This United States Army manual, Army Techniques Publication ATP 3-39.33 Crowd Control June 2022, provides guidance for U.S. (United States) forces supporting or conducting crowd control to address demonstrations, rallies, or civil disturbances. This publication provides a framework for commanders and staffs on planning, preparing, executing, and assessing crowd control within the United States and outside of the United States. U.S. forces deploy in support of unified action, overseas contingency operations, and humanitarian assistance worldwide. During these operations, U.S. forces are often faced with crowds that have the intent of disrupting peace and the ability of U.S. forces to maintain peace. Worldwide instability, coupled with U.S. military participation across the range of military operations, require U.S. forces to have access to the most current doctrine and techniques that are necessary to assist local, state, and host-nation authorities or support Army operations to─
• Maintain law and order.
• Protect critical capabilities, assets, activities, life, and public property.
• Deescalate crowd actions, if required.
• Disperse crowds when needed.
Readers of this manual must fully understand the Army profession and moral principles described in ADP 6-22, the fundamentals of the operations process found in ADP 5-0, the principles of command and control as described in ADP 6-0, the protection principles discussed in ADP 3-37, the conduct of Army operations outlined in FM 3-0, and military police operations addressed in FM 3-39.
The principal audience for ATP 3-39.33 is commanders, staffs, leaders, and Soldiers who are responsible for planning, preparing, executing, and assessing crowd control in support of Army operations. All members of the profession of arms may use this manual to facilitate an understanding of the tasks of crowd control. Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also use this manual.
