AREA SECURITY
A REA S ECURITY P ROCEDURES2003
2-107. When conducting an area security mission, the battalion prevents threat ground reconnaissance 2004
elements from directly observing friendly activities within the area being secured and prevents threat ground 2005
maneuver forces from penetrating the defensive perimeters established by the commander. The commander may 2006
direct his subordinate companies to employ a variety of techniques such as observation posts, battle positions, 2007
ambushes, and combat outposts to accomplish this security mission. A reserve or quick reaction force (QRF) 2008
enables him to react to unforeseen contingencies. Using information collection and intelligence capabilities 2009
available to the battalion and BCT, the battalion can execute ambushes and preemptive strikes proactively and 2010
with great precision.
2011
2-108. An analysis of METT-TC determines the augmentation for the CAB. Particular consideration is given 2012
to the need for aviation, engineers, and artillery. Early warning of threat activity is paramount when conducting 2013
area security missions, and provides the commander with time and space to react to threats. Proper information 2014
collection planning, coupled with dismounted/mounted patrols and aerial reconnaissance, is key to successful 2015
operations, especially when securing fixed sites. Failure to conduct continuous reconnaissance can create a 2016
vulnerable seam through which the enemy can execute an infiltration or attack.
2017
2-109. A perimeter is established when a unit must secure an area where the defense is not tied into an 2018
adjacent unit. Perimeters vary in shape and distribution of assets based on the results of IPB and METT-TC. A 2019
most probable direction of attack may require extra “weighting” of that portion of the perimeter to defeat an 2020
attack or infiltration.
2021
2-110. Perimeters typically are divided into company/platoon areas with boundaries and contact points. The 2022
battalion establishes a screen by integrating observation posts, ground-based sensors, UAS, HUMINT, and 2023
mounted and dismounted patrols. Tanks, BFVs, and other antiarmor weapons systems (attached or organic) are 2024
emplaced on high-speed avenues of approach. Infantry and snipers can observe and cover dismounted avenues 2025
of approach. UAS and ground-based sensors provide overlapping information collection capabilities at extended 2026
distances from the perimeter. Figure 2-8 depicts a CAB conducting area security of a small village.
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2-111. Most circumstances will not permit establishment of defined, neat perimeters. When a perimeter is not 2028
feasible, the battalion secures the area by establishing a presence and conducting operations throughout the area.
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Subordinate units may establish perimeters around base camps, critical infrastructure, and high-value assets, 2030
while other units conduct operations to establish presence, provide security, assist the conduct of stability tasks, 2031
or provide the minimum levels of security, food, water, shelter, and medical treatment as described in ADRP 3-2032
07. The battalion may position reaction forces or disperse its reserve between several secured perimeters. (Refer 2033
to FM 3-37 for more information.) Other missions or tasks in support of area security may include the 2034
following:
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Screens along zones of separation or other designated areas.
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Route and convoy security of critical LOCs.
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Checkpoint operations to monitor or control movement.
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Demonstrations to maintain an observable presence.
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Figure 2-8. CAB conducting area security 2041
Route Security 2042
2-112. Route security is a subset of area security. The purpose of route security is to prevent a threat from 2043
attacking, destroying, seizing, containing, impeding, or harassing traffic along the route. It also prevents the 2044
threat from interdicting traffic by emplacing obstacles on or destroying portions of the route. Route security 2045
operations are defensive in nature and, unlike screen operations, are terrain-oriented.
2046
2-113. Roads and railways may be mined; ambush sites can be located adjacent to the route being secured; or 2047
bridges and tunnels can be destroyed by demolitions. Because of the nature of this mission, very long routes 2048
may be extremely difficult to secure; however, measures can be enforced to reduce the effect of threat forces.
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(Refer to FM 34-22 for more information.) 2050
Route Security Methods 2051
2-114. The following discussion highlights three methods that the CAB can use in executing route security.
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The method the CAB chooses to use depends on the nature of the threat, purpose of the security mission, and 2053
characteristics of the route.
2054
2-115. In the first method, the battalion conducts route reconnaissance at irregular intervals to avoid 2055
developing a pattern that the threat may exploit. Companies reconnoiter the route, including conducting patrols 2056
to either flank. Attached aviation assets or UAS may reconnoiter in advance of ground units or assist in 2057
screening flanks. In addition to reconnaissance, companies or platoons may conduct combined arms operations 2058
with engineers conducting route clearance, or escort engineers conducting route improvements/maintenance;
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clearing terrain at potential ambush sites; and repairing damage caused by threat actions.
2060
2-116. The second method entails using an economy of force technique to protect only critical lengths or 2061
locations along the route. The battalion or company establishes mutually supporting combat outposts and 2062
provides security between them. The battalion or company establishes outposts at critical points to prevent 2063
sabotage and to defend against or respond to attacks to interdict the route between outposts. Based on METT-2064
TC, a company can establish one or two combat outposts, and a battalion typically can establish up to eight.
2065
Usually, the unit does not secure or patrol the route outside the reach of the combat outposts. A battalion can 2066
provide route security by combining this method at two locations or critical points with patrols along the rest of 2067
the route. Combat outposts should include a well-defined fire support plan. Battalion mortars or howitzer 2068
sections are positioned so they are capable of massing fires in support of both the outposts and the operations 2069
between them. Units conduct patrols at irregular intervals between the outposts based on threat trends and 2070
recent activities. Patrols must be organized with sufficient combat power to destroy near ambushes and to 2071
survive initial threat contact from far ambushes. Each combat outpost maintains a reaction force to respond to 2072
threat activity or reinforce patrols.
2073
2-117. The third method is one that the battalion uses if it must take actions to seize or secure terrain needed to 2074
permit use along the entire route. The battalion conducts an initial route reconnaissance, with follow-on units 2075
establishing a screen to either flank, checkpoints at access points to control access, and combat outposts at 2076
critical choke points. As time and forces allow, the battalion establishes defensive positions on key terrain, with 2077
subsequent positions prepared to support observation posts on the screen. It also establishes checkpoints at 2078
intersections, start points, and release points to monitor and control nonmilitary traffic. Checkpoints may also be 2079
established at irregular intervals so that troops can stop and search vehicles and personnel. Checkpoints should 2080
be situated along the route or in terrain that does not allow travelers to observe and turn away from the 2081
checkpoint holding area. As in the second method, the outposts established at critical choke points include 2082
sensors to provide early warning from immediate and surrounding areas. All positions must be defensible, with 2083
reinforced fighting positions. (See Figure 2-9a-e.) For this example, the BCT must provide the CAB with 2084
specialized combat engineer augmentation to perform the inherent route clearance task associated with route 2085
security.
2086
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Figure 2-9a. Screen in support of CAB conducting route security 2088
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Figure 2-9b. Patrols in support of CAB conducting route security 2090
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Figure 2-9c. Defensive positions in support of CAB conducting route security 2092
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Figure 2-9d. Reaction force in support of CAB conducting route security 2094
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Figure 2-9e. Headquarters and mortars in support of CAB conducting route security 2096