Comprehensive methods of combating IEDs according to US Army FM 3-90.119: main factors
US Army Charter FM 3-90.119, dedicated to the fight against IEDs (improvised explosive devices / IED - improvised explosive device) - considers this fight itself (called IEDD - improvised explosive device defeat) as a complex problem requiring comprehensive action in all areas of combat functioning (WFF - war fighting functions). At the same time, the main emphasis is placed not so much on the IEDs themselves, but on the purely decision-making process of combating the threat of their use, so that it becomes an organic part of the decision-making processes and their synchronization - MDMP (military decision-making process) and RDSP (rapidly decision synchronization process).
To achieve this goal, according to the charter, it is considered necessary to comply with the necessary rules - TTP (tactic, techniques and procedures). The application of these rules, according to the charter, must be carried out in the key METT-TC (mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available and civil considerations), meaning mission, enemy, terrain and weather, own forces and possible support, time required and civilian environment, in which an operation is carried out for army units, and METT-T (mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, that is, without a “civil environment”) for units and units of the Marine Corps.
This key is used when planning all operations of the US Army, including operations to combat IEDs - IEDD (improvised explosive device defeat).
Mission - task
According to the US Army regulations FM 3-90.119 factor tasks (mission) implies the formulation of who, what, where, when, why and why are involved in carrying out a combat mission and the commander conducting an analysis of the situation in accordance with this formulation with two higher commanders. The headquarters determines those who take part in combat missions, including combating IEDs - IEDD (improvised explosive device defeat). The latter, according to the charter, may include:
• conducting reconnaissance of routes and combat mission zones,
• organization of patrols and raids,
• conducting sniper operations,
• ensuring security and cleaning routes,
• ensuring the combat mission area, including critical areas and infrastructure,
• conducting operations to search and block the enemy.
Enemy - enemy
Factor enemy (enemy) in this case means all those conventional and non-conventional forces that can use IEDs and use them without opening their positions, according to their own rules and pace. Moreover, according to the charter, during the very use of the IED the main emphasis is not on the IEDs themselves, but on the organization of the process for their use, including the support received in society, financing, support, production of IEDs and planning of actions, so the fight against IEDs itself must be waged against this entire process as a whole.
Thus, in the course of formulating the term “enemy”, it is necessary to clarify:
• what methods and rules he uses when using IEDs,
• what materials are used to create them,
• what are the typical targets of these IEDs,
• what pattern does the enemy use to organize attacks using IEDs in certain areas or on certain routes,
• what is the enemy’s organization in cells, echelons and directions,
• what are the sources of supplies and where are the resting places of the militants,
• what is the level of public support,
• what are the means of communication,
• what are the known or suspected sources of funding,
• who are the enemy commanders.
Terrain and Weather – terrain and weather
Terrain and weather factors, although considered natural according to regulations, can be either friendly or hostile, affecting the nature and effectiveness of IEDs and the actions of US troops to counter IEDs.
The terrain is analyzed according to the OAKOC method (observation and field of fire, avenues of approach, key terrain, obstacles, and cover and concealment) described in the FM charter 7-92 The infantry reconnaissance platoon and squad.
The charter states that typical locations for installation of IEDs are:
• bridges and passages, roads and railway crossings, i.e. areas where equipment slows down or the distance between vehicles is reduced,
• areas with heavy traffic and large crowds of people,
• canals and tunnels,
• areas of terrain that provide good surveillance, and areas of terrain that provide camouflage for IED gunners and other areas of terrain that are advantageous for supplying and using IEDs.
Weather, according to the formulation of the term “weather” (i.e., the state of the lower layers of the troposphere at a particular moment in time), affects both the visibility of the IED and the target, as well as the effectiveness of the IED, and the choice of its installation location.
Troops and Support Available – own strength and support
The factor of own forces and possible support (troops and support available) is assessed by the commander during the analysis and includes: number, capabilities, type, what forces in what numbers can provide support, which includes both the forces of other branches and types, and allied armies. This analysis allows the commander to make an assessment of the sufficiency of forces for the operation.
Measures to combat IEDs require effective reconnaissance forces, including both reconnaissance-capable forces themselves and engineering forces, including mobile augmentation units, clearance units, and sapper units. ), search teams and canine teams, teams for working with ammunition - EOD (Explosive ordnance disposal) teams and specialists for working with ammunition - EOD operators, combat units (combat forces), including mobile and fire support groups translators and military police units, civil affairs forces (CA) support, psychological operations forces (PSYOP) support.
Time – required time
Required time factor (time) - determining the time for it to be carried out planning, preparation and implementation of tasks on the fight against IEDs. In this case, attention should be paid to the change in time:
• progress of the convoy,
• reactions to an IED explosion,
• targeting,
• necessary for conducting a raid against the production facilities of IEDs and against their designers,
• required to capture warehouses with IEDs and materials for their production.
Civil Considerations – civil environment
The factor of the civil environment in which the operation is carried out (civil considerations) means the influence on the operation of all aspects of public life, including influence of infrastructure, civilian organizations, attitudes and actions of civilian leaders, populations and organizations in the area of operation.
Like the operation to combat IEDs - IEDD (improvised explosive device defeat), the operation of IEDs is also important for its impact on the civilian population. This influence is characterized by the term ASCOPE (areas, structures, capabilities, organizations, people, events), which refers to the following factors:
• area factor - areas, the delimitation of the area of operation between different political entities, differences in social and religious character, between zones of different crops and minerals, as well as trade and other economic interests, how this affects differences in support for American troops and on the conduct of attacks IED;
• infrastructure factor – structures – which objects, churches, cultural institutions, bridges, mosques, power plants, warehouses, communication centers, dams and so on, are located in the area of operation; control of which objects will ensure the protection of the population or which should be primarily protected from the enemy; which objects are a legitimate military target and which cannot be such a target;
• capability factor – capabilities, implies what are the capabilities of the civilian population and civilian services and resources to support military operations and what are the enemy’s abilities to receive such support;
• the factor of organizations – organizations – means the influence that non-military groups and public institutions located in the area of operation have on the population;
• population factor – people – what support the American troops and their enemy can receive from the population;
• incident factor – events, meaning the impact of various events that occur randomly, constantly, on a cyclical basis, according to plan, and how they can affect the psychological climate among the population and how they can affect the support of American troops.
Thus, measures to counter IEDs represent complex intelligence work, including complete reconnaissance of the area (natural characteristics, weather, infrastructure) and work with the population (undercover work, managing the psychological climate of the population).
To be continued ...
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