tactical lessons learned - the justice clearinghouse · •we are capable of shifting tactical...
TRANSCRIPT
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
TACTICAL LESSONS LEARNED ROBERT TRIVINO
The Organization’s Culture
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Speed
Surprise
Violence of Action
ASSAULT PHILOSOPHY
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
ACTUAL EVENTS
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
• Helicopter infiltration
• 28 man assault force
• 10 min flight to level 1 trauma
• Night time operation
• Rural, farm area
• Very high threat
• Snipers in over-watch
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
TGT 2
TGT 3
TGT 1
DIRT ROAD DIRT ROAD
DIR
T R
OA
D
FARM FIELD
FARM FIELD
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
TGT 2
TGT 3
TGT 1
DIRT ROAD DIRT ROAD
DIR
T R
OA
D
FARM FIELD
FARM FIELD
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
TGT 2
TGT 3
TGT 1
DIRT ROAD DIRT ROAD D
IRT R
OA
D
• Consolidated everyone at TGT 1
• Searched and questioned detainees (BAD GUYS!)
• NO JOY on targeted individual
• One detainee talks - leads us to 5 other targets
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
TGT 2
TGT 3
TGT 1
• Conducted several targets PID’d by detainee
• Linked up at TGT 1 – commander says
“peek-a-boo” in building to the south.
• I left half the force a at target building #1
• We were covered by the snipers in overwatch
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs
HQ
TEAM 1
TEAM 2
Door
Door Covered
Carport
Concrete support pillars, no cars
parked in the carport
Bedroom
Kitchen
Cooking area Bedroom Bedroom
Man
Room
Living
Room
First floor of a two story residence
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs
HQ
TEAM 1
TEAM 2
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs HQ
TEAM 2 TEAM 2
• KIA
WW
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs HQ
TEAM 2 TEAM 2
KIA
WW
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
WW
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs
• KIA
• • •
• •
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
WW
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs
HQ • • •
• •
• WIA
WWWW
• KIA
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
WW
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs
• • •
• •
• WIA
WWWW
HQ KIA •
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
WW
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs
•
• WIA
WW
WW
HQ KIA •
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
WW
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs
•
• WIA
WWWW
HQ KIA •
WW
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
WWWIA
WW
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs
•
WWHQ
KIA •
WW
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
WW
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairs
WIA
WW
WW
HQ KIA • WW
•
OBJECTIVE #7 - 2005
OBJECTIVE #7 FACTS
• Hostage rescue tactics conducted
• Attempted to enter the front door
• Immediate casualties at the “FATAL FUNNEL”
• Lost the element of surprise prior to breach (Peek-
a-Boos)
• Never cleared the second floor (2nd Order Effects)
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #7 FACTS
• Leaders lost accountability for a short period of
time
• Junior Leaders stayed in the Fight
• Survival Instinct took over
• Not enough litters
• Snipers support helped a lot
• Continual comms with HQ = rapid response and
medical support
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #7 FACTS
• Engaged through opened and closed doors (direct
fire & hand grenades)
• K9 not taken to objective
• 6 enemy KIA
• 1 friendly KIA
• 6 friendly WIA
• 3 RTD after two weeks
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #7
WHAT WE LEARNED
• We had to change our tactics – had to evolve
• Surprise was critical to mission success
• Had to incorporate more tools to accomplish the
mission and stay safer
• Speed will NOT always win the fight
• No need to risk men for terrorists
• Started to use the tactical call-out
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #7
WHAT I LEARNED
• I needed to take more litters
• Will not give up surprise
• I needed to change our tactics
• Doorways are the control points – stay away from
them
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #8 - 2005
• Foot Infiltration
• Coordinated Assault
• 45 man assault force
• 10 minute flight to medical
• Night time operation
• Residential area
• Extremely High Threat
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Dirt Road C2
Sec
Sec
Assault
Element 2 Assault
Element 1
TGT 2
TGT 1
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
6’ Adobe Wall Sec TGT 2
Assault Element 2
Vehicle Gate
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairwell
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Window
Automatic Fire
Stairwell
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Window
Stairwell
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Window
Stairwell
WIA WIA
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
6’ Adobo Wall Sec
TGT 2
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WIA WIA
Stairwell
concussion
grenade
bangers bangers
Unmanned
Machine
Gun
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Stairwell Unmanned
Machine
Gun
House Clear
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WIA WIA
Sec
TGT 2
WIA WIA
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #8 FACTS
• Conducted hostage rescue tactics
• Attempted to enter front door
• Casualties at the “Fatal Funnel”
• Lost element of surprise before entry (breach at
the gate)
• No K9
• Team did not bring ladders
• Lethal & non-lethal munitions used to clear
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #8 FACTS
• The time it took the Teams to reach the front door,
pause for a second, and make entry provided
enough time for the bad guys to man their
weapons
• Good communication with command allowed for
simultaneous assault and CAS-EVAC
• LUCKY!!! We were lucky – machine gun nest was
unmanned
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #8 FACTS
• Containment was a byproduct of our maneuver
and it worked very well
• 5 enemy KIA
• 2 friendly KIA
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #8
WHAT WE LEARNED
• We lost/gave up surprise – which is key
• Perimeter team saved helped us accomplish our
mission
• Hostage rescue tactics will NOT work against a
determined enemy when we lose or give up
surprise
• We must look to change our tactics
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
• Vehicle infiltration
• Urban area (city)
• Day mission
• 24 man assault force
• Very high threat
• Potential improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on
target
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Vehicle Gate Ped Gate
Sec OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Vehicle Gate Ped Gate
Sec
• Took control
• Gave instructions
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Vehicle Gate Ped Gate
Sec
• Took control
• Gave instructions
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Vehicle Gate Ped Gate
Sec
• Took control
• Moved to safe area
• Continued tactical callout
• Escalation of force
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Vehicle Gate Ped Gate
Sec
• Dog is committed
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Vehicle Gate Ped Gate
Sec
• No one came out
• Teams move to breach
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Vehicle Gate Ped Gate
Sec
• No one came out
• Teams move to breach
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
• Teams move through house and find a closed door
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
• Teams move through house and find a closed door
BASH!
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #11 - 2006
• Did not use hostage rescue tactics – we cleared
slow and deliberate using the dog and cameras
• Tactical callout worked
• The dog saved lives (my opinion)
• Q&A determined armed bad guys were in the
house
• Rehearsed escalation of force was critical to
success
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #11 FACTS
• Use of K9 proved to be the key to success during
clearing operations and detaining the bad guys
• Containment was key to keeping the bad guys in
the house
• Snipers on the adjacent roof was key to our
containment
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #11 FACTS
• We are capable of shifting tactical gears, stay
aggressive and accomplish our mission
• Slow aggressive clearing is a viable option
• The tactical call-out works and is a viable option
for direct action missions
• Our speed to the target contained the bad guys
• We slowed down once we had containment
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
OBJECTIVE #11
WHAT WE LEARNED
WHAT WE LEARNED
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WHAT WE LEARNED: PLANNING
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
• Our planning format changed slightly but our planning
process improved considerably
• We established SOPs at all phases of the operation
• SOPs streamlined information flow and decreased
reaction time = we deployed very fast
WHAT WE LEARNED: PLANNING
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
Planning Infiltration On Target Exfiltration Post Assault
Team 1
Team 2
Team 3
Routes
Veh Prep
Det Exploit
EOD Coor
Intel Coor
Helo Prep
Alt Routes
Intel Coor
Tgt ID
Alt Veh/Helo
Prep
1st OOM
2nd OOM
3rd OOM
Initial Ext Security Follow Asslt Pri Callout Det Q&A
Climb Tm
Second Flr
Breach
Pri Secuirty
Pri Security
Alt Callout
Pri SSE
1st OOM
Det Trans
2nd OOM
Pri Aid/Litter
Alt SSE/Det
Trans
3rd OOM
SSE Trans
Alt Aid/Litter
Det Exploit AAR Mission Debrief Veh Fix
AAR
Mission
Debrief
Intel Coor
AAR
Mission
Debrief
Intel Coor
WHAT WE LEARNED: TACTICS
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
SL
MH
MC
CS MD
BM
JK
MG
NS
The driving force behind the change in
tactics was due to loss of life
WHAT WE LEARNED: TACTICS
• We could not maintain status quo, we were losing too
many people
• Our tactics needed to evolve just like the enemy’s
tactics evolved.
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WHAT WE LEARNED: TACTICS
• Most of our casualties were sustained at the primary
entry to residences and in hallways
• Point of domination CQB works very well
• My opinion: luck and an extremely well trained force
gave us success in most of our earlier engagements
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WHAT WE LEARNED: TACTICS
The vast majority of our fatalities resulted
when we lost or gave up the element of
surprise
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WHAT WE LEARNED: TACTICS
• Speed, surprise and violence of action doesn’t always
work, especially when combating a determined enemy
• We had to change how we viewed the assault process
• Needed to incorporate more tactical tools
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WHAT WE LEARNED: TACTICS
• We needed to keep the element of surprise on our
side as long as possible – all the way to the
decisive point if able
• We needed to create and train on an escalation of
force SOP
• We needed to train at shifting tactical gears during
mid assault
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WHAT WE CHANGED
• Incorporated the tactical callout and it a viable
option for direct action missions
• We added this to our training
• Trained to shift tactical gears in mid assault:
dynamic to slow & methodical & retrograde out
of the structure
• SOPs were created – used to streamline our
tactical actions during the conduct of a mission
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WHAT WE CHANGED
• Leaders now have options; do NOT default to
hostage rescue tactics
• Make decisions based on target indicators. Shift
tactical gears if we observed indicators telling us
that bad guys are on target
• Extremely well thought through, preplanned
contingencies for most are dangerous courses of
action
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
WHAT WE CHANGED
The most significant change was in our unit’s
culture as it relates to direct action missions
and our overall assault philosophy
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
LEADER CHANGES
• Acceptable risk and the mission
• Leaders now had options other than dynamic entry
which were culturally acceptable solutions for
accomplishing the mission
• Using target indicators to make smart decisions
• Are your leaders risk averse?
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
IMPORTANT FACTS
We didn’t train at the tactical call-out prior to 2006
We didn’t walk to targets a lot until 2005
Tactics changed a lot, up to the point that the one man
got the squeeze to enter a room. Room combat DID NOT
change for me since 1992
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Think about combating a hardened enemy and ask
yourself if your tactics are viable
• Practice clearing a structure slowly and methodical,
incorporating tactical tools in the process
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Assign K9 team(s) to the SWAT team or train together
– A LOT!
• Use robots
• Use non-lethal to help when you’ve lost surprise
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Use ballistic shields when it makes sense – you must
train with them
• Gas em!!!
• Take terrorist threats serious. Do not use hostage
rescue tactics when up against potential terrorists
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Leaders must arm their officers with the best training
available to ensure their officers go home safely
• Use scenario based training to train your people on
judgment, this is most important
• Train to solve problems
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• CQB is not your mission!
• Your mission is to save the life of, arrest, apprehend,
someone or group of people.
• CQB is a single means to an end
Evergreen Mountain, LLC.
E V E R G R E E N M O U N T A I N , L L C
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