TTP―• Do not confuse convoy procedures with IED search and detection.• Remember that TTP are situation driven and must be combined with principles ofleadership.• Convoy escorts. When performing a convoy escort―• Ensure that IED search and detection teams proceed ahead of the convoys.• Drive parallel to the MSR when possible. This tactic allows for a view from an additionalvantage point. Always observe the area from the enemy perspective.F-7. Principles for IED search and detection, also known as IED hunting include―• Knowing the AO and maintaining SU, soliciting information, and reviewing intelligence reports.• Building experience in units. Traveling roads day after day. Observe routines and attitudes ofthe local populace. Using your experience on these routes will allow you to judge the attitude ofthe local populace (for example, if the town square is empty when it is normally full of people).Remember that these techniques will not work if you change personnel every day; the reasonthey work is because you have Soldiers and Marines who―• Know what the roads look like and can recognize when something is different.• Have gained experience by conducting multiple operations searching for IEDs.• Concentrating efforts on high-threat areas. Targeting likely sites using the IPB process (battletracking). Updating and clearing NAI at least once every 24 hours and varying the timesconstantly.• Negating IEDs before they are emplaced, to include―• Capturing or killing the bomb makers, trainers, emplacers, and their leaders.• Finding and destroying explosive caches.• Interdicting enemy supplies.• Securing ordnance before it can be used to become an IED.• Operating at night or other known times of IED emplacement.• Investigating people performing roadside work or vehicle maintenance.• Using optics, (binoculars, spotting scopes, and so forth) to view suspected IEDs from a distance;using every tool available.• Patrolling with a high degree of unpredictability. Making U-turns; varying movement by time,routes, gates, convoy composition, mounted, and dismounted; and drive the wrong way onramps. (Remember, we own the roads.)• Driving in the center of the MSR at slow speeds (10 to 20 miles per hour) and scanning thesurrounding areas. (It is difficult to detect anything driving at high speeds.) Remembering not toset patterns while conducting searches.• Ensuring that upon arrival in the search area that actions are varied continuously (search shouldappear completely random). Driving in one direction for 1 or 2 miles, then making a U-turn,search the other direction, pick up, and move to a completely different AO. Being unpredictable21 September 2005 FMI 3-34.119/MCIP 3-17.01 F-3