TTPS and Lessons learned in Iraq 2003-2004 IEDS and Ambushes: IED’s are being employed several ways, in cigarette packs, soda cans, small items too include dead animals these IED’S have only caused minimal damage in the large picture. The more serious IED’s are 155 rounds or large rounds either buried in the ground or set in objects. Ways found are some were buried in pot holes, off the side of the road in the road etc. They have buried in the road and repaved over it to look like a road repair. IED’S have been found in guardrails (very lethal) light poles, tires, and trash on the roads or trash in bags. They have also used MRE bags and other items that US Soldiers would assume to be of no threat. We have found remote control cars in many raids, being modified to carry explosive’s, or the components are used to make IED’s. I am not aware if any successes with this technique yet. The guardrails and light poles are the most lethal it puts them at a higher level for the explosion. Causing a better kill rate. The methods of initiations have varied from the earlier stages of timer and command detonation to the latest advancement of the cellular phone being attached as a initiator (it was found attached to a 155 mm round on the back side of a guardrail).Other recent detonation devices include car alarm systems with remotes. The command detonation is usually just a electric means in which they flick the switch and run. They usually use a landmark to ID when to start the attack process (IE they will use a pile of rock, tree etc as a means to judge, as the convoy or patrol passes it). They will emplace IEDS over a course of time one day, dig a hole and a few days later emplace the explosives etc. Common observations include a broke car changing a tire, usually 2-3 personal, one changes the tire while one is digging a hole to emplace IED’s, the third watches for coalition forces, police etc. Rounds are daisy chained to one, two and sometimes three 155 rounds. They learn as they go they have succeed in many ways. One of their successes that I am aware of is they blew the turret of a M1A1 Abrams tank off and it landed 40 meters from the hull. They detonated a IED on one of my patrols in a up armored HMMWV. That IED was 2 daisy chained 155 rounds. Only one blew and it penetrated the up armored seriously injuring the soldiers inside. Other IED’s means have been same emplacement criteria’s but French made landmines. They are now using and having success with a new concept VBIED (Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Device). They will use a suicide bomber to drive these vehicles. A TTP on this is they will use two vehicles one will run into the building and blow, breaching the entry for the second. Allowing a deeper penetration into the perimeter security. They have caused us to change the way we fight to counter the IED’s. One is counter IED, using observation along major MSR and areas of interest. Requiring the use of more dismounted infantry and soldiers. Patrolling to counter the emplacement and to assist the identification of emplaced ones. We do not allow vehicles or personal to stay long in one place in our area of operations we run them off. We have leaned the decision making is at all levels there is no time to call for guidance. Every soldier has to know what to do, and you have to be able to adapt, situations vary. IE. some IED’s are blown and when the convoy begins security , medical aid and casualty evacuation they are hit with small arms to include AK, RPG’s and machine guns. Other times they are hit by other IED’s. In some instances fake IED’s have been emplaced to lure the unit, then they detonate the real one. There have also been incident that when the unit began rendering aid to injured a 2nd IED was detonated on them. In some cases convoys pushed through out of the kill sack and the enemy has either been set further down the road in another ambush site or they have pursued the forces and reattached. There was also a few incidents where a man would walk with a bag, set it down and continue on and it was a timer set detonation. One time they did it and little girl picked the bag up trying to return it to the man when it detonated. Common in all types of attacks they hit and run mostly. Lately over the last few months they have on occasion remained to fight. In some occasions Coalition forces engaged and as they were engaging, the enemy had another team that ambushed them from the opposite side of the original ambush. Situational awareness and 360 degree security plan is a must. Earlier the ambushes used on me and my guys were well planned poorly executed. They used the water duct system. They would lay in them and attack from them immediately laying back down providing a quick hide and cover and concealment. They could crawl down them and use there escape route. We did figure it out after the 1st attack, we found evidence as we searched the area. We countered it by immediately engaging the ducts when attacked as we scanned for a target. They seem to always have a quick ex-filtration route planned. Convoys/ Patrols: At all stops gunners assume assigned sectors of observation and vehicle occupants that are not needed on radios etc dismount and provide local security. We keep all civilians away from us at all times. We do not allow civilians to get into our convoys or pass us on the same side of the highway we use. We keep them behind us and usually they will go down the opposite highway lane, which is fine. This reduces the chances of attack and of a suicide bomb vehicle. Convoy attacks have included, vans firing RPG’s from inside on the move, as well as insurgents laying the bed of pickups and doing the same. I read before deployment, and clearly see it now, Iraqis are two faced people they will say they support and love us and once we pass shoot at us, trust non-one outside of our uniform. Speed is essential, I know the army preaches safety but, speed helps to make you less likely to become a target. They usually shoot and run but not always. Newest trends I have encountered are the small arms RPG attacks, IEDs (they have the best success with these) and occasionally now snipers. Interval is a topic for discussion. Out of my 20 years as a Scout I believe interval should be 75-100 meters on open highway with staggered gun orientation, all inside personal with weapons out the window scanning, in cities 25-50 meters depending on visibility and congestion. I prefer doors off, for ability to scan and fight, but it opens you up to easier injuries and more lethality in their attacks. Others feel these intervals leave room for a vehicle to pull in front of the second convoy vehicle, isolating the first and leaving open for attack.( I am not aware of this being used but it is a possibility) The decision is yours. Traffic laws do not apply to us here, push through traffic jams, etc. be careful about allowing yourself to be stopped. If one of my hummers broke the one behind it would push it through the town and then we would establish security and access it. (just my technique) Attacks in cities include grenades thrown and dropped into vehicles. Small arms attacks and use of RPG’s from roof tops apartments and key hole shots. Snipers have been used as well. Observation and situational awareness is the key. All eyes need to be employed. Low, high, in houses, etc. Many times the ambusher is not identified because of his ability to shoot and disappear or blend into the local populace. Be careful with these attacks, sometimes they are used to illicit a response or course of action, to which they have another attack/ambush set and waiting. Stay to paved surfaces as best as you can. Overall operations: First we cannot think of every type of situation we may encounter. Train soldiers in all types of areas, situational awareness, decision making and emphasize take action no matter what the situation. If no one is clearly in charge, take charge. If there is someone in charge follow instructions. These are not situations that allow a long decision making process. Train ambushes actions of contact, engage if possible, establish security, render medical attention , begin evacuation, search and destroy. There are some indicators of attack, in some cases children have been observed running other children out of the area, children covering their ears etc. Watch children there actions tell sometimes. Mortars are generally not effective. They seldom hit shit but they are a danger. The common are 60, 82 and 120 mm. Lately they have been firing BM 21 Rockets at us. These are fired at the F.O.B.’s (forward operating bases). They generally fire blindly missing any targets, but as we all know it you fire a hundred rockets you will eventually hit something. They will too. They fire and leave. The average Q36 acquisition takes less then 1 minute and we had counter fires out in under 3 minutes and they were gone already. The latest was a hour ago and it was another new method they set up 4 BM 21 launchers and fired with the use of a battery and timer. We believe they were long gone before the rockets fired. Usually they take all equipment with them leaving little evidence of that being the point of origin. They left their probably thinking if it was found no big deal, if we didn’t they would police it up later. A patrol did a area search and identified 4 additional pre-established firing points, set, except for missiles. Small arms weapons, RPG and lower have been found several places, buried, hidden in furniture, walls, trees etc. One incident we found one in a babies crib with the baby. Trash bags and well are common also. We once found a fugitive hiding down in a well he had a hand held breathing apparatus. And of course you know how we found Saddam himself. Prior to us coming to this country I think a lot of us underestimated our enemy. All soldiers need to know first aid, (CLS and EMT training helps) basic actions on contact and battle drills, Evacuation formats. They need to know how to talk on the radio and report. Train them for guard duty and Observation posts. FOB security is required, they may be part of it. Train dismount patrol techniques, it may be needed. Train checkpoints, vehicle searches and MOUT. Also house searches and raids are conducted frequently by all soldiers regardless of MOS. Train the elements of raids, breach, search teams, inner/outer cordon. Basically all soldiers, regardless of MOS are conducting basic missions here, convoys, raids, patrols, escort missions, security, and checkpoints. I hope I have given the information you are looking for. If you have any questions you can contact me at my personal e-mail or raymond.michaud@us.army.mil I am due to move my unit south in the next few week to begin redeployment operations. Myself, my company and other here are more than glad to answer any questions as best we can but time is limited. One thing I failed to mention is the increase in attacks against us. They are now targeting their own people as well. They are trying to destroy the development of the new government. We have found information linking the insurgents to Syrian, Iranian and Al qaeda insurgents. Many of the attacks are conducted by these insurgents. We have captured a Al-qaeda messenger ourselves and we have gotten a lot of information but that is still classified.