U.S. Army Counterinsurgency Warrior Handbook

by Department of the Army

Overview

In the global War on Terror, among the greatest threats to the United States military are insurgent uprisings. Enter the U.S. Army Counterinsurgency Warrior Handbook, the counterinsurgency playbook used by the greatest army in the world. This manual establishes fundamental principles for tactical counterinsurgency operations at the company, battalion, and brigade level. It is based on lessons learned from historic counterinsurgencies and current operations. The realities of today's operational environment—an environment modified by a population explosion, urbanization, globalization, technology, the spread of religious fundamentalism, resource demand, climate change and natural disasters, and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Both a boots-on-the-ground field guide to defeating an insurgency in a nation where the U.S. military has oversight and a high-level leadership guide for commanders organizing counterinsurgency efforts, this book—which includes battle diagrams and illustrations—is not only a must-read for military buffs, but also a valuable resource for business and gaming strategists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493006489
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/06/2015
Pages:	440
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

The Department of the Army. Headquarters, US Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 Operational Environment of Counterinsurgency 1

Section I Overview 1

Insurgency 2

Counterinsurgency 2

Influences on Current Operational Environments 3

Section II Operational and Mission Variables 5

Operational Variables 5

Mission Variables 8

Section III Analysis Off Civil Considerations Using Ascope 11

Methodology 11

Civil Considerations Overlay 13

Civil Consideration Matrixes 14

Section IV Effects 24

Prerequisites 24

Root Causes 25

Section V Cultural Competence and Situational Awareness 27

Culture 27

Cultural Capability 35

Cultural Proficiency Levels 36

Culturally Influenced Situational Awareness 38

Chapter 2 Foundations of Insurgency 40

Section I Overview 40

Components 40

Manifestations 41

Historical Insurgency 41

Section II Elements 42

Leaders 43

Guerrillas 44

Underground 44

Auxiliaries 45

Mass Base 45

Example 45

Section III Dynamics 46

Leadership 46

Objective 49

Ideology 52

Environment and Geography 54

Internal Support 55

Internal Support 56

Phasing and Timing 61

Organizational and Operational Patterns 62

Section IV Strategies 63

Urban Strategy 63

Military-Focused Strategy 64

Protracted Popular War Strategy 64

Id entity-Focused Strategy 65

Conspiratorial Strategy 65

Composite and Coalition Strategy 66

Section V Tactics 68

Violent Tactics 69

Nonviolent Tactics 72

Section VI Strengths and Vulnerabilities 74

Strengths 75

Vulnerabilities 78

Chapter 3 Foundations of Counterinsurgency 83

Section I Overview 83

Definition of Counterinsurgency 84

Goal of Counterinsurgency Operations 84

Foreign Internal Defense 85

Internal Defense and Development 85

Joint, Interagency, intergovernmental, Multinational 85

Interagency Coordination in COIN 90

Lines of Effort in Counterinsurgency 93

Section II Historical Theories 95

Robert Thompson's Principles for Successful COIN 96

David Galula's Four Laws for Successful COIN 96

Charles Call well's Ideas for Successful COIN 97

Section III Tactical Considerations 97

Terrain 97

Troops 104

Section IV Clear-Hold-Build Operations 109

Overview 109

Clear 111

Hold 113

Build 115

Section V Other Major Coin Tactical Operations 117

Strike Operations 117

Populace and Resource Control Operations 119

Section VI Phases 124

Initial Response Phase 124

Transformation Phase 125

Fostering Sustainability Phase 125

Chapter 4 Comprehensive Tactical Punning in Counterinsurgency 127

Section I Overview 127

End State 128

Measures of Performance and Effectiveness 129

Planning Horizons 131

Section II Tactical Design 134

Considerations 135

The Seven Counterinsurgency Lines of Effort 136

Section II MDMP and Tip 147

Military Decision-Making Process 147

Troop-Leading Procedures 160

Section IV Targeting! Insurgents 165

Role in COIN 165

Counterinsurgency Targeting Process 166

Targeting Battle Rhythm 171

Chapter 5 Offensive Considerations in Counterinsurgency 173

Section I Overview 174

Purpose in COIN 174

Characteristics of the Offense 174

Types of Offensive Operations 175

Offensive Operations in Clear, Hold, Build Operations 176

Mission Variables in COIN 177

Section II Civil Security and Control 178

Search and Attack 178

Cordon and Search 184

Search Operations 195

Site Exploitation 198

Raid 206

Ambush 210

Sniper Operations 218

COIN Patrols 222

Section III Other Links of Effort 231

Support Host Nation Security Forces 231

Support to Governance 231

Restore Essential Services 231

Support to Economic and Infrastructure Development 232

Conduct Information Engagement 232

Chapter 6 Defensive Considerations in Counterinsurgency 233

Section I Overview 233

Area Defense 234

Mobile Defense 234

Retrograde 234

Major Counterinsurgency Operations 234

Section II Civil Security and Control 235

Site Selection 235

Protection 241

Counterinsurgency Bases 244

Planning Considerations for a Base Defense 247

Combat Outpost Construction Considerations 250

Base Defense 252

Counter Ambush 256

Countering IEDs 257

Countersniper or Sniper Defeat 268

Countering Drive-By Shootings 274

Section III Other Lines of Effort 274

Support Host Nation Security Forces 274

Support to Governance 275

Restore Essential Services 275

Support to Economic and Infrastructure Development 276

Conduct Information Engagement 276

Chapter 7 Stability Operations Considerations in Counterinsurgency 278

Section I Overview 279

Nature of Stability Operations 279

Clear-Hold-Build Operations 280

Section II Five Primary Stability Tasks 280

Establish Civil Security 281

Establish Civil Control 285

Support to Governance 298

Restore Essential Services 307

Support to Economic and Infrastructure Development 310

Chapter 8 Support to Host Nation Security Forces 321

Section I Benefits, Challenges and Goals 321

Benefits 322

Challenges 324

Goals 326

Section II The Framework 126

Developing a Plan 327

Developing HN Security Forces 332

Employment of Newly Trained Forces in COIN 357

Appendix A Intelligence Preparation of the Bat Fee Field 360

Overview 360

Significant Characteristics in COIN 362

Appendix B Readings Tor Counterinsurgency Tactical Leaders in a Time-Constrained Environment 372

Articles 372

Books 372

Appendix C Twenty-Eight Articles: Fundamentals of Company-Level Counterinsurgency 373

Introduction 373

What Is Counterinsurgency? 374

Preparation 374

Golden Hour 378

Groundhog Day 382

Getting Short 385

Four "What Ifs" 385

Appendix B Twenty-Seven Articles of T.E. Lawrence 387

Glossary 393

References 418

Index 422