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Scott Savage SOC SMG An Najaf, Iraq scott0510@yahoo.com Graduate of ADSI
Summary: This article illustrates the unique situation that the mobile protective operations overseas are facing, as well as a tactical view in approaching the task of providing security in a high threat area. It also includes my thoughts on equipment and the way that missions are delivered. I will discuss tactics being used by the enemy and the types of training that should be considered for the operation. These key points are important because they all have an impact on driving in a high-risk environment. Having been in Iraq for a year participating as a security operator in the captured enemy munitions program, I hope some of my training and experience, as well as information that I have collected, can be of some use to other missions, whether they are other protective operations, force protection and/or military. Training: Training is one of the most important factors in developing a strong team base line. The starting point for this base line will come through the implementation of merging disciplines and tactics learned through training and experience. Another crucial factor is understanding one’s mission, as well as other security personnel’s missions, if or when contact with the enemy occurs. After training, the smaller operating units in the field can expand or reduce on the initial training as the situation dictates. It is a consideration that adequate training is rehearsed with mock ambushes including 360 degree firing positions in the effort to break the firing range mentality. This helps in changing the mind-set of security operator away from their past administrative range training. During a run through of action on enemy contact during an ambush, the first priority is protecting clients and removing all personnel from the kill zone. Second, the security personnel should communicate where threat areas are by using simple orientation methods, i.e.: description, direction and distance. Well-planned drills use fluid movements with contingency actions that counteract the enemy with consistently placed suppressive fire fast. Then they apply some type of physical stress, i.e. short run or fireman carry drill. Next tactical decisions are executed using maps and global positions systems to communicate accurately with a radio, satellite phone or vocally to other team members in an attempt to establish which direction a second attack of fire is coming from so members may seek adequate cover. Then practicing medical battle skills assessments of a patient using basic life saving care procedures
In adverse conditions, medical care is very difficult if no cover is available, team members should maneuver tactically or low-crawl to position themselves so they can assault the enemy and close in with available weapon fire. A team should also be moving to facilitate protection for the recovery team vehicle that will be picking up the injured personnel and the disabled vehicle(s), with finishing drills of transitions to different weapons.
With unarmored vehicles, speed has been one of our defenses in the effort to avoid possible attacks from ambush near or far and IED/VBID attacks. The recent use of vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIEDs) has shown that not all VBIEDs are low-priced junk cars. Some are more expensive models that will better blend in with the surrounding area and most recently water trucks delivering water to military bases. Before deployments, Team/Driver training should establish SOP’s for:
Multiple vehicles traveling within the same convoy that are applying offensive driving and shooting methods need to understand the effects of their actions on the rest of the convoy, and the importance of communicating with each other.
Equipment: During most of my time in the area, I have driven an unarmored F-350 from Kuwait to Baghdad, both on and off road. I found this truck to perform very well in soft sand, and the high clearance allows for ease in crossing high sand hills in the desert. However, it is not my first choice because the F-350 was not made for taking bullets or fragmentation from explosions. The center of gravity on the truck is not bad, but it does not hold up well when compared with the faster Ford Explorer SUV. This being said, the SUV has been a nightmare on and off the road with a very low fuel capacity. It also fairs poorly in tactical situations because of poor maintenance and logistics. I cannot count the number of times I’ve seen an SUV needing to be pulled out of the sand or mud because someone was not paying attention to the gas gauge. On a few occasions, I’ve seen the SUV get high-centered or just break down and need to be recovered. This leads to recovery techniques every vehicle should have, which include two towropes secured and staged on the front and rear ready for deployment. Frequently, I’ve had to make a short stop and in the time it takes us to get back on the road again the locals are aware of our location which draws too much attention to our convoy. If you see any Al Jazzier reporters are in the area, they are not there for your opinion on current Middle East politics.
When we have had to transport the client to and from secured locations, we have used armored level III Ford Excursions. The main concern with this vehicle has been the issue of the client needing to be evacuate in an emergency situation and being unable to open the door for themselves. A spare key is made for this problem, but if the doors are jammed or malfunctioning, all we could use was a crow bar. This should be a top concern. Speed is critical to getting back on the road. Security details need to practice individual responsibilities, i.e. changing tires. I would recommend having plenty of spare tow straps ready because they do break and go into windshields. A Rapid Lift 2.5–Ton steel race jack can be inexpensive and is a lot faster than using the factory jack. Additionally, it should be made sure that there are two brand new “correct load max weight “spare tires for each vehicle and that a pair of gloves are in order. Third world roads at 120 degrees air temp and another 40 degrees for the asphalt is hell on tires. These devices would help at uncomfortable unsecured stops. We have looked at disabling air bags and found this to be more trouble than it’s worth. However, we did reinforce the doors and the rear of the vehicles with quality armor, not just scrap metal picked up from the side of the road. We have requested armoring modification to engine compartments, including heavy-duty crash/push bumpers (frame-mounted component) and rear roll bars in the bed of the trucks or roll cage Ballistic Glass Laminates, Kevlar swathing concentrating on the doors and the floor. The vehicle dynamics (steering, braking and off road driving) mentioned in the vehicles above differ more so with armored vehicles. Missions: Pre-Deployment Preparations and Contingency Plan: Missions are delivered to the convoy leader, who will then collect intelligence on Extremist and Insurgent groups/organizations activity for planning the routes. It is important to identify significant threats on the route, then liaison with Coalition Forces in area, identifying any checkpoints, and what available assets the convoy has, i.e. MEDEVAC or Quick reaction force. The convoy leader then organizes & positions the vehicles and personnel for assignments & responsibilities en route. Then inspections will be performed to ensure accountability and serviceability of all equipment accompanying the convoy. Prior to departure, the convoy leader will give a security brief on the mission to all personnel involved with the task at hand using maps, eraser boards, imagery power point, and/or photos of the route and handouts containing current information pertaining to the mission. Information included in these briefings should include:
Other questions and factors to keep in mind are: planning the first and second destinations – what are the estimated times of arrival; the use of radio codes and call signs, and defining who is the client liaison. The client likes to know what’s going on even if nothing is going on. What equipment is available to the convoy and who has satellite phones, cell phones, and VHF radios. How can stationary dispatch be reached? The lead vehicle should be informing trailing members of the convoy what is coming up next in the direction of the movement i.e. obstacles in the direction of movement. The last vehicle should be the second in charge of security and relay up the convoy anything relating to the mission. Personnel assignments & responsibilities convoy configuration in the security vehicles should be the first and last vehicles in the convoy. If more than two security vehicles are available, then the other security vehicles are intermixed within the convoy and/or used as scouts. The security personnel in non-security vehicles will be seated shotgun and/or behind the driver. The convoy leader and the client, as well as medical personnel ride in separate vehicles. Medical personnel should ride in the rear part of the convoy. In densely populated areas, non-security windows are closed to keep people from throwing objects in the vehicles (i.e. grenades, IED’s). The convoy will proceed as fast as possible to its destination; however the speed of the convoy will only be as fast as the slowest vehicle and as safe as road conditions allow. Enemy: The enemy situation in Iraq has varying dynamics when it comes to security issues. No uniforms to go by with suicide attacks on US personnel and on the local population. AK 47’s are cheep at local markets and hand grenades have been sold for five dollars. Ordnance can be found on the ground throughout the county side. Paying a local $300.00 for shooting at US personnel as a first diversionary is nothing more than finding someone who’s unemployed and is in need of money. Using children to stop traffic has been tactics for extremists, the good smarten rules that we go by has been used against us and then take hostages. Some other tactics being used by extremist and insurgent groups are setting up fake police checkpoints or Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) in the effort to make targets more susceptible sometime the REAL police or ICDC have turned on personal so it is best to never let them get the upper hand. Ambushes have been know to have second IED’s daisy-chained together placed further down the direction of travel. Small mortar attacks are common and usually involve 3 to 5 rounds employed from the back of a pick up truck and then moving to a new location.
When it is possible to get current in-country intelligence from the military installations, the MTC office will be able to advise on the activities of former Baath Regime members, transnational terrorists, criminal elements, and current activities against military and civilian targets throughout Iraq. Dangerous areas include bridges and overpasses along an MSR, which are likely targets, as well as police stations, checkpoints, obstructions and restrictions (bridges, tunnels, steep grades and sharp curves). Anticipated choke points are some of the methods used in Iraq to detonate IEDs devices. Some of these include: remote car alarms, garage door openers, remote controlled or battery-powered doorbell devices, pagers, and cell phones both sending and receiving units. Speed is our primary security measure. IED’s Methods of Disguise have been buried in rock piles Under Man-Hole Burlap bags, animal carcasses, and tied to guard rails, telephone poles, median buckets, cinder blocks, pothole covers, trash bags, cigarette cartons and coke cans. These are VERY HARD TO SPOT at convoy speeds. Trash is all over every road in Iraq. Distance between vehicles in open areas is maintained between the vehicles and in densely populated areas vehicles should be closer together to keep the vehicles from getting separated.
Materials currently being used for IEDs:
Conclusion: In closing, I will try to augment the importance and some considerations for teams operating prior to deployment and for personnel thinking about driving in the country of Iraq. It is important to plan your next two steps when getting to the next area. Knowledge of the terrain and routes on and off road and navigating using a GPS off road has been the safest ways to get to certain spots. Driving for the most part is like driving in any third world country but fast and aggressive has been the best approach. There are constantly unknown obstacles like piles of sand or rock dumped from a truck blocking the road. Several reports have revealed the last vehicle in a convoy has been the first targeted for taking hostages. Drivers should be very aggressive but with prudence to certain situations. They should know when to play chicken with on-coming traffic and when stopping people with their weapons is the right choice. They should understand when using a smile and waving a hand would work better than a gun. The point of the matter is, driving aggressively will work, but not if the driver is reckless. The reality of the situation is what you do immediately after contact with terrorists will determine what the outcome of the situation will be. Security driver training before arriving in a high-risk security environment is recommended. It builds team confidence, helps the ability of an individual to consistently place the vehicle in a safe path, and promotes accurate driving maneuvers. These things will have a direct impact on the teams in establishing procedures that will save lives and develop the mental discipline necessary to counter the external pressures of the area. This training prepares you and your team mentally and physically to perform under situational stress and reaffirms team confidence with dedication to duty and mission accomplishment. |
There are many obstacles that must be considered while attempting to achieve these goals. The physical environments are very loud and contrasting in temperatures. Temporary hearing loss, which can be referred to as "auditory exclusion” is often associated with gunfire, yelling and high winds with explosions near an adjacent area. Flying sand and debris can cause eye problems, while the transition from rigorous driving to dismounted contingency operations can be disorienting. For these reasons hearing protection and ballistic eyewear is recommended.
Convoy Drills are simple and lead to muscle retention and memorization. Simulated training exercises for a team could be as follows. First, gun trucks are lined up as if traveling down range. Second, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire is received from a one o’clock direction. Next, fire is returned back on the enemy without hesitation of shooting around or over each other and even through windshields to repel the enemy who is proceeding through the kill zone with increasing speed. During this process, team members should pay close attention not to bunch up. If a vehicle goes down, the trailing security vehicle can take cover behind the immobilized vehicle. Members should dismount to secure a perimeter around the immediate area seeking coverage left and right off the road in such a way that might reduce the kill zone. If the down vehicle is still functional but the vehicle’s driver is dead or incapacitated, the crew can then perform a Dead Driver Scenario. In this situation, the front seat passenger will become the driver. Personnel in the rear seats will attempt to move the injured driver out of the way, either to the rear seats or to the front passenger door side. The vehicle will then be driven away from the threat and to safety before it stops. During movement, first aid is performed on the injured driver if the situation dictates.
Another vehicle we have used is the GMC Sierra 2500. This model vehicle has been useful for nighttime perimeter operations in conjunction with the use of night vision optics. This enables personnel to cut off all interior and exterior lights. The gas engine is very quiet compared to the F350, which can be heard 300 meters away. These factors make the GMC my number one choice of the three for night movement. Night movements training with night vision devices and driving should be well practiced before hand so that if there comes a time that your convoy gets stuck in the middle of nowhere and its dark, you’ll know what to do.
