Civilians

on the
Battlefield
(COBs)

CPT (P) Woodruff

2 Mar 06
 Agenda

• What are they?

• Key Rules and Concepts
• Battle Drills
• Practical Exercise
• DOBs!!!
• Conclusion
 Civilians on the Battlefield
• What are they?
– A modern fact of warfare
– A source of intelligence
– A threat to mission accomplishment
– The purpose of our mission
– A threat to Force Protection
– An opportunity to show our resolve
– A cover for insurgents; a target for
insurgents
 Civilians on the Battlefield
• Key Rules and Concepts
– Use Minimum Force and Escalating Force,
if circumstances permit
– Search Procedures, Detention Procedures
– Train COB Battle Drill
– No promises, but learn what they want
– No threats that you cannot backup
– Speak with one voice
– De-escalate
– Stop them at a safe distance from troops
and TOC’s
 React to COB’s
Battle Drill
• Situation: Plt/Sqd encounters COB’s or
COB’s approach a TCP
• Required Actions (6):
– Secure the Area
– Report
– Gather Information
– Whether to Detain
– SITREP
– Battle Hand Over (BHO)
or release
 React to COB’s
Battle Drill
• Required Actions:
– Secure the Area
• TCP: Ensure obstacles emplaced to stop
COBs/vehicles at safe distance; over-watch
position.
• Patrol: Leader assesses his unit’s security,
dispersion, cover, camouflage, deception,
and suppression of COB threat
• Outer Cordon
• Dignity and Respect
• Use Minimum Force to Control
• If a risk is posed search COB’s and Vehicles
 React to COB’s
Battle Drill

• Required Actions:
– Report
• SALUTE report ASAP
 React to COB’s
Battle Drill
• Required Actions:
– Gather Information
• Have a designated leader that gathers
information
– Who are they? What do they want? Why
are they in your AO?
• Check I.D.
• No promises
• Medical treatment only for those with
life threatening emergencies (life,
limb, sight)
 React to COB’s
Battle Drill
• Required Actions:
– Detain COB’s that the OIC or NCOIC
determines to be a threat to U.S. forces,
or the security of persons/property
under U.S. protection
– Report Detention
– Coordinate for BHO to Higher HQ or
Civil Military Operations
 React to COB’s
Battle Drill

• Required Actions:
– SITREP: Detailed report
 React to COB’s
Battle Drill

• Required Actions:
– BHO or release
 Practical Exercise
Traffic Control Point

• TASK: Respond to checkpoint

confrontation.

• CONDITIONS: Your mission is to

conduct a TCP IOT secure the access
to the FOB. COB’s approach in civilian
pick-up with 5 COB’s in the bed.
 Practical Exercise
Traffic Control Point
• TASK: Respond to checkpoint confrontation.

• CONDITIONS: Your mission is to conduct a

TCP IOT secure the secure the access to the
FOB. COB’s approach in civilian pick-up
with 5 COB’s in the bed. During the search, a
concealed handgun is found on 4 of the
COB’s.
 Practical Exercise
Traffic Control Point

• TASK: Respond to checkpoint confrontation.

• CONDITIONS: Your mission is to conduct a

TCP IOT secure the access to the FOB.
COB’s approach in civilian pick-up with 5
COB’s in the bed; one has a MG resting on
the cab and pointing at the TCP.
 Practical Exercise
Traffic Control Point

• TASK: Respond to checkpoint

confrontation.

• CONDITIONS: Your mission is to

conduct a TCP IOT secure the access
to the FOB. A civilian vehicle is
traveling toward TCP at 40+ mph.
 Practical Exercise
Traffic Control Point

• TASK: Respond to checkpoint suicide

bomber.

• CONDITIONS: Your mission is to

conduct a TCP IOT secure the access
to the FOB. A civilian wearing a back
pack approaches.
 Practical Exercise
Civilians on the Battlefield
• TASK: Conduct a supporting ambush for a
TCP repeatedly targeted by Insurgents.

• CONDITIONS: Plt linear ambush 1k. from

TCP. Left Flank security reports 2 men
leading several sheep parallel to road and
toward kill zone. They are wearing civilian
clothes and each has a rifle. The ambush
target is a pickup full of Insurgents.
 Practical Exercise
Civilians on the Battlefield
• TASK: Conduct a supporting ambush for a
TCP repeatedly targeted by Insurgents.

• CONDITIONS: Plt linear ambush 1k. from

TCP. Left flank security reports 2 men
leading several sheep parallel to road and
toward kill zone. They are in the kill zone and
a POV with 1 driver approaches.
 Practical Exercise
Civilians on the Battlefield

• TASK: Patrolling in a small village

• CONDITIONS: Small crowd is gathered

at a Saturday food market in the village
center.
 DOBs
• The worst of All COBs
• Sub-Species of COBs
• Beggars & Thief's
• No manners
• Defecate anywhere
• Very Violent
 DOBs
(Dogs on the Battlefield)
 Civilians on the Battlefield
Summary
• What are they?
• Key Rules and Concepts
• Battle Drills
• Practical Exercise
• Conclusion
 Conclusion
• Nothing takes away a soldier’s right
and obligation to defend himself
• Deadly force is always authorized if
you are facing a deadly threat
• It is also your right to use non-deadly
force when you are facing a non-
deadly threat
• Situational awareness is the key to
self defense
Questions and Comments