As always, comments welcome and encouraged...

I've read over most of the CQB and Room Clearing threads, and I thought that some visuals with explanations might help. As we all know (or may not know depending on experience!) each player on a team, regardless of scenario, has an area of responsibility, where the first responsibility is to control that area, keep it clear of tangos, and report to the team changes in the conditions of the area. I've talked about that in the post about Areas of Responsibility.

Think of your personal AoR as a "bubble" inside which nothing can move or exist without you knowing about it, or engaging it. As always, if you know about it, that means that your team should know about it as well. Communication, whether hand signals or short radio transmissions, or just saying "Hey! There's some guy over there!" is all-important. Every member of your team should know at all times that their back and flanks are covered.

In my experience (YMMV) entering a room is something that a lot of people think they know what it is, but they really have a skewed idea of how to do it effectively. These ideas are mostly based on seeing movies and TV where the director thought it would look cool to do it the Hollywood way. Well, that might be true, but it can get you tagged.

The graphics I have drawn (crudely, I know...) presuppose several things. First, you are entering a room with one entrance; second, you are entering from the same side of an open door; and third, there are tangos elsewhere that you may or may not know about. I picked a four-man team, because this is, IMHO the best size for clearing a medium-sized room. Again, YMMV, and these tactics can easily be adjusted to work for three, five or six man clearing teams, or in rooms with more than one entrance, or other variations. Don't forget that you might need to know more than what's going on ahead of you, in which case your Scenario pre-briefing should cover that information. (Like a hostage rescue, for example) Also, this will work well no matter if the room is 10' x 10' or 50' x 50'.

One more thing. These suggested movements and AoRs are useless unless you practice them to the point that every man knows every position (and every other position) and can move and shoot with his or her eyes closed, all the while not hitting a teammate. Don't practice haphazardly. Have a clear objective and practice it. Let me stress this again: Know where your teammates are at all times, and be sure your lanes of fire do not intersect their position. If you aren't sure, then work the exercise to find out why you are tagging your team leader all the time. I'm sure he or she will be very happy to know that you are not going to create another friendly-fire casualty during the next scenario.

Dwg 1
Placement of each team member, and their AoR prior to entry.

Click to view attachment

Note that each team member has a discrete AoR and are within an arm's length of one another. Also notice that their lanes of fire do not intersect other team members' positions. This is important.

Dwg 2
On a pre-arranged signal, (preferably a hand signal) Team lead (#1) enters the room, and visually sweeps quadrants C and D while #2 enters the doorway behind #1 and visually sweeps quadrants A and B. If you see a tango, engage it! #3 and #4 cover the exterior of the room, making sure the team is not ambushed while this process goes on.

Click to view attachment

Here are hand signals that might work for your team:

http://www.airsoftgent.be/dbase/hands.htm

You can always come up with a specific "Go!" Signal for a room-clearing team, if you prefer.

Dwg 3
#1 continues down the centerline of the room, covering quadrant A. #2 follows behind #1, covering quadrant D, engaging tangos if necessary. #3 moves into the room and covers quadrant B, while #4 moves into the doorway, still covering the rear flank of the team. At this point, the room should be almost clear. The Exercise is not over, because other things could be happening in and around the area.. Another team of tangos could be following the assault team, or there could be tangos hiding behind objects in the room, so the team has not fully safed the room.

Click to view attachment

Dwg 4
#1 and #2 move deeper into their respective quadrants, staying close to the center of the room, while #3 swivels to cover quadrant B into the corner. #4 moves into the room to cover quadrant C.

Click to view attachment

Dwg 5
This drawing shows the final position of each team member in the room. Note that #1 and #2 are closer to the center of the room, while #3 and #4 are more to the outside of the room. This is to prevent anyone from coming in behind the team after the room is clear. #1 and #2 can swivel to cover the door, while #3 and #4 can provide cover, and have a wider angle of view into the corridor outside the room.

Click to view attachment

Please understand that I am NOT saying that this pattern of movement and the AoR's of these team members is the only way to do this. What I am trying to get across is the importance of each member of the team having a discrete and significant area that he or she is responsible for covering. This is only a guide. This specific pattern may not work for you, but you won't know that until you train for it.

It is VERY important to remember that this should go very quickly. If a four man team cannot come into a room, going from their positions in Dwg 1, going through their movements to get to the positions in Dwg 5 in less than 4 seconds, the whole team becomes vulnerable, and most likely tagged. Focus on moving through the positions and areas very slowly at first, with each member taking a step, stopping, and looking at every other member, and then taking the next step. Repeat the process until the exercise is concluded. Each time you do this, go faster until you can blow into a room and clear it in 6 or less seconds. Then you can begin rotating the members through all the positions until you find out which combination works best for you.

Variations on this exercise could include putting dummy tangos in random places within the room, and firing on them as you come through, or having live tangos in random places inside the room, to practice on. <snicker> When you think you are good enough, turn out the lights in the room, or put on blindfolds and then go into an empty room firing bursts as you move. You will discover very quickly where you need to work on the procedure.

I can't stress teamwork enough. I also can't stress enough that everyone MUST understand their individual roles inside the workings of the assault team. These are things that should be talked out in detail, in the pre-exercise briefing, where every member of the team discusses and understands clearly what their role is, and also everyone else's role. Do your walk-through, or step-through and talk it out as you learn it. One idea is to make numbered circles out of construction paper (one color for each team member, and about 6" in diamater), stick them to the floor in each position, and then move to those positions until you get used to where you need to go.

Don't forget to do a post-exercise debrief, so that you all can talk about what went wrong, what needs work, and how you all can improve the exercise to suit your individual team or unit.

This is supposed to be fun, so remember that tempers can flare when we get frustrated over teammates or ourselves not filling their roles well. But remember that this also takes lots of practice to become the automatic and effective method it should be. And when you accomplish being able to do it blindfolded, you will have the confidence necessary that your team can go into any room anywhere, and take out any tango under any conditions.

Remember, practice does not make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect. Training is bloodless combat, and combat is bloody drill.

Thanks for reading. I am looking forward to your comments and suggestions.

Awesome, thanks

Thank you so much! I have read all of the other CQB threads, and this has been the most helpful.

In the real world, you NEVER push into the center of the room and face out. You "clear your corner and run the wall".

Not a slam, but if you note the drawings, when you stand in the middle of a room and face out, none of the arcs of fire intersect. Two BG's in the corners could slaughter the whole team in a crossfire. You must always aim to be mutually supporting in CQB. Get out of the doorway fast, clear corners, run the walls and systematically clear problem areas. You push the bad guys into the middle of the room and eat them alive in the crossfire.

<sigh>

Someone else who can't be bothered to come up with their own guide, but are ready to slam someone else's...

Don't know what "real world" you're in, but that's not what happens in the real world I was in. The first time you ever get an instructor in a corner who takes your whole team out, you learn otherwise.

If you're not satisfied with what was written, feel free to write your own.

<sigh>

Well I "think" 6 years as an entry team member of a major suburban SWAT team and various military/LEO schools qualifies my world as "real" enough. In those worlds blunt criticism and frank AAR's are par for the course.



If you don't want MY opinion, thats fine.

but if my word isnt good enough, you may want to read this.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/lib...appendix%20K%22

Nice link, but I'll go with the guys at Coronado. 9+ years worth. Thanks for writing.

I was taught the same way as Ironman (JRTC, Ft Bragg and the likes, courses run by by Rangers and SF respectively), depending upon the layout of the room, you always keep backs to the wall after #1 and #2 break to opposite sides inside the room. Corner or center door will change the spread, but both sides will be covered and it's up to #3 to make the call what way to do the split. There is way too much masking of fire for that 'push the center' method. I don't know what Coronado you went to, but unless the SEALs like shooting each other in the spines, the back-to-wall is the only surefire safe and effective way to dynamically enter. I'll see about getting some scans and more info into the thread, one of the perks of making nice with the PMC guys by hooking up their net over here is I can pretty much get any tough guy videos or training aids I want, as long as it's not an OPSEC issue.

Lancer, would you mind me asking what qualifications you have that make you certified to teach CQB? Don't get me wrong, I'm not certified either but I do see several things wrong with those diagrams in the respect that I've been taught differently than you.

First thing. The first man always goes to the "heavy side" the side with the most hostiles. Number two goes the opposite and so on. The actual movements depend on the layout of the room, and I know for a fact that no team would travel directly down the middle and that fields of fire are supposed to intersect but not overlay. That sounds kind of weird, I know. But when shown in a live forum, it makes sense.

Thats how you clear a room. Intersecting fields of fire. Each man can see the threat and support the other in the event one goes down or a wepon malfunctions. If you are all back to back....well what happens when the man behind you goes down? Who covers his area of responsibility. This is very basic stuff.

everything everyone is saying, but I think lancer is just giving what he sees works for him. it may not be the best way, but he did try. which is more than a lot of people are willing to do. I'm sure he'll appreciate your input but just remember that a lot of us aren't professional and some of a lot of our knowledge comes second hand... by watching, or seeing in either films or actual teams doing all of this. its just an interpretation from someone who isnt a professional. and while I don't think you were trying to be rude or anything, it may have come across that way.

but I think all the information you're all giving is great stuff and to lancer, I appreciate your input... even if some of the other posts arent in favor of your methods. I've used more of the move to the walls and cross lines of fire approach, but I thought his idea was interesting and would consider trying it.

anyways thats all

IMO, if you want to "play the game" (milsim) as real as possible, a good start is to try and live the mindset. In the "real world", if you try and push something that doesnt work to a tactical team or military unit, the little jabs given here will look tame by comparison. On my team, after training we have AAR's (after action reviews). When the doors are closed...if you f'ed up everybody will tell you. Its never personal, its about survival. You check your "feelings" at the door.

Im not being "rude" Im just telling like it is as I see it. When Im wrong Ill admit it. There is a difference between telling someone "thats f'ed up!" and "you are f'ed up!" those here that have "Been there, done that" will know exactly what Im talking about.

This is really helpful! But no one listens to me when I try and give tactical commands

Thats because stuff like this will only work with people that you train with regularly. Getting thrown in with a group during a game and trying to get something like CQB to work? Wont happen.

The following is based solely on material made available by Chuck Habermehl, a former SWAT team commander who runs a tactical training company. Qualifications and endorsements available here.

Wall Flood

Best command and control, safest for entry team, typically used in commercial structures where walls tend to be clear of obstacles and furniture. Leaves more obstacles to be cleared subsequent to initial entry.


Penetration Flood

Harder to command and control, risk of cross-fire, clears some obstacles automatically as team enters. Typically used in domestic structures where there is likely to be furniture and other obstacles along the walls.




Habermehl specifically recommends against "running the walls" due to the chance of friendly fire.

Nothing I can disagree with too strongly there. We do a "wall flood" and after dominating the room do "run the wall". If hes arguing that you don't run the wall immediately on entry I could agree. If hes saying that they NEVER do it Ill call BS. If there is a large object in the center of the room or another door/entrance, you have to have someone "run the wall" to clear it. That being said, most real rooms are not 20'X20' empty squares. Most of the time all of these schematics are just guidelines. The rule of thumb is to avoid getting in front of another guy with a gun. Peel left and right as you get in and get out of the door and out of the line of fire of the guy behind you. Many times in real houses you are lucky to get 2 guys into a room w/o stepping all over each other.

Another point to remember is that you don't have to stuff all of your guys into the room at once. You can have the first 2-4 guys in the stack go in and feed more in as you go. For example.....



Shows a wall flood with a "wall run" to clear a corner. Next man in the stack feeds in.

sorry I wasnt trying to imply that you were being rude, just that it maay have come across that way... because it seemed he was getting defensive of his idea. I personally didnt think you were being rude, just honest.

I get ya pard. No offense taken. Like I said upthread, if you arent saying "YOURE F'ed up". Then its all good.

Another point on the "rule of thumb" idea....

Sometimes you have to break the rules, like passing in front of another team member. In this example, the room was "wall flooded". The #1 man has pushed himself into a corner and is blocked in by the #3 man (hey sometimes $#%^ happens!). The #3 man is in the best position to clear the next entrance so he crosses in front of #1 (after notifying his team that he is moving). Next man in stack files in. The concept of "running the wall" is still there you just have to adapt to the situation. While a "penetration flood" could also work here....I just don't like the idea of so many backs facing unknown areas.

And the next concept to cover is how you move onto the next room. Basically, you leave a man (or 2 if you have them) behind in the room you just cleared and stack up to clear the next room. The idea being to leave a chain of men from the entrance to the deepest point of the building, all within visual contact of each other. This prevents getting flanked. Once the building is secure its time to search/consolidate your position and carry on with the mission.

Paul R. Howe is a 20 year veteran and former Special Operations soldier and instructor.
Paul currently owns Combat Shooting and Tactics (CSAT).
www.combatshootingandtactics.com Paul has also been hired by Triple Canopy as a
Senior Manager to help set up their Law Enforcement Training Division.
www.triplecanopy.com