FM 31-28: Fouo Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat - A Comprehensive Guide
Prior to 1999, US urban warfare doctrine was largely a derivative of Cold War mechanized warfare, focusing on large-scale combined arms operations (think tanks and infantry clearing blocks in Eastern Europe). However, the 1990s introduced a new paradigm: Operations Other Than War (OOTW), peacekeeping in the Balkans, and the rise of non-state actors using dense urban terrain as a shield.
FM 31-28, dated 1 December 1999 and marked FOUO (For Official Use Only), is a U.S. Army Special Forces manual that addresses tactics, techniques, and procedures for advanced urban combat operations. It synthesizes lessons from late-20th-century conflicts and anticipates the growing importance of complex urban environments for special operations forces (SOF). Below is a concise, engaging primer that highlights the manual’s structure, key concepts, and enduring relevance. FM 31-28: Fouo Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat
Training Objectives:
The principles and techniques outlined in FM 31-28 remain relevant to contemporary military operations. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have highlighted the importance of urban warfare, and special forces have played a critical role in these operations. The manual's emphasis on advanced combat techniques, specialized skills, and tactical considerations continues to inform the training and operations of special forces units around the world. FM 31-28 Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC)
FM 31-28 Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) is the primary U.S. Army field manual detailing advanced tactics for Special Forces operating in urban environments. Published on December 1, 1999, it is generally classified as FOUO (For Official Use Only) and is not approved for unlimited public release. specialforcestraining.info Guide to SFAUC Concepts The manual serves as the doctrinal foundation for the SFAUC course
While the full text is restricted to authorized U.S. government personnel, its curriculum typically focuses on the following core urban combat disciplines: 1. Close Quarters Battle (CQB) Employment of snipers for overwatch
In the years following the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the Global War on Terror, the Army consolidated and reorganized its field manuals. Many specific TTPs found in FM 31-28 were eventually absorbed into broader doctrinal publications, such as ATTP 3-18.11 (Special Forces Unconventional Warfare) or FM 3-06 (Urban Operations). The lessons learned from the manual were extensively updated based on real-world combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.