The Basics of Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain

Nature of MOUT

Military operations on urbanized terrain is a broad term referring to the many actions and considerations necessary to apply the fundamentals of warfare to the complex urban environment. It is essential to remember that the basic tenets of rifle squad employment remain unchanged when the squad enters urban terrain and that the rifle squad must train and adapt to urban terrain in the same manner as it would to any other environment.

Enviroment

As human civilization progresses, militaries can expect to find themselves fighting for control of urban areas. Unconventional forces understand that to face a conventional force in the open country would be equivalent to suicide.

Additionally, forces may find that embedding in the obstacle-strewn and complex urban environment can give them significant advantages in cover and concealment while also positioning them to control large civilian populations and resource bases. 

One of the core challenges of urban operations is the battlefield geometry. Rather than the largely two-dimensional battlefield of open areas, urban areas require everyone to clear their sectors of fire vertically, as well as left and right. 

Another fundamental challenge of operating in urban environments is the problem of massing combat power. Urban areas often cause reduced dispersion as compared to open areas. This is due to the close-range nature of the threat, as well as the complex and numerous avenues of approach and sectors of fire that need to be covered. Whereas a rifle squad may be able to cover a few hundred meters of temperate forest, in the urban environment, a squad may only be able to clear and hold one floor of a complex structure. 

Initiative Based Tactics

Initiative-based tactics are a core enabling requirement of urban combat. Due to the complexities of the battlefield geometry and the fluid operational environment in the urban setting, the traditional chain of command is often inadequate for rapidly addressing the emerging challenges faced at the tactical level. As such, through training and rehearsal, each member of the rifle squad must be empowered to make tactical decisions in response to the changing and evolving environment and threat. The following principles must be considered when shaping individual choices, as they often determine the difference between success and failure in rapid and complex tactical urban operations.

Everyone needs to understand and memorize the rules governing Initiative-Based Tactics. These rules should not only apply to MOUT but to all other small unit infantry engagements. Rule number four must be particularly emphasized to the squad. There are no mistakes when clearing a structure in combat, only actions that result in situations–situations that everyone must adapt to, improvise, and overcome in a matter of seconds. The four fundamentals are:

1. Eliminate the greatest threat
2. Coverall immediate danger areas
3. Protect your buddy (maintain a buddy team, cover each other)
4. The man in front of you is never wrong; be flexible, assess the situation, and cover their actions.
   

Principles

These four principles are meant to be used in conjunction with the four fundamentals listed above The four principles are:

1. Security. The myriad of possible three-dimensional geometries of fire in urban operations precludes the squad leader from accurately predicting all possible threats. Individuals must maintain high levels of situational awareness regarding the threat, the friendly force's intent, and the operational environment, and take the initiative in covering fields of fire or adjusting positions to mitigate the security threat to friendly forces as best as possible. This is a continuing action, as both leadership and individuals must be constantly appraised of the effectiveness of security. Everyone must be empowered to adjust their courses of action to account for emerging threats and the complexities of the urban environment.
2. Surprise. Everyone may utilize surprise to gain an advantage over an enemy through well-executed stealth and tempo. Surprise may also be leveraged to take advantage of chance events on the battlefield, such as discovering previously unknown covered routes to an objective or identifying an unexpected, high-value enemy target. Despite best-laid plans, Everyone must be trained to recognize when surprise may be utilized to generate more desirable outcomes within the commander's intent. 
3. Tempo. Speed is critical in urban operations, but not for its own sake. Rather than thinking in terms of speed, everyone should frame their actions in terms of comparative tempo between themselves and the enemy. Executing smooth, methodical, and effective tactical action at a tempo that exploits battlefield events faster than the enemy is more effective than risking effectiveness and security to beat an imagined clock. Everyone should never forget the saying, "Slow is smooth; smooth is fast." 
4. Accuracy. Due to the compartmentalized nature of urban terrain, it is easy for everyone to become disconnected from battlefield events, regardless of their relative proximity. It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that a shared situational awareness is maintained throughout tactical actions. Clear and concise commands and reports should be used early and often. 

Ad Hoc Organization

It is easy to see how the traditional organization of the rifle squad may become shuffled during tactical operations. While the chain of command will always hold ultimate authority, individuals must be empowered to make the tactical decisions required by their physical position in the environment, not solely by their rank. For instance, as a squad clears through a structure, clearing it room by room, the squad leader may become separated from the lead element of the squad, while the most junior member becomes the number one man (i.e., the first man in the stack to enter a room or structure). That member must be empowered to continue clearing, call for support, or take other tactical action in the absence of direct orders based on their judgment and initiative. 

Violence of Action

Urban combat is often fast-paced, confusing, and frantic. The principle of violence of action means that everyone engaged in urban combat must take the necessary actions to maintain the initiative once contact is made. Accurate fire, aggressive movement and maneuver, and shock effects such as explosive breaching and clearing should be utilized to establish and maintain dominance on the urban battlefield. These principles can only be effectively employed through strict discipline, constant training, and regular rehearsal. The squad leader must instill the correct tactical mindset in all squad members, and—in turn—it is crucial that the squad become familiar with each other's thought processes and begin to trust the initiative-based tactics their fellow teammates are likely to employ. At a minimum, these principles of initiative-based tactics should drive individuals to adhere to three core rules: identify and cover danger areas, accurately engage threats, and protect each other. 

Any area that has not been cleared or cannot be confidently determined to be clear of threats is considered a danger area. This includes areas previously cleared but left unoccupied. Everyone must be able to self-identify danger areas as they arise and ensure they are adequately covered. No one should give up covering their danger areas until relieved by a teammate or until the unit moves beyond the potential impacts of the danger area. 

Differentiating between threat and friendly forces or civilians must be at the forefront of everyone's mind before any weapon is employed. Once threats have been positively identified, everyone should accurately and thoughtfully employ their available firepower. Knowing the target, what lies beyond it, and what is between the weapon and the target is crucial in an urban environment, where rounds can continue to penetrate through walls or become deflected by other objects. Always remember that an accurate fire is an effective fire. 

Individuals must take the initiative to identify security gaps, communicate threats, and cover the actions of their fellow teammates and/or partner forces. Security is the responsibility of the whole unit, and it is only accomplished through mentally engaged individuals taking the initiative. Communication must be continuous to maintain the whole unit's situational awareness and enable more initiative-based decisions. 

Exterior Movement

The fundamental principles of dispersion, fore and aft positions, mutual support, and overwatch continue to apply in the urban environment. Squad leaders execute exterior movement in accordance with the threat environment and tactical tempo requirements. When selecting routes of movement, the squad leader should recall that the urban environment offers opportunities for nonstandard movement, such as utilizing subterranean access points, traversing buildings, and using ladders to gain access to higher levels or to bypass walls. 

Danger Areas

Danger areas can be crossed utilizing the bump, bound, or double column methods. The fundamental requirement for each of these techniques is the need for persistent security covering the danger area. Please note that all techniques can be done with unit of any size.

One man provides initial security for danger areas.	Two man assumes security while "bumping" the one man to continue the route.
The remaining members continue the process of assuming security and "bumping" until the unit is cleared of the danger area.

The one man identifies the danger area.	The one man establishes security, and the remaining team members all "bound" past the number one mnan and continue on the route.
Once they have passed, the one man assumes the position of rear security for the team.

RIGSC

RIGSC is the doctrinal framework for conducting urban operations.

Recon: Identify enemy positions, obstacles, and potential breach points.
Isolate: Cut off enemy reinforcements, egress, and C2. Establish control of adjacent terrain.
Gain Foothold: Establish initial entry point (e.g., breach building or secure intersection).
Seize Objective: Clear and dominate the enemy position.
Consolidate: Defend the objective, reestablish forces, prepare for counterattack.