Fm 31 28 Fouo Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat 1 December 1999 25 [exclusive] -

FM 31-28 FOUNO: Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (1 December 1999, 25) - A Comprehensive Guide

The Field Manual (FM) 31-28 FOUNO, titled "Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat," was published on December 1, 1999, and is still widely referenced today. This manual provides valuable insights and techniques for military personnel and law enforcement agencies operating in urban environments. The manual's focus on advanced urban combat is particularly relevant in today's world, where urban warfare is becoming increasingly common.

Understanding the Context

The late 1990s saw a significant shift in the nature of modern warfare. The end of the Cold War and the rise of asymmetric threats led to a renewed focus on urban warfare. The manual FM 31-28 FOUNO was developed to address the specific challenges faced by special operations forces (SOF) in urban environments. The manual's publication date of December 1, 1999, coincides with a period of significant change in the global security landscape.

Key Principles of Advanced Urban Combat

The manual FM 31-28 FOUNO outlines several key principles for advanced urban combat, including: FM 31-28 FOUNO: Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat

1. Urban Terrain: The urban environment presents unique challenges, including complex terrain, civilian populations, and infrastructure. Special operations forces must be aware of these challenges and adapt their tactics accordingly.
2. Enemy Engagement: In urban combat, the enemy may be dispersed among the civilian population, making it difficult to distinguish between friend and foe. SOF personnel must be trained to engage the enemy effectively while minimizing collateral damage.
3. Close Quarters Battle: Urban combat often involves close quarters battle (CQB), where SOF personnel must fight at close range. The manual provides techniques for CQB, including room clearing and hallway fighting.
4. Civilian Casualties: Minimizing civilian casualties is a critical aspect of urban combat. SOF personnel must be trained to take all necessary precautions to avoid harming non-combatants.

Tactics and Techniques

The manual FM 31-28 FOUNO provides a range of tactics and techniques for advanced urban combat, including:

1. Building Clearing: The manual provides detailed guidance on clearing buildings, including room clearing, hallway fighting, and stairwell clearing.
2. Sniper Operations: The manual covers sniper operations in urban environments, including the use of snipers to support SOF operations.
3. Demolitions: The manual provides guidance on the use of demolitions in urban combat, including the use of explosives to breach buildings and destroy enemy positions.
4. Communication: Effective communication is critical in urban combat. The manual provides guidance on the use of communication equipment and techniques.

Training and Preparation

The manual FM 31-28 FOUNO emphasizes the importance of training and preparation for urban combat. SOF personnel must be trained to operate effectively in urban environments, including:

1. Simulation Training: The manual recommends simulation training to prepare SOF personnel for the stress and uncertainty of urban combat.
2. Urban Terrain Training: SOF personnel must be trained to navigate complex urban terrain, including buildings, streets, and alleys.
3. Scenario-Based Training: The manual recommends scenario-based training to prepare SOF personnel for the challenges of urban combat.

Conclusion

The manual FM 31-28 FOUNO, "Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat," provides a comprehensive guide to advanced urban combat. The manual's focus on tactics, techniques, and training is particularly relevant in today's world, where urban warfare is becoming increasingly common. By understanding the principles and techniques outlined in this manual, military personnel and law enforcement agencies can better prepare for the challenges of urban combat.

References

• FM 31-28 FOUNO, "Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat," 1 December 1999
• United States Army Special Forces, "Urban Combat: A Guide to Special Forces Operations in Urban Environments"
• Joint Publication 3-06, "Doctrine for Special Operations"

Appendix

The following appendices provide additional information on the manual FM 31-28 FOUNO:

• Appendix A: Urban Combat Techniques
• Appendix B: Sniper Operations in Urban Environments
• Appendix C: Demolitions in Urban Combat
• Appendix D: Communication Techniques for Urban Combat

Keyword density:

• FM 31-28 FOUNO: 10
• Special Forces: 8
• Advanced Urban Combat: 7
• Urban Warfare: 5
• SOF: 4
• CQB: 3
• Civilian Casualties: 2
• Simulation Training: 2

Word Count: 840 words.

FM 31-28, dated 1 December 1999, establishes the foundational doctrine for the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) program, training 12-man ODAs in high-intensity urban operations . The curriculum, often designated for official use, covers advanced Close Quarters Battle (CQB), breaching, specialized marksmanship, and insertion techniques . For an example of current training, view this DVIDS video. News - SFAUC Course - DVIDS

The Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat course is a three-week long training event that teaches a higher level of urban tactics. Video - Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course

FM 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) from 1 December 1999, established standardized high-intensity, precision-focused tactical doctrine for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas, addressing the need for specialized urban training. It introduced critical skills like discriminatory engagement, advanced breaching, and CQB that laid the foundation for modern special operations tactics. Read more regarding the SFAUC course on specialforcestraining.info SF Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) - Special Forces Training

12. Quick reference: assault checklist (condensed)

• Mission/purpose — confirmed
• Intelligence brief — complete
• ROE — confirmed
• Team roles — assigned
• Rehearsal — complete
• Communications — redundant verified
• Breaching plan — selected and tools ready
• Support assets — available and coordinated
• CASEVAC plan — set with routes and pickup points
• Civilian safety plan — established

9. Interagency, host-nation, and legal considerations

• Coordinate with local law enforcement, host-nation military, and NGOs when present.
• Understand local laws, status-of-forces agreements, and legal ROE for detention, searches, and use of force.

3.2 Underground Navigation Without GPS

In 1999, civilian GPS was selective availability (degraded accuracy). The manual taught celestial navigation from sewer grates (finding Polaris through a manhole) and dead reckoning using subway electrical substations as known points. The “25” could refer to 25 specific underground landmarks common to post-industrial cities. Urban Terrain : The urban environment presents unique

3.3 The “Scorpion’s Nest” – Countering Drones (Pre-Predator)

Surprisingly, FM 31-28 contained a section on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) radio-controlled aircraft being weaponized by enemy forces. This was prophetic for 2020s drone warfare. Recommendation 25 in that chapter: use a 25-foot length of monofilament fishing line suspended between two buildings to entangle low-flying drones.

7. Support and enablers

• Indirect and precision fires: use precision-guided munitions and forward observers to limit collateral damage; coordinate with higher echelons.
• Aviation: use helicopters for fast-roping, aerial reconnaissance, CAS where permissible by ROE.
• Engineers/EOD: breaching explosives, rendering safe IEDs, structural assessments.
• Medical: forward stabilization, triage points, CASEVAC routes and priorities.
• Civil Affairs/Information Ops: manage civilian populations, media, infrastructure impacts.

4. Doctrinal Evolution: 1999 to Today

The tactics in FM 31-28 were state-of-the-art for 1999, but two decades of continuous war in Iraq and Afghanistan drastically changed how the U.S. Army approaches urban combat.

• Vehicle Integration: FM 31-28 focused heavily on dismounted operations. Post-2001 doctrine heavily integrates up-armored vehicles (Humvees, MRAPs, Strykers) into urban maneuver, a concept less mature in 1999.
• Technology: The manual relied on analog maps and manual breach calculations. Modern doctrine incorporates GPS, drone surveillance (UAS), and digital command-and-control systems that were in their infancy in 1999.
• Host Nation Training: While FM 31-28 touched on training locals, the massive scale of the "Foreign Internal Defense" (FID) mission in Iraq and Afghanistan expanded this doctrine significantly.

3. Organization and tasking

• Tailor SF detachment/team composition for urban tasks: assault elements, breachers, sniper/observation, communications, medic, demolition/EOD, interpreters, civil affairs.
• Task-organize into: reconnaissance, assault, support, clearing/search, security, and follow-on exploitation elements.