Fm 31 28 Fouo Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat 1 December 1999 25 ((better)) (2024)
By the end of the course, an ODA was expected to be proficient in systematically taking down single and multi-story objectives, a capability that was later critical in the early phases of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
: Procedures for evacuating and treating casualties in the urban environment, minimizing exposure to civilian populations.
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
: Instructional methods for both mechanical (using crowbars or "quickie saws") and explosive entry through doors, windows, and security fences. By the end of the course, an ODA
Special Forces operators (Green Berets), instructors at the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS).
The manual standardized the baseline training for . This ensured that every ODA deploying overseas possessed an identical, lethal vocabulary for building clearance and urban survival. Though its direct distribution was strictly controlled to preserve operational security within the Special Forces community, its principles ultimately filtered down to revolutionize conventional military urban warfare tactics worldwide. If you want to explore further,
Conventional manuals (FM 90-10-1) focused on battalion-and-brigade level combined arms: tanks, artillery, and engineers clearing block by block. That was useless for a 12-man Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA). On the other hand, traditional SF manuals focused on jungle or rural guerrilla operations. was created to fill this void. The curriculum, often designated for official use, covers
Utilizing torches to cut through heavy iron bars or reinforced steel doors.
FM 31-28 stands as a monument to military doctrine—a transition document that took the lessons of the late 20th-century brushfire conflicts and forged them into a weapon system capable of dominating the complex urban battlefields of the modern era.
This is the core of the manual, focusing on clearing rooms and buildings in a "direct action" raid. The course prepares teams to take down multi-story objectives, using close-quarters tactics that are both fast and violent. Special Forces operators (Green Berets), instructors at the
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:
Calculating exact, minimum-safe-distance explosive charges (strip charges, donut charges) to instantly blow open structural barriers while preserving the lives of the assault team inside and outside the threshold. 3. Room Clearing and Structural Dominance (CQB)
Utilizing sledgehammers, hooligan tools, and shotguns with ballistic breaching rounds.
The principles of urban combat are based on the fundamentals of infantry combat, with an emphasis on the use of cover and concealment, suppressive fire, and precision targeting. Urban combat requires a high degree of situational awareness, adaptability, and flexibility.
