Fm 31 28 Fouo Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat 1 December 1999 Pdf [DIRECT]
Prior to 1999, SF relied on general-purpose urban combat manuals such as FM 90-10-1 (1993) An Infantryman’s Guide to Combat in Built-Up Areas. While thorough, these manuals were designed for heavy conventional forces (battalion and above), not for 12-man Operational Detachment-Alphas (ODAs). SF operators in the 1990s—deployed to Somalia (1993), Haiti (1994-95), and the Balkans (1996-99)—improvised urban tactics without a dedicated SF-specific manual.
FM 31-28: Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) is a restricted U.S. Army Field Manual originally published on December 1, 1999. Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library Because it is marked FOUO (For Official Use Only)
and contains sensitive tactical information regarding Special Forces urban operations, a full PDF is generally not available for public download on open-source repositories or official public-facing government sites. specialforcestraining.info Core Purpose & Context
Developed to provide a common doctrine and training strategy for Special Forces Groups conducting high-intensity urban combat.
It outlines the specialized skills required for urban environments, often categorized under "Shoot, Move, and Communicate" in complex terrain. Target Audience: Prior to 1999, SF relied on general-purpose urban
Specifically designed for Special Forces operational detachments (SFOD-A, B, and C) and their commanders to standardize SFAUC training Where to Find Information
While the 1999 manual itself is restricted, you can find unclassified visual examples and doctrinal summaries through official military channels: Training Visuals: DVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
hosts videos of active SFAUC training exercises conducted by groups like the 3rd and 7th Special Forces Groups. Doctrinal Overviews:
USAJFKSWCS (U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School) Special Warfare In the vast archives of military doctrine, certain
magazine, which often discusses the evolution of urban combat doctrine and training. Library of Congress: For historical (unclassified) versions, you can search the Series 31: Special Operations index using call number U408.3.A13. Related Unclassified Manuals
If you are looking for general urban combat principles available to the public, consider these related manuals: FM 3-06 (Urban Operations) The primary Army-wide doctrine for urban combat. FM 3-18 (Special Forces Operations)
Provides a broader overview of how Special Forces operate within the range of military operations. Public Intelligence specific tactic
within the manual, such as urban breaching or room clearing? Special Forces Operations Manual FM 3-05.20 | PDF - Scribd offering a rare
In the vast archives of military doctrine, certain documents achieve near-legendary status among historians, wargamers, and active-duty operators. One such document is the FM 31-28 FOUO Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat 1 December 1999 Pdf. While the cover page is stamped with the restrictive “For Official Use Only” (FOUO) caveat, copies of this specific iteration have circulated in the public domain, offering a rare, granular look into how US Army Special Forces were trained to fight in the world’s most dangerous terrain: the city.
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the document’s origins, its tactical significance within the Special Forces (SF) community, and why the December 1999 edition remains a cornerstone reference for urban operations two decades later.
By 2006, the manual was superseded by TC 31-29 (Special Forces Urban Combat) and later ATP 3-06.20 (Special Forces Urban Operations). However, many core techniques migrated into the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SF AUC) course taught at the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne).
The 1999 manual’s weakness was its lack of robust improvised explosive device (IED) defeat and drone warfare chapters—gaps filled after 2005.
The manual served as a guide for planning and executing Special Forces operations within urban areas. Unlike conventional MOUT manuals, which emphasize large-scale unit tactics, FM 31-28 focused on small-team tactics, surgical strikes, and the integration of indigenous forces.
Key subject matter includes: