Military

Further Reading

DISCUSSION: Checkpoints are often scenes of violence or have the threat of violence. Leaders must take into consideration those instructions given to personnel who man these points. Rules of engagement must be clear, but flexible to accommodate rapid changes in any situation that may develop. During Operation PROVIDE COMFORT, one technique used was called a "flying checkpoint. " Mobile units, usually consisting of mounted infantry, combat engineers, and TOW vehicles overwatched by attack helicopters, moved forward to key intersections in areas where armed Iraqi or guerrilla fighters were known to operate and set up hasty roadblocks to disrupt unauthorized or unwanted military activity. This mission always required designating soldiers to detain and search intruders, a sizeable element to overwatch the checkpoint, air cover on station, mobile mortar support, and a quick reinforcement force of TOW and infantry carriers that could extract or reinforce the flying checkpoint. Leaders should also ensure that checkpoints are designed so that only the minimum number of soldiers are exposed at any given time and that they are covered by automatic weapons when they are exposed.

LESSON(S): It is imperative that reinforcement and counterattack plans be made and rehearsed. Units, during other operations, have developed situational exercises to train soldiers on checkpoint procedures. Included are a few examples of these situational exercises:

TOPIC: Checkpoint Tactics.

DISCUSSION: A high volume of pedestrian and vehicle traffic can be expected to pass through a checkpoint. The normal congestion at checkpoints can be compounded by undiscipline driving habits of local people and by a shortage of soldiers able to speak the local language. Combatants usually develop techniques and ruses to get weapons and explosives through checkpoints.

LESSON(S):

• Expect the unexpected at checkpoints.
• Develop and rehearse drills to prepare soldiers for all possible situations at checkpoints.
• Some belligerent techniques and suggested responses are:

Action: Place guns or explosives in vehicle fuel tanks or inside of component parts of vehicles.
Counter-Action: Rehearse vehicle search techniques. Develop a checklist for soldiers to use and obtain the proper equipment to conduct a search of vehicles (large mirrors to inspect the under-carriage of vehicles, bolt cutters to cut locks). Don't rush the search, just because traffic backs up.

Action: Weapons, explosives, and combatants can be concealed in hearses and ambulances instead of on bodies or wounded civilians.
Counter-Action: Treat these vehicles with respect, but develop drills for searching vehicles or verifying wounds.

Action: Create a diversion to sneak or rush through a checkpoint. Commonly used techniques are: a sniper attack; an ambulance arriving at the checkpoint with sirens blaring; staging fights or riots near the checkpoint; and staging a vehicle accident or starting a fire.
Counter-Action: Develop drills and techniques to rapidly emplace barricades to stop both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Establish signals or code words to initiate closure operations. Use a quick-reaction team at each roadblock to handle unexpected situations so checkpoint personnel do not have to leave their post.

Action: Using females to smuggle weapons and explosives.
Counter-Action: Develop techniques to search females. Male soldiers should not physically touch females. Use female soldiers to search female civilians. Use metal detectors or mine detectors to scan individuals for weapons. The detectors may not detect explosives.

TOPIC: Checkpoint Guidelines.

DISCUSSION: The following "DOs" and "DON'Ts" can assist in training soldiers for checkpoint duty.

LESSON(S):

DOs

• Smile when approaching a vehicle and talking to the driver.
• Speak to the driver and let him speak to the passengers.
• Ask the driver politely to do what you want him to do.
• Speak naturally and no louder than needed.
• When searching a person, be courteous. Use scanners and metal detectors whenever possible.
• Whatever happens at the checkpoint, stay calm, and make a special effort to be polite, regardless of your feelings.
• Always maintain a high standard of dress and military bearing.

DON'Ts

• Be disrespectful or give any hint of dislike.
• Put your head or arm in through the side window or open the door without permission.
• Shout or show impatience.
• Frisk women or tell them to put their hands up. Do not point a weapon directly at a women unless essential for security reasons.
• Become involved in a heated argument. Do not use force unless force is used against you and then use only the minimum necessary. Do not hesitate to call your checkpoint commander whenever the need arises.
• Become careless or sloppy in appearance. If you look smart and professional, people are more likely to accept your authority and be willing to cooperate.

TOPIC: Situational Training Considerations.

DISCUSSION: Units will encounter situations for which they normally do not train. These situations will present challenges to the leaders and generate confusion and stress which soldiers have to deal with. Each unit should develop a training program to familiarize soldiers with anticipated problems they might encounter. These situational exercises can easily turn into battle drills for each unit. Some examples are:

• Receive appeal for medical assistance.
• Civilian criminal is apprehended.
• Crowd mobs food distribution truck/center.
• Land mine is discovered.
• Dead body is found.
• Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) individual asks for medical treatment.
• NGO individual asks for transportation on military vehicle.

LESSON(S): Develop situational training exercises to prepare soldiers for unexpected problems/dilemmas. The unit commander must prepare the proper responses for their soldiers. These responses are a method to express the commander's intent for the operation. Turn the responses into battle drills so that unexpected situations become routine operations for the soldier.

TOPIC:Rules of Engagement (ROE).

DISCUSSION: ROE lessons are useful to leaders at all levels who are planning other-than-war operations or who are preparing units for peacekeeping or peace enforcement missions. The lessons focus on, and amplify, key aspects of ROE. Tactical leaders should consider these lessons and incorporate them into unit training and operations.