Civilians

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• Civilians
• on the
• Battlefield
• (COBs)
• CPT (P) Woodruff
• 2 Mar 06

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Agenda

• What are they?
• Key Rules and Concepts
• Battle Drills
• Practical Exercise
• DOBs!!!
• Conclusion

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Civilians on the Battlefield

• What are they?
• A modern fact of warfare
• A source of intelligence
• A threat to mission accomplishment
• The purpose of our mission
• A threat to Force Protection
• An opportunity to show our resolve
• A cover for insurgents a target for insurgents

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Civilians on the Battlefield

• Key Rules and Concepts
• Use Minimum Force and Escalating Force, if
  circumstances permit
• Search Procedures, Detention Procedures
• Train COB Battle Drill
• No promises, but learn what they want
• No threats that you cannot backup
• Speak with one voice
• De-escalate
• Stop them at a safe distance from troops and
  TOCs

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React to COBsBattle Drill

• Situation Plt/Sqd encounters COBs or COBs
  approach a TCP
• Required Actions (6)
• Secure the Area
• Report
• Gather Information
• Whether to Detain
• SITREP
• Battle Hand Over (BHO)
• or release

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React to COBsBattle Drill

• Required Actions
• Secure the Area
• TCP Ensure obstacles emplaced to stop
  COBs/vehicles at safe distance over-watch
  position.
• Patrol Leader assesses his units security,
  dispersion, cover, camouflage, deception, and
  suppression of COB threat
• Outer Cordon
• Dignity and Respect
• Use Minimum Force to Control
• If a risk is posed search COBs and Vehicles

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React to COBsBattle Drill

• Required Actions
• Report
• SALUTE report ASAP

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React to COBsBattle Drill

• Required Actions
• Gather Information
• Have a designated leader that gathers information
• Who are they? What do they want? Why are they
  in your AO?
• Check I.D.
• No promises
• Medical treatment only for those with life
  threatening emergencies (life, limb, sight)

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React to COBsBattle Drill

• Required Actions
• Detain COBs that the OIC or NCOIC determines to
  be a threat to U.S. forces, or the security of
  persons/property under U.S. protection
• Report Detention
• Coordinate for BHO to Higher HQ or Civil Military
  Operations

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React to COBsBattle Drill

• Required Actions
• SITREP Detailed report

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React to COBsBattle Drill

• Required Actions
• BHO or release

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Practical Exercise Traffic Control Point

• TASK Respond to checkpoint confrontation.
• CONDITIONS Your mission is to conduct a TCP IOT
  secure the access to the FOB. COBs approach in
  civilian pick-up with 5 COBs in the bed.

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Practical Exercise Traffic Control Point

• TASK Respond to checkpoint confrontation.
• CONDITIONS Your mission is to conduct a TCP IOT
  secure the secure the access to the FOB. COBs
  approach in civilian pick-up with 5 COBs in the
  bed. During the search, a concealed handgun is
  found on 4 of the COBs.

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Practical Exercise Traffic Control Point

• TASK Respond to checkpoint confrontation.
• CONDITIONS Your mission is to conduct a TCP IOT
  secure the access to the FOB. COBs approach in
  civilian pick-up with 5 COBs in the bed one has
  a MG resting on the cab and pointing at the TCP.

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Practical Exercise Traffic Control Point

• TASK Respond to checkpoint confrontation.
• CONDITIONS Your mission is to conduct a TCP IOT
  secure the access to the FOB. A civilian vehicle
  is traveling toward TCP at 40 mph.

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Practical Exercise Traffic Control Point

• TASK Respond to checkpoint suicide bomber.
• CONDITIONS Your mission is to conduct a TCP IOT
  secure the access to the FOB. A civilian
  wearing a back pack approaches.

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Practical Exercise Civilians on the Battlefield

• TASK Conduct a supporting ambush for a TCP
  repeatedly targeted by Insurgents.
• CONDITIONS Plt linear ambush 1k. from TCP.
  Left Flank security reports 2 men leading several
  sheep parallel to road and toward kill zone.
  They are wearing civilian clothes and each has a
  rifle. The ambush target is a pickup full of
  Insurgents.

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Practical Exercise Civilians on the Battlefield

• TASK Conduct a supporting ambush for a TCP
  repeatedly targeted by Insurgents.
• CONDITIONS Plt linear ambush 1k. from TCP.
  Left flank security reports 2 men leading several
  sheep parallel to road and toward kill zone.
  They are in the kill zone and a POV with 1 driver
  approaches.

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Practical Exercise Civilians on the Battlefield

• TASK Patrolling in a small village
• CONDITIONS Small crowd is gathered at a
  Saturday food market in the village center.

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DOBs

• The worst of All COBs
• Sub-Species of COBs
• Beggars Thief's
• No manners
• Defecate anywhere
• Very Violent

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DOBs (Dogs on the Battlefield)
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Summary
Civilians on the Battlefield

• What are they?
• Key Rules and Concepts
• Battle Drills
• Practical Exercise
• Conclusion

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Conclusion

• Nothing takes away a soldiers right and
  obligation to defend himself
• Deadly force is always authorized if you are
  facing a deadly threat
• It is also your right to use non-deadly force
  when you are facing a non-deadly threat
• Situational awareness is the key to self defense

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Questions and Comments