Urban combat requires immediate access to fortified structures. FM 31-28 categorizes breaching into three distinct methodologies:
: Techniques for entering and clearing single- and multi-room buildings while minimizing collateral damage.
As a document distributed on a strict need-to-know basis, this manual was a restricted guide, accessible only to the Special Forces community and not intended for public release. Its classification and restricted nature would have covered sensitive operational and tactical information, the disclosure of which could compromise national security.
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) Its classification and restricted nature would have covered
: Tactics for reaching targets via helicopter insertion, fast-roping, vehicle movement, or parachute.
Exact positioning for 1-man through 4-man assault teams to ensure 360∘360 raised to the composed with power coverage inside a room. 2. Urban Breaching Operations
John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) Room Clearing and Structural Dominance (CQB) : Tactics
The lessons codified in FM 31-28 on 1 December 1999 served as the baseline doctrine for Special Operations Forces entering Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000s. Battles in cities like Fallujah, Ramadi, and later Mosul directly validated the critical importance of the advanced urban combat skills outlined in this manual.
Why study FM 31-28 today?
As indicated by the "FOUO" (For Official Use Only) designation in its title, FM 31-28 contains technical and operational information meant for . It is typically restricted from public dissemination because it details specific "how-to" techniques for bypassing security and conducting lethal raids. Legacy in Modern Warfare titled "Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat
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.
You cannot clear a room if you cannot get through the door. FM 31-28 outlines a triad of breaching methodologies designed to defeat fortified urban obstacles: