Fm 31 | 28 Fouo Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat 1 December 1999 25

If you possess a physical copy of FM 31-28 (FOUO) dated 1 December 1999, it is likely a controlled item. According to AR 25-55 (Department of the Army Freedom of Information Act Program), such outdated FOUO documents should be destroyed or decontrolled. However, many veteran SF operators retained personal copies – some of which have appeared in online auctions, only to be swiftly removed.

The “25” in your query remains a tantalizing clue. It might be a paragraph about the 25 most dangerous intersections in an urban fight, a figure diagramming 25 ways to scale a wall, or Annex 25’s “Assault on a Vertically Partitioned Target.”

Regardless, FM 31-28 (FOUO) stands as a milestone: a manual written in the brief twilight of the pre-9/11 world, anticipating the urban battles of Fallujah, Mosul, and Mariupol. It was a docent for the dark corridors and high rooftops where special forces still fight – one mousehole at a time.

Disclaimer: The U.S. Army does not endorse the release of current FOUO or classified documents. This article is for historical and doctrinal analysis based on unclassified, declassified, and academic sources. Do not attempt to distribute or obtain restricted records.

FM 31-28 FOUNO: Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat, 1 December 1999

Summary:

This field manual (FM) provides doctrine for Special Forces (SF) operations in urban environments. The manual focuses on advanced urban combat techniques and tactics for SF teams operating in complex, urban terrain. The document is marked "FOUNO" (File or Folder Unit Officially Noted), indicating restricted distribution.

Key Points:

  • SF Urban Combat Doctrine: The manual outlines SF-specific doctrine for urban combat, emphasizing:
  • Urban Combat Techniques: The manual covers various techniques, including:
  • Tactical Considerations: The manual discusses:
  • Training and Rehearsal: The manual stresses the importance of:

    • Distribution and Handling:

    The "FOUNO" marking on this manual indicates that it contains sensitive information and should be handled and distributed with care. Access to this manual is restricted to personnel with a need-to-know clearance.

    Relevance:

    The doctrine outlined in this manual remains relevant today, as urban combat continues to be a critical aspect of modern military operations. The manual's focus on advanced techniques and tactics for SF teams operating in complex urban environments provides valuable insights for military professionals and scholars.

    The document FM 31-28 Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC)

    , dated 1 December 1999, is a critical historical and technical manual designed to provide Special Forces

    commanders and operational detachments with a standardized doctrinal basis for high-intensity operations in urbanized terrain. specialforcestraining.info Review Overview : It serves as the primary guidance for the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC)

    course, which is a mandatory advanced training program for Special Forces Operational Detachment "A" (ODA) members following their initial qualification. Target Audience

    : Specifically tailored for ODA, ODB, and ODC commanders to organize and prepare for missions involving sensitive special operations If you possess a physical copy of FM

    , including direct action and counter-terrorism in urban centers. Core Focus

    : The manual emphasizes the transition from traditional unconventional warfare to Close Quarters Battle (CQB)

    , focusing on precision tactics where "every angle is covered" and threats are neutralized with extreme speed. specialforcestraining.info Key Tactical Components

    As described in the manual's framework and the associated course, several specialized skill sets are prioritized: Breaching Operations : Detailed instruction on both mechanical and explosive breaching to gain entry into fortified structures. Infiltration Methods

    : Techniques for reaching targets in dense urban areas, including helicopter insertion fast-roping parachute infiltration Precision Shooting : Instruction on advanced marksmanship

    , including quick-fire and assault-fire techniques specifically adapted for the restricted sightlines of buildings and rubble. Mission Planning : Guidelines for high-value target (HVT)

    capture or elimination, navigating complex roadblocks, and vehicle search procedures. specialforcestraining.info Historical Significance

    Released in late 1999, this manual captured the Army's shifting realization that "urban combat will negate many of the technological advantages" of the era, necessitating a more aggressive and specialized training regime to avoid costly defeats in future urban theaters. apps.dtic.mil from this manual, such as explosive breaching room clearing procedures? SF Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) - Special Forces Training Disclaimer: The U

    FM 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) from 1 December 1999, established standardized high-intensity, precision-focused tactical doctrine for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas, addressing the need for specialized urban training. It introduced critical skills like discriminatory engagement, advanced breaching, and CQB that laid the foundation for modern special operations tactics. Read more regarding the SFAUC course on specialforcestraining.info SF Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) - Special Forces Training

    Conventional breaching focuses on doors and windows. FM 31-28 emphasized "lateral circulation" – moving through party walls, false ceilings, and utility chases. One FOUO annex detailed a 5-pound C4 charge that could blow a discreet “mousehole” through a 12-inch reinforced concrete wall with minimal external flash (the “big voice” technique).

    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. FM 31-28 was created to fill this void.

    While the original FOUO text is not public, academic papers and later training circulars (e.g., TC 90-1, 2008) cite specific chapters. A likely outline:

    The "For Official Use Only" marking is standard for documents that, while unclassified, contain sensitive operational details. In 1999, releasing detailed diagrams of how a U.S. Special Forces team clears a multi-story building or how they set up a covert urban hide site could compromise ongoing operations. Today, while the document is widely circulated in veteran and collector communities, the TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) within it must be viewed through a historical lens.

    Surprisingly, FM 31-28 contained a section on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) radio-controlled aircraft being weaponized by enemy forces. This was prophetic for 2020s drone warfare. Recommendation 25 in that chapter: use a 25-foot length of monofilament fishing line suspended between two buildings to entangle low-flying drones.

    By 1999, the U.S. Army recognized that future wars would not be fought solely in the German Fulda Gap or the deserts of Iraq. Instead, conflicts were moving into sprawling megacities: Mogadishu (1993), Grozny (1994-95), and the ongoing Balkan peacekeeping operations. For Special Forces, whose primary mission was Unconventional Warfare (UW) – training guerrillas in denied territory – the urban environment was a nightmare. How do you run a resistance cell in a city of 2 million, under pervasive surveillance, with vertical terrain and civilians everywhere?

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