Fm 31 28 Fouo Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat 1 December 1999 25 Portable May 2026

Behind the Red Cover: Deconstructing FM 31-28 (FOUO) – The Lost Bible of Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (1 December 1999)

3.1 The “Human Terrain” Annex

This section provided scripts and psychological triggers for negotiating with urban militia leaders. It was marked FOUO because it contained actual psychological warfare pro-words and cultural triggers specific to cities in the former Soviet bloc, the Middle East, and East Asia.

7. Support and enablers

• Indirect and precision fires: use precision-guided munitions and forward observers to limit collateral damage; coordinate with higher echelons.
• Aviation: use helicopters for fast-roping, aerial reconnaissance, CAS where permissible by ROE.
• Engineers/EOD: breaching explosives, rendering safe IEDs, structural assessments.
• Medical: forward stabilization, triage points, CASEVAC routes and priorities.
• Civil Affairs/Information Ops: manage civilian populations, media, infrastructure impacts.

9. Interagency, host-nation, and legal considerations

• Coordinate with local law enforcement, host-nation military, and NGOs when present.
• Understand local laws, status-of-forces agreements, and legal ROE for detention, searches, and use of force.

1. Purpose and scope

• Doctrine for Special Forces (SF) operations in complex urban environments (close quarters, built-up areas) emphasizing adaptability, intelligence-driven operations, and joint/interagency coordination.
• Applies to SF teams conducting direct action, reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, unconventional warfare, and counterterrorism in urban terrain.

1.1 The Late 1990s Urbanization of Conflict

By 1999, the U.S. Army recognized that future wars would not be fought solely in the German Fulda Gap or the deserts of Iraq. Instead, conflicts were moving into sprawling megacities: Mogadishu (1993), Grozny (1994-95), and the ongoing Balkan peacekeeping operations. For Special Forces, whose primary mission was Unconventional Warfare (UW) – training guerrillas in denied territory – the urban environment was a nightmare. How do you run a resistance cell in a city of 2 million, under pervasive surveillance, with vertical terrain and civilians everywhere?

3. Organization and tasking

• Tailor SF detachment/team composition for urban tasks: assault elements, breachers, sniper/observation, communications, medic, demolition/EOD, interpreters, civil affairs.
• Task-organize into: reconnaissance, assault, support, clearing/search, security, and follow-on exploitation elements.

4. Doctrinal Evolution: 1999 to Today

The tactics in FM 31-28 were state-of-the-art for 1999, but two decades of continuous war in Iraq and Afghanistan drastically changed how the U.S. Army approaches urban combat.

• Vehicle Integration: FM 31-28 focused heavily on dismounted operations. Post-2001 doctrine heavily integrates up-armored vehicles (Humvees, MRAPs, Strykers) into urban maneuver, a concept less mature in 1999.
• Technology: The manual relied on analog maps and manual breach calculations. Modern doctrine incorporates GPS, drone surveillance (UAS), and digital command-and-control systems that were in their infancy in 1999.
• Host Nation Training: While FM 31-28 touched on training locals, the massive scale of the "Foreign Internal Defense" (FID) mission in Iraq and Afghanistan expanded this doctrine significantly.

5. Relevance for the Modern Student

Why study FM 31-28 today?

1. Foundational Knowledge: Many advanced techniques taught today (such as mouse-holing between walls and urban tracking) are rooted in the principles codified in this manual.
2. "The Gray Zone": Special Forces often operate in political "gray zones" where conventional war hasn't started, but peace doesn't exist. The manual’s focus on low-signature operations in populated areas remains highly relevant for advisory missions and counter-terrorism.

FM 31-28, dated 1 December 1999, constitutes the foundational doctrinal manual for the U.S. Army Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) course, focusing on specialized tactics, techniques, and procedures for high-intensity urban environments. The FOUO-designated manual covers advanced marksmanship, CQB, live-fire shoothouse drills, and technical breaching methods to train Green Berets in complex, built-up areas. More information can be found at specialforcestraining.info SFAUC Course - DVIDS

FM 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (FOUO), is a 1999 U.S. Army manual outlining specialized tactics for CQB and unconventional urban warfare. The document, which serves as the foundation for the SFAUC training course, focuses on multidimensional, high-precision combat operations. While the specific manual is not public, similar doctrinal materials, such as FM 31-20, can be found via the Internet Archive.  Urban Operations: Army Field Manual Volume 2 ... - Scribd

FM 31-28, dated 1 December 1999, is a legacy Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) manual formerly marked FOUO that established foundational tactics for urban operations. The document detailed techniques in close quarters battle, breaching, and advanced marksmanship. For an overview of the SFAUC course, visit Special Forces Training. SF Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) - Special Forces Training

The publication you're referring to, , is the primary U.S. Army field manual for the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) course.

First published around December 1, 1999, it was developed under the direction of BG Boykin to standardize urban combat training and doctrine across Special Forces groups. Key Manual Details Behind the Red Cover: Deconstructing FM 31-28 (FOUO)

Classification: Historically marked as For Official Use Only (FOUO), meaning it was intended for government use and not approved for general public release. Under current Department of Defense policy, the FOUO marking is being phased out and replaced by Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Purpose: It serves as the definitive guide for SFAUC, a multi-week course that Green Berets attend after completing the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC).

Core Topics: The manual covers advanced tactical proficiency in high-intensity urban environments, including:

Close Quarter Combat (CQB): Room clearing and shoothouse drills.

Advanced Marksmanship: Rifle, pistol, and shotgun training focused on speed and accuracy.

Breaching: Mechanical and explosive entry techniques for doors, windows, and fences.

Urban Movement: Navigating dense areas, including rooftops and alleyways.

Specialized Techniques: Fast-roping, rappelling, and night operations. Where to Find More Information including language skills

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:

(U) Intelligence Community Markings System Register ... - CDSE

Page 1. UNCLASSIFIED//FOUO. This document is not approved for public release. UNCLASSIFIED//FOUO.

Introduction

The manual, FM 31-28 FOUIO, was published by the U.S. Department of the Army on December 1, 1999. The primary focus of this manual is to provide Special Forces personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct advanced urban combat operations. The manual emphasizes the unique challenges of urban warfare, including the complexities of built-up areas, civilian populations, and the need for precise and discriminate use of force.

Urban Combat Challenges

The manual highlights the difficulties of urban combat, including:

• Complex terrain: Urban areas present a complex and dynamic environment, with multiple levels, narrow streets, and a mix of open and closed spaces.
• Civilian populations: Urban areas are often densely populated, requiring Special Forces to take extra precautions to minimize harm to non-combatants.
• Multiple types of targets: Urban areas often contain a variety of targets, including enemy combatants, installations, and infrastructure.

Advanced Urban Combat Techniques

The manual covers a range of advanced urban combat techniques, including:

• Clearing buildings: Techniques for clearing buildings, including room clearing, stairwell clearing, and roof clearing.
• Urban navigation: Techniques for navigating urban terrain, including map reading, route planning, and use of landmarks.
• Concealment and cover: Techniques for using concealment and cover in urban environments, including use of buildings, walls, and other features.
• Close quarters combat: Techniques for close quarters combat in urban environments, including use of firearms, hand-to-hand combat, and less-lethal options.

Tactics and Strategies

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

• Insurgent and guerrilla tactics: The manual discusses the tactics and strategies used by insurgent and guerrilla forces in urban environments.
• Urban patrolling: Techniques for conducting patrols in urban environments, including route planning, security measures, and interaction with civilians.
• Military operations in urban terrain (MOUT): The manual discusses the principles of MOUT, including the use of firepower, maneuver, and precision.

Special Forces Specifics

The manual also addresses specific considerations for Special Forces operating in urban environments, including:

• Unconventional warfare: Techniques for conducting unconventional warfare in urban environments, including working with local forces and supporting resistance movements.
• Counterinsurgency: Techniques for conducting counterinsurgency operations in urban environments, including winning the hearts and minds of local populations.
• Specialized skills: The manual discusses the need for Special Forces to possess specialized skills, including language skills, knowledge of urban terrain, and expertise in advanced urban combat techniques.

Conclusion

FM 31-28 FOUIO Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat is a comprehensive manual that provides Special Forces personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct advanced urban combat operations. The manual emphasizes the complexities of urban warfare and the need for precise and discriminate use of force. By mastering the techniques and strategies outlined in the manual, Special Forces personnel can effectively operate in urban environments and achieve their objectives.