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

FM 31-28 Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) is a restricted U.S. Army Field Manual that codifies the specialized tactics and techniques required for elite units to operate in complex city environments. Published on December 1, 1999, this manual marked a pivotal shift in Special Operations Forces (SOF) doctrine, moving away from broad unconventional warfare to high-intensity, precision urban operations. Historical Significance & Intent

1.2 The Gap Between Conventional and Unconventional Doctrine

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.

Infiltration and Mobility: Tactics for reaching targets via helicopter insertion, fast-roping, vehicle movement, or parachute. FM 31-28 Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC)

The manual also discusses tactics and strategies for advanced urban combat, including:

, including direct action and counter-terrorism in urban centers. Core Focus Historical Significance & Intent 1

Conclusion

While the full manual is generally restricted to official military channels, you can find unclassified overviews and training videos through several official Special Operations platforms: FM 31-28 was created to fill this void

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Mines: Countermeasures against IEDs and mines commonly encountered in urban warfare.