Friday, October 12, 2007

Monday, October 01, 2007

The words we live by

Every business and industry has a jargon and corporate culture. These things help define the work you do and guide your attitudes and philosophy. Iraq is no different, however our corporate culture can mean the difference between life and death for us or our enemy. The following is a list of words, phrases, jargon, and philosophies we live by. I hope to make this a regular piece on my blog.


The words we live by:

ROE = Rules of Engagement, a broad term encompassing all the actions we are permitted or required to take when locating and engaging enemies on the battlefield. Generally speaking our ROE are best defined by the Force Continuum or EOF. Engaging the enemy always requires meeting two tests: 1)Hostile Intent/Act and 2)PID (Positive Identity). Our ROE would usually include specific threat rings and actions for given distances. For example up until 50 meters from our position if no obvious hostile intent we would warn/notify with non-lethal, non-dangerous means like sirens, flags, and maybe flares. After that maybe a warning shot if warranted. Keep in mind we would have to fill out a lengthy report for each flare fired. I can't imagine the paperwork for a warning shot or a disabling shot.

EOF = Escalation of Force. A term reflecting the nature of using force in minimal amounts as required with marginal increases as necessary. Specifically we are instructed to use the least amount of force necessary to resolve any given situation. This usually comes into play when dealing with civilian populations who get too close to our operations and pose a potential threat if they were hiding hostile intentions. In practice this means that we begin by warning through audible and observable means like sirens, flags, flares, etc. Then if someone continues to act hostile or show hostile intent we could warn using warning shots, and then as required use disabling or killing shots.

Hostile Act = Any act designed to harm coalition forces or vital coalition resources, or civilians. Usually things like fired shots, mortars, detonated explosives, etc.

Hostile Intent = An individuals actions or posture may display the intent to commit a hostile act. This is usually a judgment call and requires a serviceman to meet the 'reasonable certainty' standard which is nebulous at best but necessarily so as it allows us the most flexibility in order to defend ourselves. Driving a truck full of unknown containers at a checkpoint at a high rate of speed without regard for warnings would be hostile intent, detonating the truck/bomb is the hostile act (at which point it is too late).

PID = Positive Identification is obtained when you can positively identify your target and match them positively with the Hostile Intent or Act. You may continue to engage the enemy until they are neutralized or until positive identification is lost.

Despite these regulations and allowances we are taught the following:

Tactical Patience: patiently letting a situation develop before hastily responding or acting. Wait and see what happens, don't rush to shoot. Of course this is within reason but there was a time when soldiers would automatically follow strict guidelines concerning a threat radius: ie- truck did not stop within 50 meters therefore I begin shooting when perhaps the driver just didn't notice your flare the first time and a little patience would have saved an Iraqi life.

Tactical Restraint: Hold off the trigger long enough to think first, if safe to do so.

When you first get to Iraq it is easy to think that everyone is a potential insurgent or bad guy and this will influence your entire outlook and posture. It is good on the one hand because you are always prepared, but on the other you are paranoid and become distrustful and almost hateful of all Iraqis. Hence we were taught:

"Iraqis are not our enemy but our enemy hides among them"

All of this stuff illustrates the the complex field of battle we are in. Other things we have been taught:

"Seize the initiative with the offensive mindset of a warrior and the heart of a peacemaker"

Rules for Iraqi Civilians:
1 firearm per adult over 25, if carried in public must either have a permit or be an identified security force

Things to think about when conducting operations (new and reformed mindset)
How are our procedures viewed by the Iraqis when conducting Escalation of Force?

Wouldn't you freak out if someone was yelling at you in a foreign language and pointing a loaded weapon at you? How exactly would you behave or respond? How about if you were less educated and impoverished and from another culture?

"First, do no harm"

"Keep the civilians on our team"

"win the hearts and minds"

"Do the right think not the easy thing"

This is the "Super bowl of the Marine Corps" make every move count, you have trained for this and this alone.

"The insurgent gets a vote" = this means that we cannot control their actions, they will try and kill us and no matter what we do to protect ourselves or fight them we cannot control their actions.

Make yourself a "Hard Target" = one that is hard to kill and unpleasant to attack, this may make the insurgent think twice about attacking you on a particular day and he will choose a softer target elsewhere another day.

And finally before we ever leave the compound, every sign reads:

"Complacency Kills" = don't become lazy in your defensive posture or operational duties, the day you forget something may be the day you get attacked.