Enter A Building and Clear A Room

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Terminal Learning Objective

Task: Enter a Building and Clear a Room, 7-4-D109, Battle Drill
#6A, ARTEP 7-8 Drill, Battle Drills for the Infantry Platoon & Squad.

Conditions: Operating as part of a larger force, the squad is

moving and receives fire from the enemy from a building. The platoon leader directs the squad to seize a foothold and clear a room.

Standards: The squad gains a foothold in a building. The

squad secures a room by eliminating, capturing, or forcing the withdrawal of the enemy from the room. The squad minimizes noncombatant casualties and collateral damage (ROE dependent). The squad maintains a sufficient fighting force that can defeat the enemys counterattack and continue operations.

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LESSON ADMINISTRATIVE DATA SAFETY REQUIREMENTS: RISK ASSESSMENT LEVEL: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS: EVALUATION:

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REFERENCES
ARTEP 7-8 Drill, Battle Drills for the Infantry Squad and Platoon, June 2002 STP 7-11B24-SM-TG, Soldiers Manual, MOS 11B, Infantry, Skill Level 2-4 FM 3-06.11, COMBINED ARMS OPERATIONS IN URBAN TERRAIN 28 February 2002 FM 3-21.8, The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad March 2007 TC 90-1, Training for Urban Operations, 2002
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ROOM CLEARING TECHNIQUES

High intensity clearing: are part of a deliberate attack. The task is to seize control of the room with the purpose being the neutralization of the enemy in the room. The fragmentation and or concussion grenades can be used as preparatory fires before the assault. Precision room clearing: used when the tactical situation calls for room-by-room clearing of a relatively intact building in which enemy combatants and noncombatants may be intermixed. They involve increased risk in order to clear a building methodically, rather than using overwhelming firepower to eliminate or neutralize all its inhabitants.
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PRINCIPLES OF ROOM CLEARING

SURPRISE is the key to a successful assault at close quarters. The fire team or squad clearing the room must achieve surprise, if only for seconds, by deceiving, distracting, or startling the enemy. SPEED provides a measure of security to the clearing unit. It allows soldiers to use the first few vital seconds provided by surprise to their maximum advantage. In precision room clearing, speed is not how fast you enter the room, rather its how fast the threat is eliminated and the room is cleared. CONTROLLED VIOLENCE OF ACTION eliminates or neutralizes the enemy while giving him the least chance of inflicting friendly casualties. It is not limited to the application of firepower only, but also involves a soldier mind-set of complete domination.

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ROOM CLEARING

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DOOR PLACEMENT
CENTER FED CORNER FED

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The assault element flows in the path of least resistance. resistance

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FATAL FUNNEL
An entry point into a room that focuses all attention at the point where the individual team members are the most vulnerable. NOTE: Hallways and stairwells are extensions of Fatal Funnels.

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FATAL FUNNEL

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Point of Domination
A final point that each team member reaches inside the room that allows the team to have full sectors of fire in that room. By achieving these sectors of fire, the team fully dominates the room with their weapons not their bodies.

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POINTS OF DOMINATION (Center Door)

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POINTS OF DOMINATION (Corner Door)

1

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ROOM CLEARING

(CENTER DOOR)

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CENTER DOOR/ #1 MAN

1
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IMMEDIATE THREAT
A hostile force that a team member encounters upon entry of the Fatal Funnel. NOTE: In some situations this threat can alter your direction of movement opposite that of the Path of Least Resistance.

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CENTER DOOR/ #1 MAN

IMMEDIATE THREAT

1
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CENTER DOOR/ #1 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #1 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #1 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #1 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #2 MAN

1
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CENTER DOOR/ #2 MAN

IMMEDIATE THREAT

2
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CENTER DOOR/ #2 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #2 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #2 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #2 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #3 MAN

1
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CENTER DOOR/ #3 MAN

3
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CENTER DOOR/ #3 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #3 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #4 MAN

1
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CENTER DOOR/ #4 MAN

4
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CENTER DOOR/ #4 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #4 MAN

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CENTER DOOR/ #4 MAN

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INTERLOCKING SECTORS OF FIRE

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CENTER DOOR

TAP BACK SQUEEZE UP

1
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CENTER DOOR

1
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CENTER DOOR

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CENTER DOOR

2
4 3
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CENTER DOOR

2
4

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CENTER DOOR

2
4

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CENTER DOOR

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CENTER DOOR

STATUS!

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CENTER DOOR

TWO UP!

FOUR UP! 4

THREE UP!

ONE UP!

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CENTER DOOR

ROOM CLEAR!

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CENTER DOOR

SPLIT STACK

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ROOM CLEARING

(CORNER DOOR)

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CORNER DOOR/ #1 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #1 MAN

IMMEDIATE THREAT

1
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CORNER DOOR/ #1 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #1 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #1 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #1 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #2 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #2 MAN

1
IMMEDIATE THREAT

2
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CORNER DOOR/ #2 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #2 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #2 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #2 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #2 MAN

1

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CORNER DOOR/ #3 MAN

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#3

CORNER DOOR/ #3 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #3 MAN

1

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CORNER DOOR/ #3 MAN

1

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CORNER DOOR/ #4 MAN

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#4

CORNER DOOR/ #4 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #4 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #4 MAN

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CORNER DOOR/ #4 MAN

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INTERLOCKING SECTORS OF FIRE

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3 4

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CORNER DOOR

TAP BACK SQUEEZE UP 1 2

3 4

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CORNER DOOR

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CORNER DOOR

1 2
3 4
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CORNER DOOR

1 2
3 4
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CORNER DOOR

2
4
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CORNER DOOR
1

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CORNER DOOR
1

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CORNER DOOR
1

STATUS!

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CORNER DOOR
1
ONE UP!

3 FOUR UP! THREE UP!

TWO UP!

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CORNER DOOR
1

ROOM CLEAR!

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CORNER DOOR
1

STACK LEFT

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CORNER DOOR

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CORNER DOOR

FOUR COMING OUT

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CORNER DOOR

COME OUT

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Hallway Clearing Techniques

DIAMOND FORMATION (Serpentine Technique) is used in narrow hallways. VEE FORMATION (Rolling T) is used in wide hallways. Clearing T Intersections is actions taken coming from the base of the T.

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DIAMOND Technique (Narrow Hallways)

2

4 3

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VEE Technique (Wide Hallways)

2
4 3

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Clearing T Intersection Positions

1 2
3 4
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Clearing T Intersection Positions

1 2
4

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Clearing T Intersection Positions

4 3

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Clearing T Intersection Positions

2
4

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Clearing T Intersection Positions

2
3 4

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Clearing Stairwells and Staircases

Stairwells and staircases are comparable to doorways in that they create a fatal funnel; however, the danger is intensified by the threedimensional aspect of additional landings. The ability of the squad or team to conduct the movement depends upon which direction they are traveling and the layout of the stairs. Regardless, the clearing technique follows a basic format:

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Clearing Stairwells and Staircases, continued

The squad leader designates an assault element to clear the stairs. The squad or team maintains 360-degree, threedimensional security in the vicinity of the stairs. The squad leader then directs the assault team to locate, mark, bypass and or clear any obstacles or booby traps that may be blocking access to the stairs. The assault element moves up (or down) the stairways by using either the two-, three-, or four-man flow technique, providing overwatch up and down the stairs while moving.

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Clearing Stairwells and Staircases,continued

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STAIRS

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Closed Stairwells
UP

LANDING

O = OUTSIDE I
= INSIDE

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Closed Stairwells
Hesitation on staircases allows time for the enemy to react. KEEP YOUR MOMENTUM AND DO NOT GET BOGGED DOWN!

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Stairwells
UP

1
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Stairwells

UP

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Stairwells

UP #1 man clears the landing

1 2
3 4

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Stairwells

UP #2 man moves out along side The #1 man to a vantage point Allowing the team to move in Position. #3 man covers high #4 maintains rear security
4
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1
3

Stairwells

UP 2 1
3 4

#2 Man clears the corner using the pie method and engages any enemy on the landing.

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Stairwells
2 1 UP
3 4

# 1 man gives Nod to #2 man. #1 & #2 Execute High/Low Technique Team will re-stack on landing or continue up the stairwell.

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Stairwells
4 3

UP

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Open Stairwells
Open stairwells are cleared similarly to that of a

closed stairwell. The vantage points at which you would stop to pull security will change. Although it is not the preferred technique, walking backwards up the stairs to clear the above landing is permitted. The position of the soldier clearing the stairwell is of little concern as long as the area of responsibility is covered.

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Summary
Task: Enter a Building and Clear a Room, 7-4-D109, Battle Drill #6A, ARTEP 7-8 Drill, Battle Drills for the Infantry Platoon & Squad.

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