The FM 31-28 Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat manual, published on December 1, 1999, stands as a foundational doctrinal document for U.S. Army Green Berets. Designed to bridge the gap between traditional field maneuvers and the complexities of high-intensity urban environments, this manual outlines the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) program.
Below is an overview of the manual’s core components and its role in special operations training. Purpose and Strategic Origin
The planning for SFAUC began in 1999 under then-Brigadier General Boykin to develop a common doctrine and raise the "Warrior Spirit" across Special Forces Groups.
Doctrinal Gap: It was created to address the shift from "urban sprawl" in Europe to the global need for precision tactics in populated areas.
Target Audience: The manual is written for Group Commanders, staff, and Special Forces Operational Detachments (ODA).
Classification: Originally marked as FOUO (For Official Use Only), it provided a restricted set of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) specific to elite units. Core Training Pillars The FM 31-28 Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat
The manual details a high-intensity training program—typically lasting three to four weeks—that progresses from individual marksmanship to collective team maneuvers. www.youtube.com·SFC Beitzhttps://www.youtube.com
FM 31-28 Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC), dated 1 December 1999, is a restricted U.S. Army Field Manual that establishes the doctrinal foundation for advanced Close Quarters Battle (CQB) and urban warfare techniques specifically for Special Forces Operational Detachment "A" (ODA).
Because the document is classified as Unclassified/For Official Use Only (FOUO), its full text is generally restricted to Department of Defense personnel with a need-to-know. However, its core syllabus and training objectives are widely documented in professional military literature and training summaries. Core Training Syllabus
The manual provides the framework for the 15-to-30-day SFAUC course, which is designed to ensure ODAs can "own" urban rooms rather than just clear them. Key content areas include:
Advanced Marksmanship: High-intensity "flat range" firing focusing on speed and precision with rifles, pistols, and shotguns. The PDF in the Modern Era: Relevance in
Close Quarters Battle (CQB): Techniques for entering and clearing single-story, multi-room objectives with precision.
Breaching Operations: Instruction on mechanical, ballistic, and explosive entry methods using tools like "quickie saws," shotguns, and specialized charges.
Urban Movement: Tactical navigation across four urban levels: building, street, subterranean, and air.
Insertion and Extraction: Advanced skills in fast-roping, rappelling, and climbing techniques to access urban structures. Operational Phases
According to the manual's structured approach, the training typically progresses through three distinct phases: Techniques for entry: mechanical
Individual Skills: Focus on weapons handling and reflexive fire.
Collective Drills: Movement and coordination within a 12-man ODA, often culminating in "shoot-house" drills.
Full Mission Profile (FMP): A complex Field Training Exercise (FTX) incorporating mission planning, infiltration (air, sea, or land), and execution of a specific urban objective. Significance and Context FOUO UNCLASSIFIBD/FOUO - Public Intelligence
Even though the document is over 25 years old, the FM 31-28 FOUO Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat 1 December 1999 Pdf remains highly relevant. While drone warfare and EW (Electronic Warfare) have changed the battlefield, the fundamental physics of moving a squad through a narrow alley or clearing a stairwell have not changed significantly.
Researchers looking for the PDF today often cite three reasons:
Title: Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Designation: FM 31-28 Classification: FOUO (For Official Use Only) Publication Date: 1 December 1999 Issuing Authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
The manual famously contrasts conventional urban tactics (moving in grids) with SF tactics (moving like a spider web). It emphasizes that Special Forces teams, usually operating in 12-man detachments, cannot hold territory. Instead, they must use "infiltration lanes"—sewers, collapsed walls, and upper-floor bypasses—to strike deep behind enemy lines in a city. The PDF includes detailed diagrams of "mouse-holing" (blasting through shared walls) without the use of heavy engineering vehicles.